Thank you, Jose Rizal.

Last year it was reported in the news that Rizal is actually not our national hero but we have known him to be that for quite some time, so I guess we are all wrong. Rizal is one of my favourite heroes. Why? He wanted equal rights for us during the Spanish regime. He didn't seek for freedom from the Spanish colonialism because he knew our country wasn't ripe for that. He was too smart to fight for freedom and asked for equality instead. That we be treated in par with the Spaniards residing in our country and he fought that we wouldn't be treated as second class citizen and be called Indios, but rather Filipinos.

The heroes are sometimes remembered until a new government decides that they are no more to be considered heroes.

I'm glad you remember your heroes. We have special holidays for several people who did something special. This month we will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. and two past presidents.

since it was Rizal day, it was also the birthday of one of my departed aunties, a sister of my departed father. her name was Rizalina and is fondly nicknamed as Bill.

@Beatburn I am happy for your country celebrating a hero.

Perhaps, when it comes to the question of remembering the memory of Heroes, often the answer does not depend on the increasing struggle to forget but rather on the diminishing commitment to remind. Maybe one of the biggest reason why devotees do not forget is because Religions never fail to remind.

We have days that commemorate a few people from our past, but yes, the majority of the people here couldn't tell you what the person did to be commemorated. Their day is a holiday, but is not remembered otherwise.