MANILA, Philippines — As the country celebrates the 161st birth anniversary of Filipino revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday urged Filipinos to do their part in liberating the Philippines "from the shackles of hunger, corruption, criminality, and other ills of society."

In his message, Marcos called on Filipinos to honor the life and heroism of Bonifacio, "who organized and inspired his fellow Filipinos to rise against tyranny and break the chains of oppression."

"Coming from humble beginnings did not deter him from realizing his dreams and goals for our country. With his courage, he lit the flames of the Philippine Revolution, which finally united our land and emboldened many to lay down their lives willingly for the cause of our motherland against the colonizers," Marcos said.

"Let us honor his memory by finding a deeper meaning in his sacrifice and doing our part in liberating our country from the shackles of hunger, corruption, criminality, and other ills of society," he added.

Marcos also urged Filipinos to remember the legacy of sacrifice that Bonifacio and our forebears have demonstrated.

"We owe them a debt of gratitude for awakening our national consciousness, upholding our sense of identity, and rousing our spirit of self-determination," he said.

The President also said that Bonifacio "may have been long gone, but his fight carries on."

"His courage, selflessness, and determination continue to inspire us all to strive for greatness in our shared task of nation-building," Marcos said.

"With patriotism, discipline, and love for one another as our guide, let us build a better Bagong Pilipinas where every Filipino lives in genuine peace, progress and harmony," he added.

The President declared Nov. 30, 2024 as a regular holiday to mark the celebration of Bonifacio Day.

Born on Nov. 30, 1863, Bonifacio played a crucial role as a Filipino revolutionary leader in the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule.

Widely recognized as "The Father of the Philippine Revolution," Bonifacio is esteemed as one of the national heroes of the Philippines.

Bonifacio established and subsequently led the Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan, commonly known as the "Katipunan," a movement dedicated to securing the independence of the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule, marking the commencement of the Philippine Revolution.

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