The Office of the President issued Memorandum Circular No. 25, directing all government agencies and educational institutions to display photos, paintings, or other visual representations of Philippine Heroes, instead that of elected or appointed government officials.
The MC covered all government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs), and state universities and colleges (SUCs) and public schools of all levels.
MC No. 25, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea by the authority of President Rodrigo Duterte on September 15, 2017, came up with a list of recognized Philippine Heroes.
These Heroes, 14 in all, were selected based on the identification by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). They are Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Juan Luna, Melchora Aquino, Gabriela Silang, Lapu-Lapu, Father Jose Burgos, Father Mariano Gomes, Father Jacinto Zamora, Emilio Jacinto, and Jose Abad Santos.
“(I)t is the policy of the State to promote and popularize the nation’s historical and cultural heritage,” MC No. 25 said.
The State, the MC added, should provide the means to strengthen the nationalism, love of country, and respect for heroes by emphasizing the significance of the country’s national and local history, with the objective of elevating social consciousness and patriotism. (PCO-Content)
