You don’t have to fight a war to be a hero.
That was the message of Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez to Bacolodnons at rites at the Bacolod Public Plaza on Tuesday, April 9, to mark Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), which commemorates the fall of Bataan to Japanese troops during World War II and the start of the Bataan Death March.
Benitez said heroes of the past had clear enemies to fight in the battle for the nation’s independence.
Today’s modern day heroes are the policemen who risk their lives to keep the community safe, the employees who gather the garbage to keep the city clean, and the ordinary citizens who in their small way do something to make a difference.
“We can all make a big difference if all of us are thinking and doing something good for our city”, Benitez said.
“If we do our civic duty, each one of us can be heroes in our own way,” he said.
The mayor, in his speech, also announced that he expects the beautification of the Bacolod Public Plaza to be completed this year with funds from the national government.
It will be a play of lights, music and water, he said.
“The plaza symbolizes the face of Bacolod that is why we need to beautify it,” he said.*