The noble acts and sacrifices of Dr. Jose Rizal still bring inspiration to every personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) even after 126 years since he died.

Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, AFP Chief of Staff, accompanied President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the commemoration of the 126th death anniversary of Rizal at the Rizal National Monument in Manila on Friday, Dec. 30.
The event was marked by the traditional flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at Rizal Park. The theme for this year’s event was “Rizal: Alaalang Iningatan, Yaman Ngayon ng Bayan.”
“Dr. Jose Rizal’s noble acts and sacrifices remain a source of inspiration for the men and women of the AFP as they continue to protect the people and secure the state,” Bacarro said in a statement.
Meanwhile, PCG Commandant, Admiral Artemio Abu joined the event at Luneta Park as he enjoined the people to commemorate Rizal’s legacy and honor his sacrifices for the country and the Filipino people.
Abu encouraged the public to “contemplate one’s life as the nation commemorates the legacy of Rizal’s courageous deed of promoting nationalism.”
Rizal was executed through firing squad on Dec. 30, 1896 at Bagumbayan, now Luneta Park, after he was accused of rebellion by the Spanish colonial government.
He fought the oppressive Spaniards through his writings including the notable Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo which depicted the colonial abuses suffered by the Filipinos at the hands of the Spaniards.
In 1898, then president Emilio Aguinaldo issued a proclamation which declared December 30 of that year and every year thereafter as a national day of mourning in honor of Rizal and the great Filipino patriots who fought against Spanish rule.