Palace orders gov't agencies to display photos of heroes, not officials

MALACAÑANG has ordered all government agencies to display photographs, paintings or other forms of visual representations of Philippine heroes in public offices in lieu of photographs of government officials.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, by authority of President Rodrigo Duterte, signed Memorandum Circular (MC) 25 on September 15, directing all public offices to exhibit

visual representations of the country’s heroes, in a bid to promote “social consciousness and patriotism.”

MC 25 requires all public offices, including government-owned and -controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, and public schools at all levels, to comply with the order.

All government offices are instructed to display photos of Philippine heroes identified by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).

Recognized heroes of the country include Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Juan Luna, Melchora Aquino, Gabriela Silang, Lapu-Lapu, Emilio Jacinto, and famed priests Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomes, and Jacinto Zamora.

“It is the policy of the state to promote and popularize the nation’s historical and cultural heritage,” the memorandum circular read.

“The state shall provide the means to strengthen the people’s nationalism, love of country, and respect for its heroes by emphasizing the importance of Philippine national and local history jn the daily life of the Filipinos, with the objective of raising social consciousness and patriotism,” it added.

The signing of MC 25 developed after Duterte said on July 18 that he would issue an order prohibiting the display of his photos in all government offices.

This was also practiced by Duterte when he was the mayor in his hometown Davao City. SunStar Philippines