Heroism doesn’t need death

"You don't have to die to be a hero." This was the statement of Governor Hilario Davide III as he called on Cebuanos to do their share in making the community better for everyone.

"A hero is somebody who is selfless and who is willing to sacrifice for others… and it's how you carry your life and how you live your life," he said in time for the National Heroes Day today.

"We are heroes in our own little ways. Real heroes through one's sacrifices, through one's contributions to the development of a community, no matter what size the community is," he added.

He cited the work of farms and journalists in serving the community.

"They are the ones feeding us. They are the ones producing our foods. They are worthy to be called one," he said of farmers.

"Kamo, you are heroes in the jobs that you do. Sakripisyo paabot og balita, interview (sources). Dili sayon, but still you do it," he said of journalists.

Last year, Capitol distributed equipment to farmer federations and cooperatives in the province in celebration of "Farmers Day."

Davide hailed the province's 300,000 farmers as heroes.

The Farmers Day was one of the highlights of the province's 446th founding anniversary on August 6. It was the first time it was celebrated.

Provincial agriculturist Rolando Saragena said the Farmers Day was in line with Davide's thrust in giving emphasis to the importance of farming.

Davide also called on Cebuanos to pay tribute to soldiers who have fallen during combat and/or while performing in humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.

HOLIDAY

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has reminded private sector employers to observe the rules on holiday pay.

The pay rules that apply on August 29 are:

• If the employee did not work, he or she shall be paid 100 percent of his or her salary on this day [(Daily Rate + Cost of Living Allowance) x 100 percent]

• For work done during the regular holiday, an employee shall be paid 200 percent of his or her regular salary for that day for the first eight hours [(Daily Rate + Cost of Living Allowance) x 200 percent]

• For work done in excess of eight hours (overtime work), he or she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his or her hourly rate on said day [(Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 200 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked]

• For work done during a regular holiday that also falls on his or her rest day, he or she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his her daily rate of 200 percent [(Daily Rate + Cost of Living Allowance) x 200 percent] + [30 percent (Daily Rate x 200 percent)]

• For work done in excess of eight hours (overtime work) during a holiday that also falls on his or her rest day, he or she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his or her hourly rate on said day (Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 200 percent x 130 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked)

National Heroes' Day is a holiday celebrated on the last Monday of August. Its celebration was institutionalized in 1931 through Act 3827 of the Philippine Legislature.

The holiday was initially celebrated every last Sunday of August. In 2007, then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act 9492, which moved the commemoration to the last Monday of August.

This was done in order to give honor to other heroes who are not remembered with their own legal holidays as Jose Rizal is remembered every 30th of December and Andres Bonifacio every 30th of November. Also to encourage the younger generation to emulate the character of those who have fought for and made the country proud.