Flags at half-mast as nation mourns Marawi heroes, victims

In an advisory, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said flags are flown at half-mast after the high noon tribute “as a symbol of respect and mourning to our fallen men and the civilians who died.”

Malacanang also encouraged the public to pay homage to the fallen soldiers, whose names were flashed on television stations and read over the radio at 12 noon Monday.

“We would likewise remember all the innocent victims who perished as a result of rebel atrocities committed,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

“We enjoin the public to honor these heroes and civilians and pray for them and the families they left behind.”

Government agencies, meanwhile, will begin flying the flag at half-mast starting Tuesday, June 13, the first working day of the week.

“We ask all Filipinos of all faiths and ethnic groups to say a short prayer for our heroes and innocent victims who perished, for the soldiers and the civilians who are still in the battlefield, and for peace and unity for the Philippines,” the AFP said in its advisory.

Fifty-eight members of the police and military have been killed in the fight to retake Marawi City from the Maute group--terrorists who have pledged loyalty to the Islamic State.

President Rodrigo Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law after local terrorist groups Maute and Abu Sayyaf, aided by local and foreign cohorts, laid siege to Marawi in an apparent bid to create an Islamic State province in the country.

The clashes started as government troops were attempting to arrest top Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon. The military said the terrorists were planning to launch an attack during the start of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, and the arrest was a move to preempt it.

About 1,000 locals, fearing to get caught in the middle of crossfire, are believed to be trapped in their houses as the terrorists held key spots in the city.

The militants are also taking with them scores of hostages who are being used as human shields. This has proved to be a major obstacle for government troops hoping to end the siege soon.

In defiance of the terrorists who continue to hold their ground, government troops in Marawi on Monday raised the Philippine flag in key areas in the city.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Who is your hero?

MANILA -- This month of August, as the country commemorates the 30th death anniversary of Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., revered as the modern day-Jose Rizal, as well as the National Heroes' Day, Filipinos online shared their own take on who they believe are worthy to be called heroes.

Responding to questions posed by ABS-CBNnews.com on social media about who they regard as their personal heroes, most Filipinos mentioned their parents with the hashtag #HeroKo. Their parents gave them life and provided for their needs, they said, making them heroes in their eyes.

Twitter user @pearlalooch said, "Si Papa/Tatay/Ama na masipag at nagsumikap para maitaguyod kami ng mag-isa ang #HeroKo."

Likewise, Anne Enriquez regarded her father as a hero, saying that he is her "Superman, Batman and Spiderman."

For Leah Busaing, meanwhile: "Para sakin NANAY ko ang #HeroKo kasi siya tumayo ama ina sa aming 6 na mgkapatid mula nung namatay tatay nmin."

Some also said Jesus Christ is their hero. "#HeroKo si Jesus Christ. Niligtas nya tayo sa kasalanan kaya pangalagaan natin at wag na natin ito dungisan pa <3 br="">
Heroes in time of habagat, Maring

With the recent onslaught of the torrential monsoon rains which were enhanced by tropical storm "Maring," many Filipino netizens regarded rescuers, volunteers, medical personnel, media men and weather forecasters as the country's modern heroes.

"Bukod sa mga Magulang q ang #heroko eh ang mga Pilipino n handang tumulong ng wlang kapalit sa oras ng kgipitan.#bagyongmaring," @iamsushiABARRA tweeted.

"Lahat ng mga medical personnel, lalong lalo na yung mga fellow nurses ko, holiday man o trahedya laging nasa serbisyo #HeroKo," Nimrod Gonzales said.

As for Isa de Vera, "Ang bayani ko po yun pong mga Reporter at tao na handang tumulong at magbalita na walang takot kahit may kalamidad #HeroKo."

Likewise, Twitter User Prima D. said: "#HeroKo ang mga taga PAG-ASA who do their duties faitfully&keep us updated sa weather para mkpghanda tayo at manatiling ligtas!"

A few also lauded celebrities who "used their influence to seek and extend help where help is badly needed."

Pork barrel, Janet Napoles

Meanwhile, some Filipinos took the chance to air their sentiments regarding the alleged misuse of lawmakers of their Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF).

Some even took a swipe at businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, who is the alleged brains behind the P10 pork barrel scam.

According to Twitter user @wee_kender: "#heroko Si napoles for running away with millions of peso unnoticed."

Sarah Jane Pacificar meanwhile said that she considers many people heroes, including her parents, "but definitely not swindlers like janet napoles and her lot."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Obama praises Filipina nurse in State of the Union address

MANILA, Philippines - US President Barack Obama praised a Filipina nurse, who is considered one of the heroes of the Hurricane Sandy disaster, in his State of the Union address before the joint session of Congress in Washington D.C., Tuesday evening (Wednesday morning, Manila time).

In his speech, Obama mentioned Menchu Sanchez, a nurse at New York University’s Langone Medical Center, as an example to all Americans.

"We were sent here to look out for our fellow Americans in the same way they look out for one another every single day, usually without fanfare all across the country. We should follow their example," he said,.

"We should follow the example of a New York City nurse named Menchu Sanchez. When Hurricane Sandy plunged her hospital into darkness, she wasn't thinking about how her own home was faring. Her mind was on the 20 precious newborns in her care and the rescue plan she devised that kept them all safe," the US president said.

Sanchez was seated between First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, during the State of the Union address.

When President Obama mentioned Sanchez, the First Lady was seen nudging Sanchez and smiling at her.

Sanchez was invited by Obama for her role in saving 20 at-risk infants during the Hurricane Sandy disaster that devastated large parts of New York and New Jersey last year.

She devised a plan to transport 20 at-risk infants at the Langone Medical Center to intensive care units around the city.  She organized the nurses and doctors to carefully carry the babies down eight flights of stairs with only cell phones to light the way. 

Even as her own home was flooding, Sanchez thought only of protecting the babies in her care, the White House said. 

Sanchez was born, raised, and educated in the Philippines and she immigrated to the United States in the 1980s.  

She has worked as a nurse in New York for more than 25 years, and has been at NYU since 2010. 

Sanchez currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and two children, both of whom are in college. - With report from Rodney Jaleco, ABS-CBN News

source: abs-cbnnews.com