Vice President Leni Robredo, Papal Nuncio Gabriele Caccia, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and other government officials and diplomats joined Mr. Duterte at the rites. One of them, former Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz-Araneta, said Mr. Duterte had invited her family to lunch in Malacañang. The President urged Filipinos to recognize Rizal’s sacrifice and to follow his lead to help build a strong nation. “May we take this occasion as an opportunity to recognize Dr. Rizal’s ultimate sacrifice for the sake of our country. The Liberal Party said Rizal was a “millennial” of his time, inspiring Filipinos to believe that they were capable of ruling themselves.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 30, 2017 23:26 UTC