How Can We Teach Children About National Heroes Day At Home?

29th of August—Does that ring a bell? Well, it’s National Heroes Day!
National Heroes Day is annually celebrated on the last Monday of August as an official holiday to commemorate and honor those who have made significant contributions to the causes of independence, justice, and Philippine nationhood.

This celebration is not just confined to the well-known Filipino heroes but also includes people whose names have been forever lost in history.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, National Heroes Day was traditionally commemorated by offering prayers, leading parades through the streets, and organizing military ceremonies at nearby shrines. However, due to the risk of Covid-19, we are prohibited from attending mass gatherings and are advised to remain at home.

But how can we commemorate National Heroes Day at home? And how can we keep the kids from being oblivious to this historical event? Worry no more because I will give you tips on how you can remarkably celebrate this holiday at home!

How Can We Teach Children About National Heroes Day at Home

Watching Historical Filipino Movies

National Heroes’ Day is a great opportunity to reflect on the past. So, don’t let the day go by without revisiting our national heroes’ journey. Here is the list of films you can watch!

Jose Rizal (1998)

Cesar Montano plays Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda in this 1998 drama about loyalty, bravery, and revolution. The life of our nation’s hero as a writer, lover, son, brother, friend, doctor, propagandist, and revolutionary is recounted in this classic account.

Supremo (2012)

This 2012 film by Richard V. Somes depicts the revolutionary life of Katipunan leader Andres Bonifacio, played by Alfred Vargas.

Heneral Luna (2015)

The movie, which features “John Arcilla” as Heneral Luna, is likely the most well-known historical film on this list. This popular movie from 2015 depicted General Antonio Luna’s strict and determined leadership when he led the Philippine Revolutionary Army during the Philippine-American War.

Goyo (2018)

This 2018 movie is about the young general Gregorio Del Pilar, played by Paulo Avelino, who fought and died in the historic Battle of Tirad Pass during the Philippine-American War.

Philippine History Trivia Night

Exercise your brain cells with a fun yet challenging activity! Get the kids into a trivia quiz bee about Philippine history and our national heroes. This way, kids can explore the past and discover more while having fun as a family.

Cooking up signature Filipino dishes

There is no better way to commemorate this occasion than with a special thanksgiving to honor our national heroes. Aside from preparing traditional Filipino dishes that will highlight everyone’s sense of patriotic spirit, it’s also one way for them to taste the richness of our culture and heritage.

Teaching children Filipino folk dances

Learning the dance routines of our folk dances, such as tinikling, maglalatik, itik-itik, and more is another way to celebrate National Heroes Day with your family.

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Itik-Itik

Itik-Itik is a traditional dance from the Philippines that takes its inspiration from the “movements of a duck,” including waddling, flying, and small steps while spraying water on their back.

Tinikling

Tinikling is a very well-known Filipino traditional dance. As part of this dance, at least two participants beat, tap, and slide bamboo poles on the ground and against each other while one or more dancers step over between the poles.

Maglalatik

The Filipino indigenous Maglalatik dance portrays a struggle between Christian and Muslim Moro warriors. The dance is performed solely by men and features the usage of coconuts as props.

Celebrating modern heroes

As we celebrate National Heroes Day, we must also pay tribute to the country’s modern-day heroes who played a significant role in this time of crisis—to the medical front liners and other working individuals who risk their lives every day to protect our community.
Lastly, we can support them and embody our sense of heroism by staying at home and urging everyone to be vaccinated. In this way, we can help our modern heroes and the community.

Today, on National Heroes’ Day, we Filipinos are reminded that our freedom came from the sacrifices of others. Let’s celebrate it not just with words, but with our hearts and love for our country.