"We hope our youth will remember the values that Rizal died for and the message that he gave to the Filipino youth," she said in her brief remarks.

Rizal, a doctor and novelist, was shot by firing squad on Dec. 30, 1896 at the Bagumbayan (now Luneta or Rizal Park) in Manila on charges of rebellion against the Spanish colonial masters.

One of the famous nuggets of wisdom of Rizal, she said, is that the youth is the hope of the fatherland. Before her remarks, the President attended the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at 7 a.m. in honor of the great Filipino patriot at the Rizal Monument near Burnham Park.

Mrs. Arroyo was accompanied by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, local officials, and eight athletes from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) who took part in the recent 23rd Southeast Asian Games.

The President commended the athletes coming from the Cordilleras for hauling gold medals for the country to dominate the recent regional sports meet.

"We are very happy that the Southeast Asian Games gave the Filipino not only a boost in our collective morale but also because it gave opportunity to those in the under privileged community to shine. We hope that they continue to do so," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo, who is spending the Christmas holidays in Baguio City, hosted a dinner for the SEA Games athletes last night at the Mansion House.

The eight SEAG gold medallists who participated in the Rizal Day commemoration were Rhea Mae Rifani, Benjie Rivera, Edward Folayang and Rexel Nganghayna, wushu; Jouveliet Chalem, boxing; Helen Dava, judo; Christabel Martes, marathon; and Nelson Pacalso, karate-do.

Other officials who joined the President during the Rizal Day rites here were Baguio City Mayor Braulio Yaranon, Baguio Rep. Mauricio Domogan, Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, National Historical Institute Executive Director Ludovico Badoy and Gen. Generoso Senga, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff.

Meanwhile, in Calamba City, Laguna where Rizal was born, a commemorative program was held.

"Dr. Jose Rizal was the first servant leader who effectively led the Filipino nation to become a new Filipino nation. This is Dr. Rizal’s most important contribution to the formation of our Filipino nation."

This was stressed by former Interior and Local Government Secretary and Laguna Gov. Jose D. Lina Jr., currently the Supreme Commander of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, in his lecture yesterday.

The occasion was attended by Calamba City Mayor Joaquin Chipeco Jr., Laguna’s 2nd District Rep. Justin Marc Chipeco, Laguna Gov. Teresita Lazaro, Vice Gov. Edwin Olivarez, National Historical Institute (NHI) Deputy Executive Director Emelita Almosara, Philippine Tourism Authority Deputy General Manager Adel Oriondo and the Calamba City Sangguniang Panglungsod members led by Vice Mayor Pursino Oruga.

"Before Rizal, we were not one Filipino nation. That is why the Spanish conquistadores could so easily conquer us," Lina said.

Mayor Chipeco said that since Rizal’s death 109 years ago, the national hero’s influence in Filipino lives has not waned.

Governor Lazaro pointed out that "whenever we remember the martyrdom of our greatest provincemate Dr. Rizal, it has always awakened our nationalistic spirit and has made us even more proud to be Filipinos."

Meanwhile, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. yesterday led city officials in the commemoration rites at the Quezon City Hall grounds.

Joining Belmonte during the wreath-laying ceremony were Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, QC Police District Director Chief Supt. Nicasio Radovan, Jr., City Schools Superintendent Dr. Victoria Q. Fuentes, and officers of the Knights of Rizal QC Chapter led by Chapter Commander Juanito M. Velasco and former QC Councilor and Deputy Commander Jorge Banal Sr., and Maharlika Assembly and Padre Gomez Assembly of the Knights of Columbus, represented by Teddy C. Quieta and Reynaldo C. Pascua, respectively.

In Caloocan City, Mayor Enrico "Recom’’ Echiverri yesterday urged city residents to emulate the principles demonstrated and upheld by Dr. Rizal.

Echiverri said it is high time for the people to live up the national hero’s traits.

GMA exhorts Filipinos to brace for global race

In another call to leave the turbulent past behind, President Arroyo yesterday urged Filipinos to brace for a "new race for regional and world competition" and expect a "great leap forward" next year.

Despite opposition claims that the country’s future will remain bleak under her leadership, the President voiced optimism about a "bright new year" ahead following a string of positive economic indicators, including a stronger peso against the US dollar, towards the end of 2005.

"High hopes are the mark of the winning Filipino, whose excellence shines worldwide. The vibrant economy that is propelling the nation to a bright new year shows the gleam of our capacity for renewal, leaving the past behind, and uniting for the great leap forward," she said in a statement.

In the coming year, the President pledged to pursue the battle against poverty, hunger and unemployment "with equal vigor" next to the arduous campaign for constitutional reforms.

Mrs. Arroyo said the march for political change would seal the country’s "grand destiny" to become a first world country in two decades.

"We took the bitter pill of reform with fortitude and the payoff has been solid and strong, world more confident in the Philippines, investors taking a hard look at our potentials, a people raring for the gold medal in every enterprise and effort," she said. (Genalyn Kabiling)