28 September 2016 — A film screening of “Heneral Luna” was the centerpiece of the Filipino-American community in the New York celebration of National Heroes Day this year.  The Philippine Consulate General New York, in partnership with Cinetropa, organized the event at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center last September 01.

In his opening remarks, Philippine Consul General to New York Mario L. de Leon, Jr. underscored that the Philippines is a country of heroes.  He reminded the importance of recalling the sacrifices of our forefathers and retelling the epics on their heroism and the role that they played in the making of the Filipino people.

“More than this, we need to tell these stories not only to inspire us, but for us to realize that the task of keeping alive the ideals and principles that our heroes so valiantly fought to defend and that resulted in the freedoms that we enjoy today now falls on our shoulders,” stated the Consul General.

Writer and the co-producer of the film, Ed Rocha, during his discussion with the Consul General in an earlier meeting in Manila, believed that the film will rekindle a deeper sense of appreciation for Filipino history and culture, with the hope that it will inspire a cultural awakening, especially among the younger generations of Filipinos. END