THE first ever celebration of the Armed Forces of the Filipino People Week commenced on Monday, August 24, as declared by AFP Chief of Staff Hernando DC Iriberri during the flag raising ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo on that same day.
House Bill No. 947 was in-troduced by Representatives Francisco Ashley Acedillo and Gary Alejano which declares the last full week of August as the “Armed Forces of the Filipino People Week,” coinciding with the celebration of National Heroes Day on August 31.
The law, Republic Act No. 10664, was signed by President Benigno S. Aquino III on July 6, 2015, giving due recognition to the important role and contribution of past and present Filipino Military Officers and personnel.
In his sponsorship of the mea-sure in the Senate, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, chair of the Senate Committee of National Defense and Security, said that the nation shall honor, remember and recognize the military personnel—the men and women who have served the nation throughout the country’s history, particularly those who are on “active duty” in all branches of the military service, as well as retirees, veterans and their families—during the week-long celebration.
The celebration will last for a week until August 31, with various activities lined up for the soldiers, their families and the public, such as free live band concerts and photo display on August 29 and 30 at Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City, public viewing in all AFP Museums, setting up of a recruitment booth on August 29 to 30 for those who aspire to become soldiers, airmen or AFP sailors, and a guest performance of AFP per-sonnel at the 4th Manila Bulletin Sketchfest at the Mall of Asia’s Music Hall in Pasay City.
Since the start of the week, various military units have up-loaded on social media their poster photos greeting their fellow soldiers on the occasion which carried the theme “Sundalo, Tunay Kang Bayani ng Mamamayang Filipino.”
In recognition of the AFP soldiers’ contribution to the nation, various individuals and organizations have also daily uploaded photos to greet, salute and thank the soldiers for their sacrifices, making the celebration more memorable to all. BEEN THERE DONE THAT/JOSEPHINE JARON-CODILLA