| Heroes' Cemetery (Libingan ng mga Bayani) | |
|---|---|
| Philippines | |
National Military Cemetery |
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| Used for those deceased | |
| Established | May 1947 |
| Location | near Taguig City, Philippines |
Heroes' Cemetery (Libingan ng mga Bayani) is a national cemetery within Fort Bonifacio (formerly known as Fort McKinley) in Taguig City, Metro Manila in the Philippines. It was established as a fitting resting place for Filipino military personnel from privates to generals, as well as heroes and martyrs. Among those buried in the cemetery are most of the defenders of Bataan, Corregidor, and other Battlefields by Allied recaptured for the Liberation of the Philippines during World War II. It also contains the national Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It is established as the Filipino counterpart to Manila American Cemetery and Memorial which houses the remains of United States personnel that died in World War II.[1]
It was first established on May 1947 as the Republic Memorial Cemetery. It was then renamed to its current name on October 27, 1954 by President Ramon Magsaysay.[2]
Former Philippine presidents Carlos P. Garcia and Diosdado Macapagal, Former Vice President Arturo Tolentino and Salvador H. Laurel, National Hero General Artemio Ricarte and Carlos P. Romulo are also buried in the cemetery.
On the cemetery's entrance it is written: "I do not know the dignity of his birth, but I do know the glory of his death."
In 2006, the cemetery's council started exploring alternative sites for annexes in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Only one has been completed so far, the P24-million, five-hectare extension at Camp Hernandez in Dingle, Iloilo.[3]
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AFP Regulations G 161-373 or The Allocation of Cemetery Plots at the LNMB was issued on 9 April 1986 by former AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Fidel V Ramos and former Corazon C. Aquino.[4]
According to the AFP Regulations, there are 10 categories of deceased persons who entitled to be interred at Heroes' Cemetery:
Disqualifications:
Republic Act 289 or An Act Providing for the Construction of a National Pantheon for Presidents of the Philippines, National Heroes, and Patriots of the Country created the Board on National Pantheon. The law was enacted on 16 June 1948.[5] However, such facility has never erected.[6]
In 2011, Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile filed House Bill 4876 which seeks for alloting 25 percent of the cemetery for a National Pantheon.[6] Further, he stated that AFP Regulations G 161-373 provides that deceased commanders-in-chief are entitled to be interred there.
The Board on National Pantheon was created and conceived to consist of:[5]
The responsibilities of the Board consist:
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