"Admiring the Hardships of Filipinos"

    It is a well-known fact that on may 1 is a public holiday specifically directed for giving honor to the nation’s hardworking citizens regardless of their occupation. In Filipino it is known as “Araw ng mga Manggagawa”. Labor movements and parades are part of the festivities to bring attention to the grievances and sufferings the Filipinos undergone through, it includes minimum wage, inhumane working rights and other issues that compromise the working rights of the Filipinos.The first observed labor day was in may 1, 1903, a 100,000 workers were organized to march from tondos Plaza Mariones to Malacanang by the first labor organization U.O.D.F. The protesting employees demanded an improved working conditions by the American-led-government. This event is also regarded as the first public protest in manila.

    Herminigildo Cruz, the other founder of U.O.D.F organized the Congreso Obrero de Filipinas which is the first ever labour day celebration on may 1,1913. Rallies and demonstrations have been also a part of labor day. Educating ourselves of the labor day is the least we could do, watching documentaries about it is also recommended, and sadly even if they fought for it, it is not yet fully eliminated as even in this day there are still report of these going on behind the scenes but because of poverty the poor could only swallow their grievances and just strive to do better in hopes for a better future.

    Recognizing the hardships of filipinos had to go through is a big step for all of us to achieve the wish that we all have wished for. For a students like us, we can start by also educating others by using our social media platforms, just by simply sharing or posting about labor day is a big help especially to those who are still suffering from the inhumane working rules.

Reference: 
Lumina Home, Labor Day, 2023.
Retrieved 05/05/2023.
https://www.lumina.com.ph/news-and-blogs/blogs/labor-day-as-a-national-holiday-and-how-to-celebrate-it/