​VICE President Sara Duterte urged Filipinos to keep the spirit of wisdom and unity alive as the country commemorated Rizal Day on Tuesday. ​Rizal Day is a Philippine national holiday celebrated annually on Dec. 30. It commemorates the life and legacy of Dr. Jose Rizal, the country’s national hero, specifically marking the anniversary of his execution in 1896. ​"The true lesson from Rizal is clear: freedom is not only freedom from a foreign force, but also the freedom of our minds and hearts from abuse, disunity, and evil. In remembering his sacrifice, may our strength and courage to stand up for truth and justice be restored. Let us not let the spirit of wisdom and unity die," Duterte said. ​Rizal was executed by a firing squad at Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park or Luneta in Manila) by Spanish colonial authorities. He was convicted of rebellion, sedition, and conspiracy after his writings — most notably his novels "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo" — inspired the Filipino people to seek independence from Spanish rule.