Group speaks out against the removal of heroes in new polymer bills. ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) launched another Run On Against Revision (ROAR) event on Sunday in Makati City to speak out against the replacement of Filipino heroes — including Benigno Jr. and Corazon Aquino — on the new series of polymer banknotes.

ATOM President Volt Bohol expressed their disapproval of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) decision to replace the heroes' images on the Philippine bills.

“Kahit sabihin nila pinagsasabay daw, wala pong reason bakit kailangan paghiwalayin (images of national heroes and new images of wildlife in PH bills) ‘yan. Pwede siguro ipagsama ‘yan, nasa kabilang side ang animals [at] sa nasa kapilang side ang bayani,” Bohol said.

(Even if they say the bills with heroes are still in circulation, there is no reason to have separate sets. I think they can combine the two)

The BSP confirmed last December that images of Philippine heroes are not featured in the new banknotes. 

The new banknote features native and protected wildlife with traditional local weave designs. 

BSP confirms no Philippine heroes on polymer banknotes

In response to what they said are continued attempts to “distort [and] revise and erase our legacy as freedom of loving Filipinos,” ATOM stressed Filipinos should “never forget our endangered heroes.”

Bohol also emphasized that ATOM views issues like this from a wider perspective and cited other matters and authorities’ decisions like altering national commemoration dates.

“Now we have the holidays being a little confusing now. Tinanggal ng EDSA sa roster of regular holidays. It's now a working holiday and now, this is happening,” he explained.

Bohol said that ATOM’s goal is to peacefully raise awareness through activities like ROAR. 

For him, initiatives like these help engage the younger generation to participate and call out the attempts to revise the Constitution, history, and democratic values.

“We feel [that] this is in line with what the current young generation would probably want to join," he added.

ATOM holds ROAR movements every third Sunday of the month in Makati City.

Bohol also revealed that they are planning to hold the February ROAR event on Roxas Boulevard in Manila.    

“This is like a build-up for the EDSA Revolution commemoration na rin," Bohol said.

Kiko Aquino Dee, one of Ninoy and Cory's grandchildren, and Filipino public historian Professor Xiao Chua also participated in the event.

Agapito "Butz" Aquino founded ATOM in 1983 in response to his brother Ninoy's assassination.

It held the "Tarlac to Tarmac" protest walk-run in 1984, which drew hundreds of joggers and crowds of thousands.