THE move by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to replace the images of notable persons we have considered as heroes in banknotes with images of landscapes and wildlife found in the country has been met with stiff resistance and ridicule. The Aquino family, and their sympathizers, are at the forefront of these criticisms. Kiko Aquino Dee, grandson of the late senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and former president Corazon Aquino, and nephew of former president Benigno Aquino III, acting presumably on behalf of the Aquino family, equated the act with betrayal by the Marcos administration of our heroes, which presumably included his grandparents and uncle.

Dee posted this statement: '... they are changing our banknotes, a move started by the Duterte administration, so they don't have to look our heroes in the eye while betraying their sacrifices. They cannot do better. But our heroes remind us that the Filipino people can.'