Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin led the 125th Independence Day celebration at the General Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite on June 12.
He was joined by Kawit Mayor Angelo Aguinaldo, Cavite 1st District Rep. Representative Jolo Revilla, Cavite 7th District Provincial Board Member Ping Remulla, and other local officials.
Photos courtesy of Mayor Angelo Aguinaldo’s official Facebook page
Despite the inclement weather, the event commenced with a socio-civic parade held along the stretch of Tirona Highway. The traditional wreath-laying rites, however, did not push through.
Following the flag-raising ceremony, an exhibit featuring the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ new numismatic collection and commemorative coin was inaugurated inside the Aguinaldo Shrine Museum.
Photos courtesy of Rep. Jolo Revilla’s official Facebook page
Moreover, the Kawit government also held a job fair, trade fair, and a medical mission coinciding the commemoration.
Kasabay ng ating pagdiriwang sa Araw ng Kalayaan, hindi rin mawawala ang mga makakabuluhang programa na inihanda natin…
Posted by Angelo G. Aguinaldo on Sunday, June 11, 2023
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for the first time under his term, spearheaded the Independence Day rites at Rizal Monument in Manila.
In his speech, Marcos Jr. said there are still “manifold un-freedoms prevailing in the society,” but he assured the Filipinos that his administration will address these present challenges.
“These are the corrosive political and social conditions that make the nation not as free as we would like to profess and to believe, such as poverty, inadequate economic opportunities, disabling rather than enabling living conditions, inequality and apathy,” said the President.
“We will strive to remove the un-freedoms, we will aim to feed the hungry, free the bound, and banish the poverty,” he added.
On June 12, 1898, Gen. Aguinaldo — the first president of the Philippines — proclaimed the country’s independence from Spain from the window of his former abode-turned-shrine in Kawit.
Thumbnail photo made via Canva
