MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Philippines will no longer be subservient to any external force, President Marcos said yesterday as the nation marked the country’s 125th Independence Day.
Marcos – accompanied by First Lady Liza Marcos and their children Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro, Simon and Vincent – led the Independence Day rites in Rizal Park and Quirino Grandstand in Manila despite light rainfall.
In his speech, the President also vowed to address the “unfreedoms” hounding Filipinos today, noting that independence is the main path to development.
“The heroes of our liberation would be proud to know that we have thrown off the ‘ominous yoke of domination,’ never again to be subservient to any external force that directs or determines our destiny,” the Chief Executive said in his address, which lasted for about seven minutes.
“Ours is a government peopled by men and women of laws. We have a legal framework firmly in place that can enforce public order and bring justice which operates within a judiciary designed as an independent and impartial tribunal,” he added.
The President, however, said that although the country is now a free, independent and democratic state, there are manifold “unfreedoms” prevailing in society that stand in the way of human development.
These are what he called the corrosive political and social conditions such as poverty, inadequate economic opportunities, disabling rather than enabling living conditions, inequality and apathy.
“We will strive to remove the unfreedoms. We will aim to feed the hungry, free the bound and banish poverty. These are primordial moral and existential imperatives that are laid upon your government,” Marcos said.
He said his administration has laid down the Philippine Development Plan until the end of his term in 2028 that he vowed to implement “with vigor and with consistency.”
“Through wise policies, we will foster a highly conducive and enabling environment in which the exercise of true human compassion shall allow for the full development of the Filipino,” he said.
“Our success and the pursuit of happiness are not just the ultimate goals of our independence; these are to be seen as the expanded notions of human freedom,” Marcos said.
He also called for unity and solidarity so the country can be “genuinely free by achieving full development as a single, united and indivisible Filipino nation.”
In a message released earlier in the day, Marcos urged Filipinos to continue to “defend what is ours.”
“With new oppressors and challenges, our people remained defiant – affirming that it is in our core to defend what is ours,” he said.
He said liberty cannot materialize or flourish on its own unless it is “declared boldly, believed sincerely and demonstrated passionately.”
Marcos and his family led the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at Rizal Monument early yesterday.
The activities, scheduled at 8 a.m. at Rizal Monument, were initially cancelled due to bad weather. However, organizers decided to push through with the flag-raising and wreath-laying with the First Family, as the weather slightly improved.
From Rizal Monument, Marcos and his family proceeded to Quirino Grandstand, located a few meters from Rizal Park, where they witnessed a military and civic parade.
According to the Presidential Communications Office, this was the first parade held as part of the commemoration of Independence Day in 18 years.
After the flag-raising at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin reminded Filipinos to respect the national anthem and the flag, describing them as “concrete symbols of our nationhood and unity.”
“I appeal to all Filipinos to look at our national flag and national anthem with sincerest affection and genuine respect,” Bersamin said.
“On every occasion of its raising and singing, we Filipinos replay the valor and the sacrifice our countrymen who fought hard in the many wars and battles waged to win and to defend our freedom and independence,” he added.
Inclusive development
In her Independence Day message posted on Facebook, Vice President Sara Duterte appealed to the people for solidarity to help the nation achieve “inclusive development.”
“Today, we celebrate the enduring legacy of resiliency, courage and the bayanihan of Filipino patriots. The painstaking years of martyrdom left us with a strong legacy of patriotism and love of country in leading the way towards the triumph of the Filipino amidst the challenges of nation-building,” Duterte, who is also education chief, said.
“This is our inspiration for continuing our present quests for inclusive development that will carry our people out of the chains of poverty, insurgency, drug addiction and other threats to our national security,” she added.
Duterte also called on Filipinos to continue supporting the education sector in its task of enabling children and youth “to break free from the dangers of armed struggle so that they can realize their full potential and serve as agents of positive change in society.”
In Malolos City, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo urged Filipinos to bear the “responsibility to protect and enrich the freedom we inherit.”
He led the independence rites at Barasoain Church, often called the “Cradle of the Constitution,” as it is where the country’s first Constitution was crafted.
“All of us are called to endeavor to carry out the dreams of those who supported our desire to be free,” he said.
“If power is inherent to the people, it should also be dedicated to them. This power must be used to guard their freedom in its broader and deeper sense… The freedom to live happily; with dignity; with love; with hope,” he said.
“If these are only reserved for a few, our freedom will not be meaningful and will not be complete. So it is our duty to guard not only our freedom and well-being, but also that of our neighbors, of each of us – and not just for our neighbors living today, but for future generations of Filipinos,” he added.
Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando said it is the duty of every Filipino to help his countrymen fight a new revolution for national development.
“We are called upon to contribute capabilities and strength to liberate our country from prevailing oppression, lack of opportunities and social protection and threat of calamities an violence,” Fernando said in Filipino.
Freedom from poverty
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the chamber, under his leadership, continues to promote freedom from hunger and poverty, as well as peaceful democracy.
“From your Senate, happy 125th year of our Independence Day. Expect your Senate to be here, constantly promoting and guarding the freedom of our country and every Filipino – freedom to be a completely peaceful democracy and freedom from hunger and poverty,” Zubiri said.
“Together, let’s offer wholeheartedly our hard work, intelligence and skills for the continued development of our country, and let’s continue to be proud of being independent Filipinos,” he said.
Sen. Lito Lapid called on Filipinos to celebrate the country’s freedom “with meaning and bravery.”
“This is the day we remember the sacrifices of those who fought and continue to fight for our freedom. This is the freedom to walk our own path as a country, free from slavery and oppression by foreign oppressors and other enemies of democracy,” Lapid said.
Speaker Martin Romualdez called on Filipinos to each contribute to the protection and preservation of freedom.
“No contribution is too little or too big when it comes to our duty to protect the independence and sovereignty our forebears fought and died for,” the leader of the House of Representatives said.
He said Independence Day is an occasion for everyone to reflect on and learn from the lessons imparted by heroes like Andres Bonifacio.
“As far as I’m concerned, what Gat Andres had fought for is not yet finished, along with many of our heroes,” he said. “Remember, our country may be free and independent, but many of our fellow Filipinos continue to struggle to gain freedom from a lot of things: from hunger, from the shackles of poverty, from fear of uncertainty and from the paralysis of hopelessness.” — Elizabeth Marcelo, Neil Jayson Servallos, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Cecille Suerte Felipe,Delon Porcalla, Ralph Edwin Villanueva, Alexis Romero, Evelyn Macairan
