CHERISHED FREEDOM | Philippine Air Force’s SF-260s conduct a flyby over Rizal Park in Manila, where President Rodrigo Duterte led other officials in hoisting the Philippine flag and paid tribute to the country’s founding fathers in rites marking the 124th Independence Day on Sunday, June 12, 2022. (Photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte led his last Independence Day commemoration as chief executive by joining the flag-raising rite and laying a wreath at Rizal Park in Manila on Sunday.
In his Independence Day message issued by Malacañang, the President paid tribute to the country’s founding fathers who led the people in revolting against more than three centuries of Spanish colonial rule and establishing the ephemeral First Philippine Republic 124 years ago.
“On this day more than a century ago, we have shown to the world our collective force and will as a people by compellingly repudiating colonial subjugation. While our path to true freedom has been long and tedious, our forefathers have walked the mile and made us pioneers of republican democracy in Asia,” he said.
“In the spirit of patriotism and love of the motherland exemplified by those who came before us, let us come together in unity for the glory and triumph of the Filipino nation,” Duterte added.
The president called on Filipinos to remember the lessons of the past and practice discernment while enjoying their freedoms and building the nation.
“The shared narrative that we have weaved throughout history has never ceased in teaching us what values to hold and which lessons to remember. While we draw strength from learning our past, we must continue believing that there is still wisdom to be gained from our present choices, decisions, and actions so we can shape a better future for our people,” he said.
Constant discernment
The President reminded Filipinos that even if they have differences, they should use their liberties not to win an argument but to steer the country to the proper path.
“Let our constant discernment in the continuing process of nation-building, therefore, make us realize that our liberties are there to make us wiser and not to prove that we are always right or better. Even in exercising our most cherished freedoms, our differences can move us to engage in healthy yet meaningful discourse without sowing hatred and division, as well as push our country toward the right direction,” he said.
At Rizal Park, Mr. Duterte and other government officials raised a giant Philippine flag on the so-called Independence Flagpole, site of the 1946 proclamation of the country’s independence from the United States, which crushed the First Philippine Republic and took over from Spain as a colonial master.
Accompanied by Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino and National Historical Commission of the Philippines chair Rene Escalante, the president laid a wreath afterward at Rizal Monument.
The president, who wore a face mask, lingered at the monument for a few minutes and was seen on the state television’s live feed of the program pausing before the monument, touching it, and bowing before it. He also took a rose flower from the wreath, which he handed to an aide.
After the wreath-laying, the President spoke for about 30 minutes with members of the diplomatic corps who were guests at the ceremony. According to a state television reporter who covered the event, the president apologized to them for having to wait under the hot sun and thanked the envoys for the help their countries gave him during his term.
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