Sara Duterte urges Filipinos to ‘value freedom’ in Malolos Congress anniv rites

Vice President Sara Duterte leads the 124th Malolos Congress and Malolos Constitution anniversary rites on Sept. 15 at the monument of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in front of the Barasoain Church in City of Malolos, Bulacan province. (Photo by Carmela Reyes-Estrope)

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — Vice President Sara Duterte called on Filipinos to value their freedom and democracy during the anniversary rites Thursday for the 124th Malolos Congress and Malolos Constitution in the historic Barasoain Church in this city.

The occasion, attended by Bulacan officials, is an annual tribute to Filipino patriots, who were part of the 1898 national assembly that drafted the Philippine Constitution and paved the way for the First Philippine Republic.

Sept. 15 has been declared a non-working holiday in the province.

“Pagtibayin natin ang halaga ng demokrasya na tinatamasa natin. Tibayan natin ang ating loob na malampasan ang mga pagsubok at hamon sa atin panahon ngayon,” Duterte said in a speech.

[Let us strengthen the value of democracy that we are enjoying. Let us strengthen our selves to overcome the tests and challenges of our times.]

“We can do this if we love our country and through our unity,” Duterte added.

She said the unity and love of Philippine heroes for the country “gave us the independence we enjoy today and that all Filipinos should enrich it in return.”

She added: “Patuloy tayong maging bahagi sa pagkilos para sa pagbabago. Mahalin natin ang Pilipinas.”

[Let us continue to be part of a movement for change. Let us love the Philippines.]

The occasion’s highlight was a wreath-laying at the monument of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo outside the church, where the historic event unfolded in 1898.

Aguinaldo and Pedro Paterno, who was the leader of a group of educated Filipinos, gathered at the Barasoain Church on Sept. 15, 1898 to draft the Malolos Constitution as the first law of the land after the country declared its independence on June 12, 1898.

The ratification of the Malolos Constitution on January 23, 1899, gave birth to the First Philippine Republic, known as the First Republic in Asia, of which Aguinaldo was the president.

Gov. Daniel Fernando, who welcomed Duterte, said the occasion was held alongside the conclusion of the province’s annual weeklong Singkaban Festival. INQ

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