Bangsamoro adds unique hue in Independence Day observance
Photo from Bangsamoro Information Office
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) added its hue to the colorful national tapestry that was on display during the country’s observance of the 127th Independence Day on Thursday.
“Today, we remember the sacrifices made in the pursuit of freedom and independence won in 1898,” BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua said in a statement.
Macacua, who heads the military wing of erstwhile rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said that the liberty now enjoyed by the people is a fruit of years of struggle, even in war. “As a Bangsamoro, we carry our history of struggle. We didn’t just inherit this freedom,” he added.
“We fought for it our way through generations of pain, courage, and hope. Our autonomy is part of that larger story,” Macacua further said.
During the Independence Day parade in Luneta on Thursday, the BARMM, with a delegation from the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism, and provincial government of Lanao del Sur, exhibited a parade float that featured the 1895 Battle of Marawi, paying tribute to the valor of Maranao warriors who resisted Spanish colonization.
Photo from Bangsamoro Information Office
“Let us not take this day for granted. Let it remind us where we came from and what we still need to fight for,” Macacua said.
READ: The dates signifying Philippine Independence
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez, Jr., who used to be a soldier, urged the prople to honor the legacy of past heroes in the process of shaping the country’s future course.
“Today, we pay tribute to our forebears who valiantly fought for our freedom, liberated us from the shackles of colonization, and sparked the flame of nationalism that has continued to burn brightly in our hearts for the past 127 years,” Galvez said in a statement.
“As we celebrate our nation’s independence, may all Filipinos draw strength and inspiration from our nation’s heroes who have blazed a path and built the foundations of our comprehensive Philippine peace process,” he added.
