Aquino leads last Independence Day rites as President

President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday morning led the celebration of the 118th Independence Day at the Rizal Park in Manila—his last as Chief Executive.

Mr. Aquino graced the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at the Rizal Monument with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) chair Maria Serena Diokno, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair Emerson Carlos.

Also present were the President’s Cabinet members.

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Immediately after the ceremonies, which featured a fly-by of various military aircraft, Mr. Aquino attended the launch of the the NHCP coffee table book, “A Sense of Nation: The birthright of Rizal, Bonifacio and Mabini.”

After the morning celebration, Mr. Aquino was to go back to Malacañang for the vin d’ honneur with the diplomatic corps.

Invited for the event were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senate President Franklin Drilon, Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, Executive Secretary and Mrs. Paquito Ochoa, Jr., and Archbishop Guissepe Pinto (Dean of the Diplomatic Corps).

The heads of the various diplomatic mission, their spouses, and the spouses of government officials were also expected to attend./rga

President Benigno Aquino III. CATHY MIRANDA/INQUIRER.net