Aquino to visit historical sites on Independence Day

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III will visit historical places to mark the Philippine Independence Day, a Malacanang official said Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the public could expect the President to move around every year visiting sites with historical importance to Filipinos.

“This is an idea of the National Historical Commission that aims to really provide meaning and emphasis to all these historical sites that play the role in the country gaining independence,” he said.

“We believe that it is also one way of imbibing the historical significance of these places. And also it’s more fun in the Philippines to visit the historical sites,” he added.

President Aquino will lead a flag raising ceremony at Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan in celebration of the 114th Independence Day today, Tuesday.

Barasoain Church is considered as historical as it has been the site of the 1899 Constitutional Convention of the First Philippine Republic. It has earned the distinction as the “Cradle of Democracy in the East”.

He will also lead a wreath laying activity at the statue of the first Philippine President Emilio Aguinaldo situated in front of the church.

He is also expected to deliver his Independence Day speech in Malolos.

“He will speak about Independence…It will be a philosophical speech, I believe. Something that lays down also the philosophy of what he’s fighting for,” Lacierda said.

Last year, President Aquino went to Emilio Aguinaldo’s house in Kawit, Cavite, where the Philippine Independence from Spanish rule in 1898 was declared.

The President will proceed from Bulacan to Malacanang for the traditional Vin d’ Honneur with the diplomatic community.

“I think the President will still work on Tuesday as he has papers to catch up with,” added Lacierda. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)