“OUR quest for freedom must not be exclusive to liberating our country against foreign colonization, but also on the social problems faced by our communities today.”
This was the message of Mayor Edwin Santiago here as the city government joined the nation in the 121st celebration of the Philippine Independence Day at the Heroes Hall Wednesday morning, June 12, 2019.
Santiago said many Filipinos are still confined by poverty and illiteracy which holds them from experiencing a better quality of life, and the community to fully progress as well.
“Isa sa talagang ipinaglalaban natin ngayon ay maging malaya ang bawat Filipino at Fernandino sa pamumuhay. Malayo sa kahirapan at kamangmangan, at maibigay sa bawat isa ang karapatan sa maayos na pamumuhay,” he said.
He noted that the city government continues to craft and implement programs that are aimed at uplifting the lives of the poor and marginalized sectors and liberate them from the chains of poverty.
This includes short and long-term solutions including the social programs for solo parents, senior citizens and the indigent sectors, and the continuous improvement of the quality of education in the public schools to equip the youth into having a better future.
“Ito ang laban ng bawat Fernandino at Filipino at nararapat na tularan natin ang pagkakaisang ipinakita ng ating mga ninuno noon upang mapalaya rin natin ang ating bayan sa problemang kinakaharap nito ngayon,” he said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of employees of the city government and national agencies as well as civic societies and business establishments also participated in the civic-military parade which kicked off from the city hall to the Heroes Hall here as part of Wednesday’s celebration.
The participants, all wearing Filipiniana, Barong Tagalog and tribal costumes, were on board different floats creatively designed with the colors of flags and other Filipino symbolisms.
Officials of city and government agencies also honored the contributions of several local and national heroes through wreath-laying activities at their monuments located at the Heroes Park, Heroes Hall here.