Marcos: Philippines never again to be subservient to any external force

Independence parade happens for first time in 18 years

MANILA (UPDATE)— President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., on the celebration of the country's 125th Independence Day, vowed the Philippines would never be subservient again to any external force and reiterated the importance of addressing "un-freedoms" hounding Filipinos today.

In his speech, Marcos said independence was the means to achieve the country's development.

"The heroes of our liberation will be proud now that we have thrown off the ominous yoke of domination, never again to be subservient to any external force that directs or determines our destiny," Marcos said during his Independence Day speech at the Quirino Grandstand.

"We have stayed the course and adhered to the ideals of a free independent country, popular, representative, and responsible," he said.

But the President stressed the importance of solving urgent problems that Filipinos face, including poverty, hunger, and inequality which "stand the way of human development."

These can be addressed, he said, through "wise policies" that government would implement "with vigor and consistency," such as the country's Philippine Development Plan to boost job creation and curb poverty until the end of his term in 2028.

"We will strive to remove the un-freedoms. We will aim to feed the hungry, free the bound, and banish poverty," Marcos said.

• Rainy Independence Day in parts of PH due to habagat

"I will be with you on that long and uphill road to achieve that dream of freedom, freedom from hunger, freedom from neglect, and freedom from fear."

In a separate message released earlier in the day, Marcos urged the public to assert their liberty. He also lauded Filipinos' courage in the face of "new oppressors and challenges."

"It is in our core to defend what is ours," Marcos said.

"Now, in the age where battles remain but occur in places the eyes cannot see, if is more necessary to take to heart the immeasurable courage and loss that came out of our heroes," he added.

"For this, I challenge each of us: On the 125th year since the declaration of our freedom, let us assert our liberty day by day."

• LOOK: Google Doodle marks Philippine Independence Day

Marcos' first Independence Day celebration as Philippine President was shrouded by light rains in Luneta and the nearby Quirino Grandstand, which was attended by various government officials and World War II veterans.

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Despite the inclement weather, Marcos pushed through with the wreath-laying and flag-raising activities at the Rizal National Monument.

The independence rites finished with a socio-civic parade that lasted for over an hour. This was participated by various government agencies and local government units in Metro Manila.

The Presidential Communications Office said this is the first time in 18 years that a grand independence day parade was held.

INDEPENDENCE RITES IN CAVITE

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, meanwhile, led the Independence Day rites in Kawit, Cavite. This was where former President Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippine independence on June 12, 1898

In his message, Bersamin urged Filipinos to honor the Philippine flag and those who fought for the country’s independence from Spain.

“I appeal to all Filipinos to look at our national flag and national anthem with sincerest affection and genuine respect,” Bersamin said in speech delivered at the balcony where the Philippine flag was first officially unfurled 125 years ago.

“We owe to them our existence as a free and independent nation. They deserve our lasting homage and gratitude as a nation,” he said.

Bersamin underscored that Filipinos “are blessed that the Philippines is independent, sovereign and free."

“Independence is essential to the existence of every nation. A nation without it is either ruled by another or is a dependency or protectorate,” the former Chief Justice said.

“That nation lacks identity… and has no freedom to move forward… We should not therefore lose our independence," he said.

Aguinaldo first declared the Philippines’ independence at the Aguinaldo Shrine through a 21-page proclamation signed by 97 compatriots who represented different provinces in the country, Bersamin noted.

It is also where the Philippine National Anthem, composed by Julian Felipe, was first played without the official lyrics, he said.

'INDEPENDENCE SHOULD BENEFIT ALL'

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando led the flag raising ceremony at the historic Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan for the independence day celebrations.

A wreath was supposed to be laid at the statue of General Emilio Aguinaldo, the first Philippine president, but the rains forced organizers to forego the wreath-laying and the actual raising of the Philippine flag.

Gesmundo, who was the provincial government’s guest of honor, reflected on the significance of the Barasoain Church, widely recognized as the seat of the First Philippine Republic.

Built in the 1880s, Barasoain Church played a crucial role in the infancy of Philippine democracy.

While Aguinaldo raised the Philippine flag and declared independence on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite, he later moved the Philippine capital from Kawit to Malolos.

The Barasoain Church then served as the site of the Malolos Congress which drafted the Malolos Constitution starting in September 1898 until Malolos fell to American hands in March 1899.

“Sa Kawit, inihayag natin na hawak natin ang ating kapalaran—dito sa Barasoain, itinakda natin kung anong landas ang tatahakin natin, at kung paano natin ito tatahakin, tungo sa kinabukasang pinapangarap natin. Binalangkas nito ang mga prinsipyo natin bilang bansa. At, sa paningin ko, pinakamahalaga: kinilala at idiniin nito na ang soberanya, ang ganap na kapangyarihan, nasa kamay ng taumbayan,” Gesmundo said.

The Philippines declared independence from American rule on July 4, 1946 but later switched back to commemorating June 12, as Independence Day.

The Chief Justice said this hard-fought independence should benefit everyone.

“Ang kapangyarihang ito, dapat ginagamit para bantayan ang kanilang kalayaan sa mas malawak at mas malalim na diwa nito— kalayaan hindi lang sa mananakop, kundi sa gutom, sa kahirapan, sa pangamba, sa kawalan ng katarungan," Gesmundo said.

"Ang kalayaan na mabuhay na masaya; na may dignidad; na may pagmamahal; na may pag-asa. Kung nakalaan lang para sa iilan ang mga ito, hindi magiging makabuluhan at hindi magiging ganap ang ating kalayaan,” he said.

“Kaya tungkulin nating bantayan hindi lang ang ating kalayaan at kapakanan, kundi pati ng kapwa natin, ng bawa’t isa sa atin—at hindi lang para sa mga kapwa nating nabubuhay ngayon, kundi para sa mga susunod na henerasyon ng Pilipino,” he added.

He also challenged Filipinos to remember the responsibility that comes with freedom.

“Nariyan, higit sa lahat, ang mga tungkulin natin bilang mga mamamayan. Kasama ng tungkulin nating pangalagaan ang ating kalayaan ang tungkulin nating pangalagaan ang ating kapwa, at ang tungkulin nating pangalagaan ang ating bansa—tungo sa kinabukasan na mas matatag, mas maunlad, at mas makatao para sa lahat,” he said.

For the Judiciary’s part, Gesmundo said they are taking steps to ensure that justice in the country is delivered in real time, through its Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI).

SPJI aims to deliver justice that is timely and fair, transparent and accountable, equal and inclusive, and technology adaptive.

“Layunin ng SPJI na magtaguyod ng hudikaturang mas maliksi, mas makabago, at mas malapit sa tao. At ang layuning ito, masasabi nating nakatuon din sa layunin noon ng Konstitusyon ng Malolos at ng mga saligang batas na sumunod dito; ng Himagsikang Pilipino; at ng mahabang kasaysayan ng pagkilos tungo sa kalayaan: na magtatag ng isang bansang makatarungan," he said.

"Ito nga ang unang binanggit ng mga delegado sa Malolos bilang kanilang layunin sa panimula ng Konstitusyon—kasama ang pagtatanggol sa bansa, ang pagsulong sa kapakanan ng taumbayan, at ang pagtiyak na ating matatamasa ang mga biyaya ng kalayaan,” he said.

But the top magistrate said the burden to keep democracy alive does not fall solely on the Judiciary’s shoulders but must be shared by all.

“Lahat tayo, tinatawag na pagsikapang isakatuparan ang mga pangarap na bumuhay sa pagnanais nating lumaya. At lahat tayo—anuman ang ating larangan, anuman ang ating katayuan sa buhay, anuman ang ating pinanggalingan—may maiaambag sa pagkamit ng mga pangarap na ito,” he said.

— with a report from Mike Navallo, ABS-CBN News