In the afternoon of 12 June 1898 in the town of Cavite-Viejo, Filipinos gathered at the residence of General Emilio Aguinaldo to witness the first Philippine national flag unfurl as the San Francisco de Malabon Band played the Lupang Hinirang.
Reciting the Declaration of Philippine Independence, our people promised to support freedom “with our lives, our fortunes, and with our sacred possession - our honor.”
“Kagitingan, Kagalingan at Kasipagan Tungo sa Tunay na Kalayaan”, this year’s Independence Day theme reminds us that, indeed, freedom is not bestowed. It is something that we must together achieve.
