“Freedom is earned, not inherited” – Senator Gordon

CITY OF MALOLOS – Senator Richard J. Gordon called on all the Filipinos to determine their share in earning the freedom they enjoy during the commemoration of the 120th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence held at the Barasoain Church in this city this rainy morning.

The chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises and Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, believed that freedom is a choice and every Filipinos can contribute as long as they commit themselves to the share on the goal of their beloved country.

“Sabi nga ni Rizal, nasa kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan. Ngunit, nasa ating lahat ang pagtulak ng kinabukasan ng bayan. Nasa ating lahat, hindi lamang sa kabataan. Tayo mismo ang problema, tayo mismo ang solusyon,” the senator said.

For his part, Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said that the commemoration reminds us not only of the brightest part of our history but also the continuous importance of freedom as an invaluable gift that heroes sacrificed for.

“Tinatagos ng pag-asa ang kaibuturan ng kalayaan, sapagkat habang nananalaytay ang pag-asa sa ating puso’t damdamin, ay malaya tayong tugisin hindi lamang ang kaganapan ng ating indibidwal na pagkatao, o dili kaya ang ating mga nilulunggating kaligayahan, bagkus ay makamtan rin ang pag-angat ng kalagayan ng Pilipinas bilang isang dakila, matiwasay, mapayapa at maunlad na bayan,” the governor said.

The commemoration, that pushed through amid bad weather, was highlighted by the flag raising ceremony and wreath laying activity at the monument of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.

It was anchored on the theme “Kalayaan 2018: Pagbabagong Ipinaglaban, Alay sa Masaganang Kinabukasan” and was made possible through the joint efforts of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Provincial Government of Bulacan and City Government of Malolos.

Independence Day (Araw ng Kalayaan) is an annual national holiday in the Philippines observed every June 12 as a commemoration of the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898.