Sustain the legacy of Plaridel through good deeds- Rep. Alvarado

CITY OF MALOLOS – Congressman Jose Antonio “Kuya Jonathan” R. Sy-Alvarado encouraged the Bulakenyos and other attendees on the 167th Birth Anniversary of Gat Marcelo H. Del Pilar to continue to do good to others in order to sustain the legacy and heroism of the ‘Father of Philippine Journalism and Philippine Masonry’ held at the Dambana ni Marcelo H. Del Pilar, San Nicolas, Bulakan, Bulacan early morning today.

“Upang hindi maparam ang mga gawa ng ating bayaning del Pilar, kasama ng iba pang mga bayani, ay pilitin nating tumulong sa ating kapwa, kung paano nagbigay ng pagmamahal si Gat Marcelo, bakit hindi natin tulungan ding palayain ang ating kapwa na inaalipin ng karamdaman, kahirapan at kamangmangan. Marami po ang paraan ng pagtulong,” Alvarado said.

For his part Vice Gov. Daniel R. Fernando said that Del Pilar will always remain as an inspiration to everyone.

“Ang kabayanihan ni Del Pilar ang gumising sa diwa ng mga Pilipino. Ang kanyang mga halimbawa ay patunay na ang bawat isa ay may kakayahang magpatuloy ng pagbabago. Tayo po ay patuloy na magsikap, mangarap para sa tagumpay ng ating bayan,” Fernando said.

Mayor Patrick Meneses of Bulakan, Bulacan also shared the life that his kababayan lived to help the country fight for its freedom that led to the proclamation of its independence 119 years ago.

“Mula sa may kayang pamilya, nagtapos ng abogasya sa Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas kung saan niya binuo ang samahan ng mga nasyonalistang Filipinong mag-aaral at inilunsad ang Diaryong Tagalog. Ngunit sa Espanya sa pamamagitan ng La Solidaridad na siya ang editor-in-chief higit na nabigyang daan ang labanan para sa reporma at kalayaan. Sa kabila ng lahat, namatay siyang mahirap sa malayong bansa, tinalikuran ang yaman kapalit ng pag-asang makakamit ng bansa ang kalayaan,” Meneses said.

Meanwhile, in response to the request of the National Press Club represented by its President Paul Gutierrez and their provincial counterpart BPC Bulacan President Carmela Reyes-Estrope to the national government regarding the declaration of August 30 as the National Press Freedom Day, Alvarado shared that he has already proposed House Bill 3702 ‘An Act declaring August 30 of every year as the National Responsible Press Freedom Day’ along with the House Bill 3703 ‘An Act renaming North Luzon Expressway to Marcelo H. del Pilar Expressway’, and with the help of his fellow Congressman and Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines Grand Master Most Worshipful Abraham N. Tolentino, hopefully, the said bills will be passed in the Congress.

The program started with a parade and followed by a flag raising ceremony, oath to the national flag, and wreath laying activity before the monument of the Del Pilar and was attended by public and private school teachers and students, national and local journalists, Knights of Rizal, freemasons and residents of the said town.