Aguinaldo’s patriotism, bravery extolled during birth anniversary

KAWIT, Cavite – National and local officials celebrated the 150th birth anniversary of General Emilio F. Aguinaldo on Friday, with activities extolling his life.

Highlighting the celebration was the raising of the Philippine flag at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Barangay Kaingin here and the wreathlaying at his tomb that was led by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles.

Nograles represented President Duterte at the event that was attended by Aguinaldo’s descendants, provincial and local officials, police and military officers, other government and civilian luminaries and thousands of residents.

Nograles relayed the message of the President hailing Aguinaldo’s bravery and patriotism as a revolutionary who fought for and gained the country’s independence.

Among those present at the event were Dr. Rene R. Escalante, National Historical Commission head, Cavite Vice Governor Ramon Jolo Revilla III, his mother Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla, Philippine Postal Corp. Head Norman N. Fulgencio, other national and local officers, and many Aguinaldo’s descendants, including Kawit Mayor Angelo Emilio Aguinaldo. Cavite 1st District Rep. Francis Gerald A. Abaya, former Finance Minister Cesar E.A. Virata, chairman of the Cavite Historical Society; Consuelo Aguinaldo Abaya and Alice Aguinaldo Dizon.

Malacanang declared March 22 as a special non-working day in Cavite.

The celebration started with the Serenata last March 16.

Aguinaldo, called “Heneral Miong,” became the country’s president in 1898 at the age of 29.

He was born on March 22, 1869 at the Aguinaldo House (Shrine) at Cavite El Viejo now called Kawit.

Aside from being a revolutionary who led battles in Cavite and other areas in the country, Aguinaldo also designed the Philippine flag that was sewn by Marcela Agoncillo. her daughter Lorenza, and Delfina Herbosa de Natividad, a niece of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, while he was exile in Hong Kong in 1897.

Aguinaldo was elected in 1898 as the first president of the new republic during the Malolos (Bulacan) Congress.

He succumbed to coronary thrombosis at 94 on February 6, 1964 at the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Quezon City.