FVR to lead Nat’l Flag Day rites in Cavite

IMUS, Cavite – Former President Fidel V.Ramos will lead the commemoration of the 118th National Flag Day on Saturday, May 28 at the Miguel Santo, Alapan II-A, a heritage site in this capital district.

The Flag Day is one of the most celebrated events in this historical city.

Imus was tagged as the country’s Flag Capital as it was in Barangay Alapan I where the new Philippine flag was first waved by the Filipino revolutionaries in the uprising against the invading Spaniards at the turn of the 20th Century.

The traditional Flag Day commemoration is a prelude to the twoweek national celebration of “Araw ng Kalayaan” or Independence Day on June 12.

Officials have organized nine-day activities for the Flag Day celebration under the city’s “Wagayway Festival” with the theme “Kalayaan 2016: Pagkakaisa, Pag-aambagan, Pagsulong” (Freedom Day 2016: Unity, Sharing and Moving Onward).

The 88-year-old Ramos, also referred to as ‘FVR’ during his term as chief executive, is remembered as the President who issued Executive Order (EO) 179, which stretches the National Flag Day commemoration from May 28 to June 12 and calls on the citizens to display the Philippine flag at residences, office buildings and public places.

Ramos will be the guest speaker during the Flag Day program proper at Alapan Heritage Park’s “Dambana ng Pambansang Watawat” (Shrine of National Flag) starting at 8 a.m.

The former President will grace the occasion along with Mayor Emmanuel Leonardo Maliksi, Third District (Imus) Representative Alex L. Advincula, outgoing Vice Mayor Armando I. Ilano, incoming Vice Mayor Arnel “Ony” Cantimbuhan, Governor Juanito Victor C. Remulla, National Historical Commission Executive Director Ludovico Badoy and former Prime Minister Cesar E. A. Virata, Cavite Historical Society president and a descendant of General Emilio F. Aguinaldo, and other officials.

Ramos will lead the hoisting of the traditional Philippine giant flag at the site..

Ramos is expected to talk on the relevance of the flag in the old and modern times during the program and might as well render his insights on the incoming administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.