Philippines marks 120 years of independence
Hecklers disrupt Duterte speech, amid concerns of China influence
President Rodrigo Duterte led commemorations of the Philippines’ Freedom Day in historic Kawit city, in Cavite, but his speech was disrupted by demonstrators and amid perceptions the leader is gradually kowtowing to China.
The president, who delivered his Freedom Day speech at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, said 120 years since the country gained freedom, it was now confronted with new social ills.
“May the solidarity and heroism exhibited by our ancestors fuel our desire to spur meaningful and lasting change in our communities as we collectively battle the social ills of corruption, illegal drugs, and criminality that impede our progress as a nation,” Duterte said.
Inside the Aguinaldo Shrine, Duterte met with several dignitaries including China’s Ambassador Zhao Jianhua.
Minutes before the president was due to deliver his speech, a group of protesters had gathered despite the rains and held a demonstration.
The irony of Duterte leading Independence Day events was not lost to the demonstrators who slammed him for alleged increasing subservience to China. “Hunyo 12, Huwad na Kalayaan, Duterte patalsikin [June 12, bogus freedom, oust Duterte].”
According to Senator Francis Pangilinan, 120 years after the Philippines gained independence from Spain, it now faces continuing violations of territory and resources from China and the government under Duterte should act on this.
“Not since the Second World War have we faced such a serious threat to our sovereignty, to the very definition of who we are, to our very existence and survival as a country,” Pangilinan said.
Take pride in what you do for society, Filipinos in the UAE were told yesterday as they marked their 120th Independence Day.
The Philippines gained independence on June 12, 1898 after 333 years of Spanish rule.
In Dubai, Consul-General Paul Raymund Cortes led the ceremony at the consulate grounds as members of the Filipino community pledged allegiance to their national flag.
During the short ceremony yesterday, Cortes encouraged the 800,000 Filipinos who are living and working in the UAE to continue excelling and contributing positively to society.
“We’re grateful that this country has welcomed us as family along with other ethnicities and nationalities on seeking to find their potential, opportunities that would define them as professionals skilled workers, semiskilled workers, and all those contributing not only to the Emirati families but to the entire UAE community,” Cortes said.
“Wherever the Filipino is, we are a positive force and we will remain to be a positive force for so long as each and every one of us is able to inculcate in ourselves what the repute of the Filipino is all about. We’ve cared for their sick. We’ve taught their children, we’ve laid the foundations of a happy home for many UAE families, and this I believe is one of the many important contributions of the Filipinos not only to the UAE but also to the world. It’s something to take pride in,” Cortes said.
Cortes urged Filipinos to work together with the consulate, which was recently named the Best Organisation by Manila’s Department of Foreign Affairs, to serve the community. The consulate in Dubai is the largest Philippine mission as far as consular services are concerned.
“Together, there is so much that can be achieved. There is so much that the Filipino community and consulate can do hand in hand so it does not end with the consulate being the best organisation but I dream that the Filipino community will become the best Filipino community in the world,” he added.
Abu Dhabi
Vice-Consul Rowena Daquipil, acting head of the mission in Abu Dhabi, led a flag-raising ceremony. In a speech read out by Deputy Consul-General Renato Duenas Jr, Philippine ■ ■ President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said this historic day forms the foundation of the liberties all Filipinos enjoy today.
“Through the patriotic fervour shown by our forefathers, we have freed ourselves from colonial subjugation and proved to the world that we stand united as the pioneer of republican democracy in Asia,” Duterte said.
A grand celebration will be held on Friday. The free-admission event will begin with a motorcade from the consulate at 9am to the Dubai World Trade Centre, covering 22km.
A job fair is also being organised for nurses and teachers who will be hired on the spot to work in hospitals in the US.
The daylong event includes a beauty pageant, a hip-hop dance competition, a battle of the bands, a fruit, vegetable and chocolate carving competition, and others.