MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan, — Provincial and
city officials are now sprucing up the compound of the historic Barasoain
church in preparation for the commemoration of the 114th anniversary of the
First Philippine Republic on Wednesday, January 23.
Former Senator Ramon Magsaysay will represent President
Benigno S. Aquino as the guest of honor and speaker. The former senator will be
joined by provincial officials headed by Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado and
Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando in paying tribute to Gen. Emilio A. Aguinaldo,
president of the First Philippine Republic
The governor said that this year’s celebration will be
highlighted by a parade dubbed as “Parada ng Republika”, a parade that will be
joined by the eight governors of the provinces representing the eight rays of the sun in the Philippine
flag.
Alvarado said that incumbent leaders of the eight rays --
Cavite Gov. Juanito Victor Remulla, Laguna Gov. Emilio Ramon Ejercito III,
Metro Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio Umali, Pampanga
Governor Lilia Pineda, Batangas Gov. Rosa Vilma Santos-Recto and Tarlac Gov.
Victor Yap—will add more significance to the occasion.
“This will be the first time that leaders of the eight
provinces that broke from Spanish colonial rule will be present in marking the
anniversary of the First Philippine Republic. Their presence will add more
significance and boost unity among us in preserving one of the most important
events in Philippine history,” Alvarado said.
“Kung ang Baguio ay tanyag sa kanilang bulaklak at ang
Pampanga naman ay sa kanilang makukulay na parol, nais nating itanghal ang
dakilang lalawigan ng Bulacan bilang bayan ng mga bayani at sa makulay at
mahalaga nitong bahagi sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas,” said Alvarado.
National Historical Commission of the Philippines
Executive Director Ludovico Badoy said that the program will start at 8 o’clock
in the morning through the arrival of military honors for the president
followed by flag raising ceremony and wreathe laying activity in Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo’s monument.
“We want to uplift the awareness of our fellow Filipinos
especially the young generation that this is a very significant part of the
history. It is not only to promote Malolos, not only for Bulacan but for the
entire country as well,” said Badoy.
He added that they will be putting flags and tarpaulins
along Roxas Boulevard to inform Filipinos to join the celebration.
President Aquino has declared January 23 a special
(non-working) day in Bulacan in commemoration of the First Philippine Republic
(also known as the Malolos Republic).
The Chief Executive issued the declaration to give the
people of Bulacan the full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the
occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
On June 12, 1898, the Philippine independence was
proclaimed and The Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence was read at
the Emilio Aguinaldo's ancestral home in Cavite.
After gaining the independence, the Malolos Congress
convened on Sept 15, 1898 and produced the Malolos Constitution.
On Jan 23, 1899, the First Philippine Republic (also
known as the Malolos Republic) was inaugurated at the Barasoain Church in
Malolos, Bulacan.
Gen.Emilio Aguinaldo was declared its first president.
The establishment of the Philippine Republic was the
culmination of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule. On June 12,
1898, at Aguinaldo's ancestral home in Cavite, Philippine independence was
proclaimed and The Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence was read. The
act had been prepared and written in Spanish by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista,
who also read its proclamation. The Malolos Congress convened on 15 September,
and produced the Malolos Constitution. That constitution was proclaimed on 22
January 1899, transforming the government into what is known today as the First
Philippine Republic, with Aguinaldo as its president. In the meantime, on
December 10, 1898, the Treaty of Paris had been signed, ending the
Spanish-American War. Article 3 of the treaty transferred the Philippines from
Spain to the United States.—EMIL G. GAMOS
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