Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Bulacan spruces Barasoain Church for 114th anniversary rites of First Philippine Republic



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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