DOJ chief leads Freedom Day celeb in Iloilo City
Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzalez Sr. accompanied by local officials of this city led the celebration of the 110th anniversary of the Philippine Independence at the shrine of Ilonggo hero Graciano Lopez Jaena here.
In his message, Secretary Gonzalez enjoined everyone to be a party in preserving the freedom of the country, as he also stressed that 'it is only during Independence Day that we should profess love of country.'
He recalled the deeds of the country's heroes who fought and sacrificed for the country.
"Sometimes we talk very lightly of freedom as if it is something that is just an everyday thing for us. Unfortunately, today there are many of us who pretend to be faithful to the flag but could not even display the flag during Flag Day," he pointed out.
He added that 'there are many who profess they want the truth but do not want the truth really.'
"The important thing is that we should be Filipinos, we should love our country, and we should love every sacrifice of those who preceded us so that this nation will be set free," he said. "Now that we have won freedom and independence I think we should not be instruments to destroy this country."
Meantime, he also launched a fund-raising for the putting up of a shrine for Lopez Jaena in Jaro district.
"This (Jaro) is a very historic place because Gen. Martin Delgado raised the victory of the Philippines here when he was holding his headquarters at the seminario," he said.
Lopez Jaena, according to Gonzalez, is 'one of the most eloquent speakers this country has ever produced.'
He died in Spain and according to Gonzalez his burial place could no longer be located in Barcelona despite the Philippine Embassy's efforts to find it.
The secretary pledged P100, 000 for the putting up of the shrine.
The celebration here started with a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of Lopez Jaena in Jaro Plaza at seven o'clock in the morning followed by a short program and ceremonial turn over of Tindahan Natin outlets and Botika ng Barangay and a feeding program to 2,000 malnourished children of Jaro district. (PNA)