PRESIDENT Duterte will lead the 124th Independence Day commemoration, his last as chief executive, this Sunday (June 12) at the Rizal Park.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Kalayaan 2022: Pag-suong sa Hamon Ng Panibagong Bukas (Rise Towards the Challenge of a New Beginning),” with Duterte leading the flag-raising rites and wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of national hero Jose Rizal.
Duterte will attend the rites at the Rizal Park for the first time in his six-year stint as the country’s chief executive.
After skipping Independence Day ceremonies in 2016, Duterte missed the event anew in 2017 because, according to then Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano, he was not feeling well. His message was released to the media instead.
He attended his first Independence Day commemoration, as President, in 2018 in Kawit, Cavite where he was heckled by some members of militant groups while delivering his speech.
In 2019, Duterte opted to celebrate and lead the commemoration of Independence Day at the 6th Infantry Battalion Headquarters in Malabang, Lanao del Sur. He, however, was forced to skip the flag-raising ceremony in the camp and the wreath-laying event at the monument of former Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos due to heavy rains.
In 2020, he delivered his Independence Day speech in a taped message due to the coronavirus disease pandemic restrictions.
The President, in 2021, led the Independence Day celebration in Malolos City in Bulacan where he paid tribute to the frontliners.
Last Wednesday, the President highlighted the country’s history and independence during the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII)-led celebration of the 124th Philippine Independence Day and the 21st Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day.
He expressed the hope that everyone would learn from the history and experiences of the country and pursue efforts to realize a more harmonious and progressive Philippines.
Duterte also urged everyone to “take (to) heart all the learnings from the past, especially the countless hardships that we had to endure as a people. Let our rich histories move to translate our love for this country into real acts of goodwill for all our fellow men” and to use one’s ability, skills and knowledge for the benefit of the country.
Duterte is also set to attend the renaming and commissioning of the BRP Melchora Aquino, the Philippine Coast Guard’s newest multi-role response vessel acquired through a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency and would be used for sustained maritime patrols throughout the country, including the West Philippine Sea and Philippine Rise areas.
Formerly named MRRV-9702, the BRP Melchora Aquino made its maiden voyage from Japan to Manila last May 27.
Duterte is also set to attend the lowering of the first tunnel boring machine, train demonstration and unveiling of the Philippine railways Institute Interim Simulator Training Center of the Manila Subway project.
