CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday cited the huge role of Bulacan in Philippine history as it was where most of the significant events took place, leading to the declaration of the country’s independence from Spanish colonial rule.
Sotto served as guest of honor during the commemoration of the 120th anniversary of the opening of the Malolos Congress held at the historic Barasoain Church here.
According to him, the history of Bulacan is deeply rooted in Philippine history.
“It is important to recognize the role of Bulacan in the events of our history. The history of Bulacan reflects the entire history of the country,” Sotto said.
He also noted that some of the Filipino heroes were Bulakenyos, among them Marcelo H. del Pilar, Maximo Viola, and Pio Valenzuela.
Sotto said one of these important events that happened in the province was the establishment and inauguration of the First Congress under the First Republic of the Philippines announced by President Emilio Aguinaldo on July 12, 1898.
The senator even suggested changing the last two phrases in the national anthem’s lyrics as he believed that the original lines sounded “too defeatist”.
Sotto recommended changing the phrase “Aming ligaya na ‘pag may mang-aapi, ang mamatay nang dahil sa ’yo” into “Aming ligaya na ‘pag may mang-aapi, ang ipaglaban ang kalayaan mo”.
He even told the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history, to study the proposed amendments.
Meanwhile, Malolos City Mayor Christian D. Natividad gave the welcome remarks in Thursday’s event while Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado delivered a short message and introduced the guest of honor.
Prior to this, Sotto, together with Alvarado, Vice Governor Daniel Fernando, Natividad, and a representative of the NHCP, led the flag-raising ceremony and wreath-laying activity before Aguinaldo’s monument at the Barasoian Church.
The event was also attended by members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, League of the Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Bulacan president Guiguinto Mayor Ambrosio Cruz Jr., all chiefs of police in Bulacan, some officials of the local government units, and other guests. (Manny Balbin/PNA)
