KAWIT, Cavite – The year-long program of activities for General Emilio Aguinaldo’s ‘sesquicentennial’ or 150th birth anniversary officially kicked off Thursday with the launching of its logo during the First President’s 149th birth commemoration at the Kawit Shrine here.
Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara led the unveiling of the logo, together with Provincial Governor Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Director Ludovico D. Badoy and other local officials.
Guest speakers paid tribute to Aguinaldo by highlighting the President’s role in history and shared the different facets in the General’s life.
Cavite’s First District Representative Francis Gerald A. Abaya, in his opening remarks, expressed his great admiration for Aguinaldo’s statemanship who rose above life’s hurdles to offer freedom that Filipinos now enjoy.
“Bilang isang lingkod bayan, si Heneral Aguinaldo po ang aking inspirasyon sa pagseserbisyo. Tulad nya, sinisikap ko pong maglingkod ng may malasakit sa bayan (As a public servant, General Aguinaldo serves my inspiration in my service to the people. Like him, I strive to serve with love/care for my country),” Abaya said.
Remulla underscored the essence of the event and shared the many questions while extolling Aguinaldo’s noble traits and pointed his birth in Cavite also paved the way to producing the revolutionary general now known as “Father of Philippine Independence.”
Angara, for his part, said it might be Divine providence that he lived a long life, “para maipasa sa mga susunod na henerasyon ang kanyang mahalagang karanasan (so he could share to the next generation his meaningful experiences).”
Angara also shared Ambeth Ocampo’s story that even during the General’s time, “fake news” prevailed when in year 1952 the USSR Foreign Minister Andrei Vishinsky had accused the United Nations in New York of killing the President.
“Although our nation’s heroes comprise a gallery of larger-than-life, almost mythical men and women with extraordinary things they have done, they have changed the course of our nation’s history like that of General Aguinaldo’s life story, from his victories to his fair share of weaknesses, imperfections and mistakes,” he said. “Maalala sana natin na totoong tao, hindi mga Diyos, ang nagtayo ng ating bansa (may we remember that the establishment of our nation is done by real people, not Gods).”
He added, “Greatness comes from shortcomings and doubt and one becomes a hero not because of not committing mistakes, but by rising above life’s hurdles towards the achievement of our desired victory.”
“Ibig sabihin, lahat tayo ay may kakayahan para maging dakila at magpaka-bayani para sa ating bansa (that means we all have the capacity to be heroes for our motherland),” he said.
Every March 22, the whole nation observes the birth anniversary of the country’s First President and considered father of independence General Emilio Aguinaldo.
To continuously advocate the great leader’s legacy and highlight his role in history, NHCP, the Provincial Government of Cavite and the Municipality of Kawit, through its local Tourism Office, organize a day full of activities at the iconic Aguinaldo Shrine in this town. (Gladys Pino/PNA)
