Quezon City, in commemoration of the Philippines’ 123rd Independence Day, held a flag raising ceremony in the morning of June 12.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, during the ceremony, compared the fight for independence of the Filipinos with the fight against COVID-19 today.
In her speech, Belmonte said it’s been one year since the Philippines and the world have been prisoners of the pandemic.
Just like the freedom the country gained before, the mayor said the country would soon be free of the pandemic as long as there is cooperation and teamwork among the people.
The ceremony consisted of singing the Lupang Hinirang and reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the city of San Juan celebrated a simple commemoration of Independence Day, which was led by Mayor Francis Zamora.
He was joined by National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Executive Director Restituto Aguilar, EPD Chief PBGen. Matthew Baccay, Vice Mayor Warren Villa, and select frontliners from the City Health Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Public Order and Safety Office, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Task Force Disiplina, and City Social Welfare Department, who are at the forefront of the city’s fight against COVID-19.
“Last year, we honored our frontliners, our modern day heroes, who are fighting this virus head on. This year, since we are already at the tail end of our fight against COVID-19, our battle cry is ‘Kalayaan Laban sa COVID-19’. We are working very hard to free everyone from the shackles that COVID-19 brought upon our nation,” Zamora said.
In compliance with minimum public health standards, the commemoration consisted of the singing of the National Anthem, a flag raising ceremony followed by the lighting of the cauldron, and laying of wreaths at the Spirit of Pinaglabanan at the Pinaglabanan Shrine. -Reports from Allan Francisco/PG-rir
