Governor Daniel Fernando led the commemoration of the 123rd Anniversary of the First Philippine Republic at the historic grounds of Barasoain Church on Sunday, January 23.
Fernando led the flag-raising ceremony and wreath-laying activity before the monument of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo with the theme “Unang Republikang Pilipino: Sandigan ng Nagbabagong Panahon”.
Fernando said that it is essential to commemorate a significant event that etched the name of the Philippines in world history as a country that can govern itself.
“Ito ay hindi upang ipakita na memoryado natin ang aklat ng kasaysayan. Ang higit na mahalaga ay ang ipamulat sa ating henerasyon na taglay natin ang katatagan na nag-ugat sa mga aral ng nakaraan, at upang patunayan na marami tayong prinsipyong natutunan mula dito,” (This is not to show that we mastered the book of history. The most important is to let our generation know that we have stability from the past and learned various principles of life from this.),” Fernando said.
Fernando was joined by Vice Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado, National Historical Commission of the Philippines Representative Rosario V. Sapitan, Malolos Mayor Gilbert T. Gatchalian, Vice Mayor Noel G. Pineda, and acting Bulacan police director Col. Rommel J. Ochave.
Due to health restrictions, few people were allowed to physically attend the event but were live-streamed via the official Facebook page of Fernando.
According to Philippine history, the Republic was inaugurated on January 23, 1899, at the historic Barasoain Church in ceremonies marked by the reading of the whole constitution by Secretary Pablo Ocampo.
The proclamation of the Republic of the Philippines by Congress President Pedro Paterno was followed by the proclamation of General Emilio Aguinaldo as the elected President of the new Republic.