ILOILO City – The Philippine Independence Day celebration is a continuing journey for the whole nation in honoring the past and embracing the present towards a radiant future.
In this city, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas who led the 125th Independence Day celebration yesterday underscored that with independence comes the power for everyone to shape the nation’s destiny.
The yearly celebration, he said, is a call to action.
“The decisions we make today will affect the lives of future generations. It is our responsibility to create a future where all Filipinos can thrive and succeed,” Treñas said in his opening remarks.
Compared to the simple celebrations from 2020 to 2022 due to the pandemic, the city government made this year’s Philippine Independence Day program extra special.
Traditionally held at the historic Plaza Libertad, the city government, for the first time, invited two keynote speakers – Police Regional Office 6 acting regional director Brigadier General Sidney Villafor and Civil Service Commission regional director Nelson Sarmiento.
According to City Tourism Officer Junel Divinagracia, the city also partnered with Iloilo City National High School (ICNHS) in coming up with a program with historically-inspired special numbers from students.
Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Administrative Order 8, the country will commemorate the 125th anniversary of Philippine independence with the theme, “Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan” (Freedom. Future. History) to “focus on the freedom that our forebears struggled for, the future they dreamed of for the country, and the history that we seek to remember and honor them with.”
It further cited Republic Act 10086 or the “Strengthening People’s Nationalism Through Philippine History Act” emphasizing the need to “reinvigorate government support for historical research; and sustaining and enhancing programs for the protection, preservation, and conservation of historical relics and memorabilia, monuments, sites and other historical resources.”
This southern city is proud of its culture and heritage, as seen in its relentless efforts to preserve, revive, or rehabilitate its historical statues, structures and practices. The city government engages with the private sector to strengthen these.
“Ang importante mapakita ta diri sa aton syudad nga madasig ang development because of public-private partnership – sa mga festivals, and now sa aton markets we are partnering with SM,” said Treñas.
SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI), through the public-private partnership scheme is redeveloping the time-torn Iloilo Central Market. Part of the project is the preservation of the market’s heritage building.
The Iloilo Terminal Market is also undergoing redevelopment by SMPHI.
SM also restored and is maintaining one of the outstanding historical homes in the country – the Molo Mansion.
Now, it is one of the city’s tourist attractions and has become a place for leisure and bonding for the Ilonggos and visitors while enjoying the products offered by local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the vicinity.
SM City Iloilo itself, through the years, has been serving as a vibrant venue for events and festivities that promote nationalism, heritage and culture.
During the National Heritage Month (NHM) last month, SM hosted an art exhibit that paid tribute to one of Iloilo’s finest architects and landscape architects, Sergio Peñasales and his breath-taking masterpieces.
In collaboration with the Department of Tourism and Iloilo province, SM served as venue, too, for the Fiesta Queens of Western Visayas 2023, a feast of beauty and grace from different towns and cities and which also showcased the region’s diverse cultural heritage.
Moreover, the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA) held at SM City Iloilo their NHM Philatelic Stamp Exhibit which featured historical stamps showcasing flowers, animals, national heroes, entertainment icons and Olympic medalists, among others.
SM has been a part of the Iloilo City’s history. Its SM Delgado branch is the oldest SM store in the Philippines outside Metro Manila, and SM City Iloilo is the biggest mall in Western Visayas.
SM is home to many local businesses promoting local brands and homegrown products.
SM City Iloilo hosted the 125th Philippine Independence Day celebration yesterday at its main entrance, welcoming the participation of various public and private stakeholders and with Councilor Miguel Treñas representing the Iloilo City Government.
Also as support to the celebration, the mall hosted this year’s Kalayaan Job Fair organized by the city government’s Public Employment Services Office.
Yesterday’s Independence Day celebration kicked off with a flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony led by Mayor Treñas, Villaflor and Sarmiento./PN
