ILOILO – Today the historic town of Santa Barbara is leading the province’s celebration of the 121st anniversary of the Philippines’ declaration of independence.
The public plaza of Santa Barbara was site of the first raising of the Philippine flag outside Luzon on Nov. 17, 1898 five months after General Emilio Aguinaldo declared Philippine independence from Spain in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898.
This revolutionary act is now known as the “Cry of Santa Barbara” and also marked the inauguration of the Revolutionary Government of the Visayas.
According to Mayor Dennis Superficial, the guests of honor today are Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. and son, Governor-elect Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr.
This year’s Independence Day celebration theme is “Kalayaan 2019: Pagbabagong Ipinaglaban, Alay sa Masaganang Kinabukasan.”
After the raising of the Philippine flag at around 8 a.m., a wreath would be offered to the plaza monument of Ilonggo revolutionary leader General Martin Delgado, leader of the Cry of Santa Barbara.
On Oct. 28, 1898 prior to the Cry of Santa Barbara, Delgado and troops marched into Santa Barbara and took control of the municipal building. That same day, simultaneous uprisings against Spanish colonizers took place in towns across Iloilo.
The Spanish forces under the command of Spanish Governor General Diego de los Rios eventually surrendered to Delgado and on Dec. 25, 1898 and the Philippine flag was raised at Plaza Libertad in Iloilo City (then a municipality).
After today’s Independence Day program, the building of Barangay Service Point Officers (BSPOs) would be inaugurated by Governor Defensor.
Aside from municipal officials of Santa Barbara, also expected to join this morning’s activities are officials and employees of the Iloilo provincial government, officials of the Police Regional Office 6 and Armed Forces of the Philippines, those of national government agencies, civic society organizations, students and teachers, among others./PN
