ILOILO – This province will commemorate the 125th Philippine Independence Day on Monday, June 12, at the historic plaza of the Municipality of Santa Barbara with the theme “Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan.” (Freedom. Future. History).
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said the provincial government traditionally celebrates with the local government of Santa Barbara via a flag-raising ceremony and wreath-laying at the plaza monument of Ilonggo revolutionary leader General Martin Delgado.
The public plaza of Santa Barbara was the 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.
“This is a historic event for Santa Barbara, and every year we go there for the Independence Day celebration,” said Defensor.
On Oct. 28, 1898, 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 Governor-General Diego de los Rios eventually surrendered to Delgado, and on Dec. 25, 1898 the Philippine flag was raised at Plaza Libertad in Iloilo City (then a municipality).
The provincial government will be coordinating with the Santa Barbara local government headed by Mayor Dennis Superficia, for the program and invited guest/s from the national government.
For his part, Defensor will take the opportunity to seek support for his administration’s development mantra, “Movement for Resurgent, Progressive, Globally Competitive and Resilient” or “MoReProGRes” Iloilo.
“We will invite the whole province sa aton development mantra. MoReProGRes Iloilo is not about the LGUs, it’s not an organization, it’s not an alliance, but bilog nga probinsya, tanan kita sina. Amo ina aton pamaagi para mapulihan ang kadalag-an kag kauswagan sang aton probinsya,” added Defensor.
“MoReProGRes” has the following specific goals:
* to increase investments and employment opportunities
* to attain food security
* to provide accessible health and social services
* to promote public safety
* to protect and manage the resources and assets of the province
* to provide effective, efficient and transparent government administrative service.
MoRProgGRes encompasses food security, tourism and climate change resiliency. Here are the objectives:
* to promote the production of high-value crops in various agricultural settings for food security
* to blend ornamental gardening, landscaping, and high-value crop production
* to create an agri-tourism destination for tourists, especially Ilonggo weekenders
* to create green agri-tourism destinations that promote the use of recycled or upcycled materials
*to contribute to the province’s climate change response/PN
