By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday led the country’s celebration of the 109th anniversary of Independence Day at the Luneta Park in Manila.

After the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies, the President will deliver her speech before proceeding to Malacañang for the traditional vin d’ honneur at 10:30 a.m.

This year’s theme was “Sama-sama sa pagpupunyagi at pagdiriwang.”

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By Michael Lim Ubac
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–On the eve of the 109th commemoration of Philippine independence from colonial rule, the United States ambassador said the country remained “very free.”

“Happy independence,” Ambassador Kristie Kenney said.

“This is a great country filled with wonderful people. We’re proud to celebrate independence amongst all of you. It’s clear, to all of us, (this is) a very special moment,” she said, adding that she “feels at home here.”

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AS we celebrate the 109th anniversary of Philippine independence, let’s remind ourselves that, in spite of all the challenges we face, we still have a lot to be thankful for, and should be proud of being Filipino.

That’s something that’s hard to remember in the face of all the bad news that we read, see and hear. As I’ve blogged in @play, we have to show readers that not everything has to be tragic in order to be newsworthy.

This need is even greater for all our countrymen who are outside the country, many of whom are already enduring loneliness, homesickness and other hardships, only to be dismayed by the kind of news they read. Not that we’re saying we should stop reporting the truth, no matter how unsavory it may be. But as many of these readers have told us in their comments, surely a lot of good things are also happening, in the Philippines and in Filipino communities all over the world.

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HERE’S an excerpt from the article in The China Post:

Not even the rain could stop some 1,000 members and friends of the Philippine community in Taiwan from celebrating the 109th anniversary of Philippine independence yesterday.

Organized by the Labor Center of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), an elaborate parade featuring colorful traditional costumes kicked off the day-long event at Taoyuan Covered Stadium.

None of the wet, dreary atmosphere outside seeped into the grand venue, where balloons, streamers, and other party paraphernalia made for the festive event, as children ran around playfully and families and friends chatted away on the stands.

A VENDOR sells Philippine flags along Roxas Boulevard in Manila to be used for the celebration of Philippine Independence Day.

Photo courtesy of INQUIRER/Ryan Lim.

By Dr. Pablo S. Trillana III
Inquirer

(Editor’s Note: The author is a former chair of the National Historical Institute and currently Knight Grand Officer of the Knights of Rizal.)

MANILA, Philippines–Within a week of each other, the nation will commemorate two events of great national significance — the declaration of independence in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12, 1898, and the birth of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal on June 19, 1861.

These seemingly disparate events, in the course of our story as a people, led to a historical conjunction that gave birth to our modern nation. It would be difficult to think of one without the other.

The radical idea of separating from Spain through a revolution is generally laid at the doorstep of the Katipunan. This was the secret society founded on July 7, 1892, the day the decree of Rizal’s exile “to one of the southern islands” was published in the Gaceta de Manila.

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