CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga – Kalinga solon and caretaker of the congressional seat of Mountain Province, Cong. Allen Jesse Mangaoang rallied people of the province to continue the fight for freedom during the commemoration of the 120th Philippine Independence Day here on Tuesday.
“May we not waiver in living-up to the ideals of our national heroes like Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo and the rest to assure that our people enjoy true freedom,” Mangaoang said.
“This day let us remember and nurture their good works for the country and pass it on to our children. I call on our own people to join the age-old struggle to be free from foreign dominion so that we, as a nation, would live to the cause of our national heroes, which we now enjoy,” he added.
On the other hand, Gov. Jocel C. Baac stressed the essence of independence by conquering modern-day foes like poverty and divisiveness.
“Now that we gained liberty and freedom as a nation, let us not allow economic foes like poverty again to rule in our land,” Baac said.
As a province, Kalinga through the hardworks of the leaders and people had emancipated from the ‘Club-20’ and is now on track towards economic transformation, he said.
Government officials, civic leaders, Army soldiers, police and employees marked yesterday’s Independence Day celebration with wreath-laying, gun salute and a short program at the Rizal Park here.
By Larry T. Lopez