Manila, Philippines, June 13, 2014 (INQUIRER) - THE CENTENNIAL President, Benigno S. Aquino III waved the Philippine flag, from the same spot as the first president of the Philippine Republic did a hundred years ago.
As Mr. Ramos proudly hoisted the tri-color, a young boy sang the opening verse of the Philippine National Anthem รก capella, later to be joined by a choir. The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra surged through the song for a heartwarming crescendo. The crowd burst into cheers, ''Mabuhay and Pilipinas.''
A group of veteran soldiers from Cavite, who squeezed themselves through the crowd to get a better view of the President, quietly wiped away their tears.
''We mark a hundred years of learning what it takes to rise from a diverse mix of language groups, islands and regions into a self-conscious unity into what Rizal called 'One Filipino Nation,''' President Ramos yesterday said in Kawit, Cavite as the country began a weekend fiesta to mark a 100 years since declaring independence from Spain.
A crowd of about 15,000 packed the Liwasang Hen. Emilio Aguinaldo to witness the reenactment of the declaration of the country's declaration of independence on June 12, 1898.
The men came in sterling barong and the women in gay baro't saya. Their parade was accompanied by the familiar strains of fiesta march songs played by small town bands.
The festivities were part of a grand celebration by Filipinos who temporarily forgot the regional economic crisis to mark the centennial of their independence.
At daybreak, church bells across the archipelago tolled for three minutes as officials gathered at key population centers for flag-raising ceremonies.
Every province, city and municipality hosted a Thanksgiving lunch for the country's achievements and blessings.
The celebration in Manila included a parade depicting the country's struggle against 333 years of Spanish colonialism, a regatta, sky-diving exhibitions and brass band competitions.
An evening of concerts and ''nationwide street dancing'' were preceded by a massive fireworks display over Manila Bay. (See related story)
Stiff price
But the festivities came with a stiff price.
Helped by private companies, the government spent at least P3.5 billion on the centennial celebrations, which also feature a trade and historical exposition at the Clark Special Economic Zone.
A third of the money went to the renovation of 16 historic
shrines and the construction of historical markers and monuments along the ''freedom trail,'' sites where Filipinos put up resistance against Spain.
The costly festivals are being held amid a year-old economic crisis. President Ramos has had to brush off criticism that the gaudy fiesta is inappropriate amidst the region's economic crisis.
Coming of age
In Kawit, Mr. Ramos said: ''We Filipinos are rejoicing in our coming of age, in the final proof of our ability to understand, to use and to protect the liberty our heroes won for us a century ago.''
Mr. Ramos pointed out that Rizal, himself, may have prophesied what would transpire 100 years after the declaration of Philippine independence.
''Ridding themselves of tyranny, the Filipinos would adopt the freest form of government,'' he quoted the national hero as saying.
Swirling red, white and blue confetti were blasted from cannons perched at the tower of the Aguinaldo shrine, raining down on thousands who stood transfixed, like they had been caught in the same crowd that had gathered around the house 100 years ago.
Into the clear morning sky, some 500 white doves were released as bells pealed from nearby churches and cannons boomed with the traditional 21-gun salute for the President.
Katipuneros, in their light blue uniform and traditional buri hats, lined the routes and circled the Liwasang Aguinaldo.
The Aguinaldo Shrine was refurbished down to its finest detail and spruced up for the occasion with its windows draped in the tri-colors and garnished with sampaguita strands.
It was like 1898 all over again.
Only the roar of five Philippine Air Force jets, flying in low formation over the shrine, intruded into the nostalgic mood as the festivities drew to a close.
Center to festivities
But in the center of it all was Mr. Ramos who read in Pilipino the same proclamation of independence that was delivered by Aguinaldo on June 12, 1898.
Translated from Spanish, the proclamation of independence is now permanently inscribed on a huge granite wall at the Liwasang Aguinaldo, across the Aguinaldo house.
Grand parade
Early in the afternoon, the President spoke at the Grand Philippine Centennial Parade at the Rizal Park.
He called on all Filipinos to use the occasion to unleash the hero in each one and help bring the nation closer to progress.
Mr. Ramos said the declaration of independence in Kawit, Cavite 100 years ago showed how Filipinos, if united, can triumph and realize their aspiration.
''This commemoration of our Centennial presents all of us with the opportunity to renew ourselves as a nation,'' Mr. Ramos said in his speech.
The present generation, he said, ''stands on the shoulders of martyrs and heroes and there is no goal that is beyond reach, no aspiration beyond fulfillment, no achievement beyond our capacity as long as we keep in mind how the people's story as a nation began.''
Though the Philippines traces its independence to the 1898 ceremony, two years into an armed rebellion against Spain, it only effectively gained full control of its own affairs in 1946.
In the interim, Spain ceded the islands to the United States, which launched a bloody campaign to wipe out resistance in its only Asian colony.
Japanese troops occupied the islands in World War II and the Philippines became independent two years after it was liberated by the US forces. With reports from AP and AFP
As Mr. Ramos proudly hoisted the tri-color, a young boy sang the opening verse of the Philippine National Anthem รก capella, later to be joined by a choir. The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra surged through the song for a heartwarming crescendo. The crowd burst into cheers, ''Mabuhay and Pilipinas.''
A group of veteran soldiers from Cavite, who squeezed themselves through the crowd to get a better view of the President, quietly wiped away their tears.
''We mark a hundred years of learning what it takes to rise from a diverse mix of language groups, islands and regions into a self-conscious unity into what Rizal called 'One Filipino Nation,''' President Ramos yesterday said in Kawit, Cavite as the country began a weekend fiesta to mark a 100 years since declaring independence from Spain.
A crowd of about 15,000 packed the Liwasang Hen. Emilio Aguinaldo to witness the reenactment of the declaration of the country's declaration of independence on June 12, 1898.
The men came in sterling barong and the women in gay baro't saya. Their parade was accompanied by the familiar strains of fiesta march songs played by small town bands.
The festivities were part of a grand celebration by Filipinos who temporarily forgot the regional economic crisis to mark the centennial of their independence.
At daybreak, church bells across the archipelago tolled for three minutes as officials gathered at key population centers for flag-raising ceremonies.
Every province, city and municipality hosted a Thanksgiving lunch for the country's achievements and blessings.
The celebration in Manila included a parade depicting the country's struggle against 333 years of Spanish colonialism, a regatta, sky-diving exhibitions and brass band competitions.
An evening of concerts and ''nationwide street dancing'' were preceded by a massive fireworks display over Manila Bay. (See related story)
Helped by private companies, the government spent at least P3.5 billion on the centennial celebrations, which also feature a trade and historical exposition at the Clark Special Economic Zone.
A third of the money went to the renovation of 16 historic
shrines and the construction of historical markers and monuments along the ''freedom trail,'' sites where Filipinos put up resistance against Spain.
The costly festivals are being held amid a year-old economic crisis. President Ramos has had to brush off criticism that the gaudy fiesta is inappropriate amidst the region's economic crisis.
Coming of age
In Kawit, Mr. Ramos said: ''We Filipinos are rejoicing in our coming of age, in the final proof of our ability to understand, to use and to protect the liberty our heroes won for us a century ago.''
Mr. Ramos pointed out that Rizal, himself, may have prophesied what would transpire 100 years after the declaration of Philippine independence.
''Ridding themselves of tyranny, the Filipinos would adopt the freest form of government,'' he quoted the national hero as saying.
Swirling red, white and blue confetti were blasted from cannons perched at the tower of the Aguinaldo shrine, raining down on thousands who stood transfixed, like they had been caught in the same crowd that had gathered around the house 100 years ago.
Into the clear morning sky, some 500 white doves were released as bells pealed from nearby churches and cannons boomed with the traditional 21-gun salute for the President.
Katipuneros, in their light blue uniform and traditional buri hats, lined the routes and circled the Liwasang Aguinaldo.
The Aguinaldo Shrine was refurbished down to its finest detail and spruced up for the occasion with its windows draped in the tri-colors and garnished with sampaguita strands.
It was like 1898 all over again.
Only the roar of five Philippine Air Force jets, flying in low formation over the shrine, intruded into the nostalgic mood as the festivities drew to a close.
Translated from Spanish, the proclamation of independence is now permanently inscribed on a huge granite wall at the Liwasang Aguinaldo, across the Aguinaldo house.
He called on all Filipinos to use the occasion to unleash the hero in each one and help bring the nation closer to progress.
Mr. Ramos said the declaration of independence in Kawit, Cavite 100 years ago showed how Filipinos, if united, can triumph and realize their aspiration.
''This commemoration of our Centennial presents all of us with the opportunity to renew ourselves as a nation,'' Mr. Ramos said in his speech.
The present generation, he said, ''stands on the shoulders of martyrs and heroes and there is no goal that is beyond reach, no aspiration beyond fulfillment, no achievement beyond our capacity as long as we keep in mind how the people's story as a nation began.''
Though the Philippines traces its independence to the 1898 ceremony, two years into an armed rebellion against Spain, it only effectively gained full control of its own affairs in 1946.
In the interim, Spain ceded the islands to the United States, which launched a bloody campaign to wipe out resistance in its only Asian colony.
Japanese troops occupied the islands in World War II and the Philippines became independent two years after it was liberated by the US forces. With reports from AP and AFP
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