Young patriots hold aloft a Philippine Flag as they wacth from a skywalk the annual civic military parade for the 117th celebration of Independence Day. The parade started in front of Cebu Capitol and proceeded to Plaza Independencia.(CDN/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
‘Fight hunger, restore rivers’; 15,000 join Independence Day parade
How do you advance the cause of freedom?
By restoring polluted rivers, feeding the poor and registering to vote in the next election, said government officials, volunteers and youth advocates who took part in Independence Day rites yesterday in Metro Cebu.
Students and uniformed personnel waved Philippine flags in an annual civic-military parade down Osmeña Boulevard that drew a crowd of 15,000 to 20,000 based on estimates by organizers.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he would make the restoration of rivers and coasts the focus of the remaining months of his term.
“We must free our rivers from all those who are intruding.. we must liberate our coastal areas, clean our esteros and canals,” said the mayor.
Days earlier, he announced plans to rehabilitate the Guadalupe River and show political will in clearing out illegal settlers and obstructions in the 3-meter easement to address flooding and urban blight.
“Cebu City, this is it. Look forward and I will invite all of you, once I get reelected, to be in Sawang Calero, Ermita, Pasil and Suba,” he said.
Rama led flag-raising rites at the Plaza Sugbo outside City Hall. City officials later released white doves and butterflies.
FLAG COLORS
At the Capitol, blue balloons were released by government employees in yellow sports shirts after 8 a.m. flag-raising rites led by Vice Gov. Agnes Magapale who was dressed in a red Filipiniana gown.
Magpale said they were the colors of the flag — red for bravery, blue for peace and and yellow for happiness as well as the party colors of the administration Liberal Party.
“We have not yet fully attained our goal of freedom from hunger and poverty. We must continue to strive,” she said in Cebuano.
“I think we should start with small deeds, such as following ordinances and traffic rules,” she said. A wreath was laid at the statue of Datu Lapu-Lapu. The crowd sang the Sugbo Hymn, then released balloons.
Gov. Hilario Davide III and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, LP stalwarts, skipped the local ceremonies to join President Aquino for Independence Day rites in Iloilo City.
The parade featured student dancers in Filipiniana costume from different universities alongside policemen, firemen, Coastguard personnel and military soldiers in full uniform.
The parade started at Fuente Osmeña at 4 p.m. and ended in a brief program at the Plaza Independencia.
Public elemementary and high schools in Cebu, and some private universities sent dance troupes and ROTC cadets. Barangay officials and employees also joined.
Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of the Sinulog Foundation, estimated the crowd of spectators at 15,000 to 20,000.
In Plaza Independencia, street children were treated to a free meal in a “boodle fight” to launch an anti-hunger campaign by civilian volunteers. (See related story)
REGISTER AS VOTERS
In the evening, a concert was mounted by the coalition Rock the Vote following a day-long satellite voters’ registration at the Capitol, to encourage the youth to participate in the 2016 election.
With half of the country’s voting population or 26.4 million aged 18 to 34 years old, “the youth vote can change the outcome of the 2016 election not only in the national but also in the local elections,” said Undersecretary Gio Tingson, chairman of the National Youth Commission (NYC), one of the convenors.
Around 40 young people from Cebu’s first and second districts signed up. The number was quite small, said Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec Cebu provincial elections supervisor, but there are still four months left for the registration of first-time voters before the deadline on October 30.
The coming election was a theme in Independence Day speeches.
“You may be asking where are the projects of Governor Junjun (Davide),” said Vice Governor Magpale.
“You can check with the mayors, with the local government units, that Governor Junjun downloaded projects to the mayors. Soon you will see an accounting of where the 20 percent development fund came from.”
Magpale said that by next week, Capitol officials will start inaugurating projects requested by the town mayors to whom funds were released.
The audience outside City Hall included war veterans, barangay leaders, boy scouts and girl scouts.
Mayor Rama drew parallels between the Philippine’s struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule to today’s challenge of urbanization.
“Our forefathers 117 years ago fought so that democracy will be alive. And when democracy is alive, canals, esteros, mountains and the sea should be back. They belong to God and the people. No one should be allowed to abuse it, invade it or encroach on it,” Rama said in his speech.
Over 10,000 illegal dwellers are living along the river banks in Cebu City based on government estimates. Eviction and relocation remain a touchy political issue amid limited resources.
Rama said the city government will not abandon those who will be displaced by river restoration efforts, saying housing development programs are in place for them. He did not spell out details.
“We must free our rivers from all those who are intruding and making God’s presence not much pronounced. … And most of all we must liberate our surroundings from the invasion of people who are selfish and only thinking of themselves,” said the mayor.
He said Cebu City should also be liberated from its debt for the South Road Properties (SRP) loan and that the correct taxes should be collected.
The mayor reminded city officials to remain committed and independent public servants with the motto “Public service above self.”
He said they should not fear being named in complaints filed by his rival former mayor Tomas Osmena.
“Always stand by the truth. Never be afraid of cases being filed. Only those who have baggage or are engaged in corruption should be afraid. For that man who is in the business of suing, he will have his day not here on earth but his day before God,” he said.
Osmena has filed administrative complaints against City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas , City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo, and is reportedly eyeing another one against Raquel Arce who leads City Hall’s demolition and “beautification” team.
Undersecretary Tingson, in the Rock the Vote concert, challenged the youth to make the youth vote a formidable force for the 2016 elections.
The concert carried the theme “One million votes, Move for change.”
“Forty-seven percent of the total voting population or 26.4 million are aged 18 to 34. Imagine what young people can do to continue reforms and strengthen democratic institutions if we vote collectively,” Tingson said.
Vote-rich Cebu province has 2.4 million registered voters as of January 2015. Cebu City has 565,150 registered voters.
First Time Voters’ Network (FTV) Cebu Convener Justine Balane said the participation by the young people in elections would “honor our independence.”
“For 117 years, young Filipinos have protected our democracy and independence. Securing young people’s electoral participation is part of that struggle,” he said.