Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila
12 June 2013

In celebration of the 115th Philippine Independence Day, President Benigno S. Aquino III led the simultaneous raising of the Philippine flag and wreath-laying at the monument of Filipino hero Gat Andres Bonifacio at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.

“Ikaw, Pilipino, ano na ang nagawa mo para sa bandila at kapwa mo?” asked the President in his Independence Day speech. He then recognized the great courage and bravery of Filipino heroes like Dr. Jose Rizal, Bonifacio and the Katipuneros in defending the rights of every Filipino people and for fighting for our freedom and sovereignty.

“Naninindigan tayo para sa ating mga karapatan bilang bansang may sariling soberenya, bilang bayang nagbuwis na ng buhay para sa kalayaan, bilang Pilipinas na may sariling bandila na kapantay ng lahat,” he stated.

This year’s celebration of the Independence Day was held at the Liwasang Bonifacio to pay tribute to Bonifacio on his 150th birth anniversary. He founded the Katipunan which fought the Spaniard conquerors in the late 1890s to regain our freedom.

The theme of the celebration is “Kalayaan 2013: Ambagan Tungo sa Malawakang Kaunlaran.”

*  *  *