MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan – Inside the historic Barasoain Church here, a marker where the names of the members of the Malolos Congress are inscribed on metal, a message written in Filipino, Spanish and English states that, “On this part of the world from the Eastern shores of the Meditterranean and the Suez Canal eastward to the Islands of the Pacific, north and south of the Equator, this Holy Church became the cradle of the government “of the people, by the people and for the people.”
Inspired by these patriotic words, many residents of this historic capital city are clamoring for the declaration of January 23 of every year, which is the commemorative anniversary of the First Philippine Republic, as a national holiday.
They said it is long overdue to dignify a most significant part of Philippine history that makes it a sovereign nation and the “cradle of democracy” in the continents of Asia and Africa.
“Our congressmen have been pushing for a proposal to make the noble date of the birth of the First Philippine Republic a national holiday but until now, only provincial holiday was declared in recognition of the occasion,” said Engineer Alejandro Joson Jr., a former village chief of Barangay Tikay here.
Joson said that Malolenos hope that with a patriotic Chief Executive in the person of President Rodrigo Duterte, the dreams of the people of Malolos would soon finally come true.
The former village chief also refferred to House Bill No. 477 that Bulacan First District Rep. Jose Antonio R. Sy-Alvarado authored and filed in Congress, an act declaring January 23 of every year as a special working holiday.
In an interview, Rep. Sy-Alvarado said HB 477 was approved during third reading in Congress and was supported by 256 congressmen.
“The proposed measure is now in the Senate and through your prayers, support of our lawmakers, and the industriousness and patience of the representative from the first district of Bulacan, we are expecting that it will instill into the minds of our citizenry and hearts of the youth that our race has a noble past and present and has brilliant future, ” Sy-Alvarado said.
The young solon said that he wants it to be declared as a special working holiday so that it will not disrupt the economic motion in the country.
For his part, Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said it is about time for the Filipino people to know that the First Philippine Republic is not only significant in the city of Malolos but in the entire country.
The governor said the birth of the First Philippine Republic showed that Filipinos can stand on their own as free citizens of the world and can govern themselves, aside from proving that they are capable of achieving their long quest to free themselves from the bondage of colonial rule.
He also said Filipinos abroad should also celebrate and commemorate the “great day” of Philippine freedom and independence.
The First Philippine Repubic was inaugurated on January 23, 1899 at Barasoain Church, in this historic capital city, and was marked by festive celebrations.
The day also become momentous with the proclamation of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo as the elected President of the new Philippine Republic.(PNA)FPV/ZST/EGGAMOS