CITY OF MALOLOS—Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said here on Thursday that the lesson of the First Philippine Republic is for the Filipino people today to stage a third revolution, but not a bloody nor peaceful people power revolt but through their brave hearts and open mind to expose corruption, deceit, abuse in the government and its leaders and to elect new breed of power who are righteous and incorruptible.
Guevarra, former secretary of the Department of Justice who was guest of honor and speaker in the 126th anniversary of the First Philippine Republic held at the grounds of the Barasoain Church in this city said that what the country needs today is the new form of revolution which every Filipino, right in the comfort of their homes can contribute to attain, that is, genuine freedom from poverty and social injustice.
Guverra said that every year, the gross domestic product of the couutry improves, yet, the Filipino people are still drowned in poverty.
“Where we have gone to today, 126 years after we attained the freedom our ancestors have fought for in their lives. Where is our freedom from poverty, from social injustice? There are still no enough food in our table, our health and education remain inadequate. But, we do not need another bloody Philippine Revolution nor a similiar people power to win these battles today, rather an uprising coming from our hearts and minds to expose corruption in the government, deceit, abuse and for us to elect new breed of leaders who are righteous and will live up to standards of our forefathers and heroes who were behind the birth of the First Philippine Republic,” Guevarra said in his speech.
Guevarra said the Malolos Constitution that was ratified on January 23, 1899 that gave birth to the First Philippine Republic was the seed of the 1935 or the Commonwealth Constitution, the 1973 Constitution and the 1987 Constitution which the country abides today. He said the sane law that provides today that the Office of the Solicitor General, being the defender of the government agencies can refuse to defend any government office which doings will not be for the good of the people.
Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando also urged Bulakenyos to keep the spirit of nationalism, courage and determination to change the country for the better that were demonstrated by our heroes, alive today and in the next generations as the province is now on its modernization and fast developments through the game changing infrastructures in Bulacan—the MRT 7, the North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) train, the New Manila International Airport (NMIA), the Northwin Global City and the Mega City.
“Our dream is for the next generation to similarly remember and honor the same principles our ancestors hvae fought and died for, for our country. Let us not allow them to be gone by the times, but nurture and relive them tomorrow and beyond the future and do not allow them to just be forgotten and die,” the governor said in his speech.
City of Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad continue to lament the no full observance and recognition of the First Philippine Republic by the entire nation and the Filipino people but only the people of Malolos and the province of Bulacan.
Natividad has been decrying over the years the annual Jan. 23 First Philippine Republic Day celebration as the event was only made a non-working holiday in the province and not the whole country.
In 2018, RA 11014, An Act declaring every Jan. 23 a special working holiday in the entire country to commemorate the declaration of the First Philippine Republic was passed and enacted. However, still, it was not a “non-working holiday”.
“We stopped for a day and celebrate, commemorate, there is no work, for many events of national importance but not in remembering and honoring the First Philippine Republic while the freedom and democracy it brought were not only intended for the Bulakenyos, but for the entire Filipino nation,” the mayor said in his speech.
Prior to the said law, Malacanang issued executive order declaring the First Philippine Republic Day as a special non-working holiday in Bulacan.
On Jan. 23, 1899, delegates to the Malolos Congress who drafted the Malolos Constitution led by then Philippine Preaident Emilio Aguinaldo ratified the Malolos Constitution which gave hirth to the First Philippine Republic in Asia and Africa.
