DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – The city government of Dagupan spearheaded the 125th Philippine Independence Day rites held at the City Plaza on Monday, June 12 with the theme, “Independence. Future. History.”
 
In a message, City Mayor Belen Fernandez said, “Ang diwa ng ating paggunita ng Araw ng Kalayaan ay pananagutan ng bayan para sa mabuting pamamahala. Sa araw na ito, ating ipakita ang pagmamalasakit sa bawat isa sa pamamagitan ng pagiging matapat at magaling sa ating serbisyo sa bayan.”
 
Mayor Fernandez added that this year’s celebration was meaningful because of the presence of the young city officials who are part of the “Manlingkor ya Kalangweran” program.

The “Manlingkor ya Kalangweran” is an annual program of the city government and the Department of Education (DepEd) that trains top students to become youth leaders, and allows them to become counterparts of the city officials.
 
Before the assumption of their counterpart’s position beginning tomorrow, June 13, these youth leaders underwent leadership training from June 7 to 9 facilitated by the DepEd-Dagupan City Schools Division Office in preparation for their immersion program on good governance.
 
Fernandez said, “Dito sa Dagupan, nais natin ituro sa ating mga kabataan ngayong Araw ng Kalayaan na ang hamon sa bawat Dagupeño at bawat Pilipino ay kumilos hindi lang para sa kalayaan mula sa pananakop kundi laban sa kahirapan at kurapsyon.”
 
She said that the essence of freedom is to put the people first and to always serve well.
 
“Bukas, sa kanilang pagsisimula sa paglilingkod, we shall teach them the best lessons of how to protect our freedom and democracy. We shall train them to understand that whether you are an employee, a worker, a volunteer, a man, a woman, or a child, we must all be heroes of our own country. Itanyag natin ang pagiging magaling, mabuti, tapat at naninindigan para sa matuwid at tama,” she added.

As part of the Independence Day observance, the city officials led by Fernandez also offered flowers at the monuments of heroes, Dr. Jose Rizal and Gat. Andres Bonifacio at the City Plaza.
 
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment-Central Pangasinan Field Office also held job fairs at the SM Center Dagupan and Nepo Mall to help jobseekers get gainful employment.
 
It can be recalled that the country’s first president, Emilio Aguinaldo, proclaimed the Philippines’ independence from Spanish colonial rule in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898.
 
Independence Day is a regular holiday under Proclamation No. 90 s. 2023. (JCR/AMB/PIA Pangasinan)