LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – The province of Ilocos Norte commemorated the 117th Ablan Day to recognize the services and heroism of former Governor Roque Ablan Sr. on August 9.
Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro of the Department of National Defense served as the guest of honor and speaker for the celebration and led the wreath-laying ceremony at the Ablan Shrine in this city.
“We are here to honor a hero – Roque Ablan Sr., who gave his life and risked his life to liberate and free our country and to create a Philippines which is independent and free. Their challenges before were different because of the violence of foreign occupation. Today we face a different challenge – to preserve the country that they fought for,” he remarked.
Moreover, some local government officials of the province recognized Ablan Sr.’s contribution to the province who was named as a labor leader and a World War II hero.
“On days like these is when we recall that however challenging our obstacles may seem like COVID-19 or Egay recently, it really puts things in perspective and contextualizes the so-called patriotism that we all espouse. Our battles may be hard but surely the actual battle for freedom was harder, kaya we must carry on and honor our heroes as best we can,” Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc said.
“He was a man who stood up for what was right, even if it was at the expense of his own life. This is something that we should honor,” Laoag City Mayor Michael Marcos Keon added.
Aside from the wreath-laying ceremony, the Ablan family also organized a food fair, passport on wheels, operation tuli, and a Red Cross bloodletting activity.
Ablan Sr. organized the "Ablan-Madamba Guerilla Group of Northern Luzon” with Lt. Feliciano Madamba of the Philippine Army, an armed force that fought during World War II.
Ablan Sr. died in battle at age 36 on January 31, 1943, explained Triscia Alexandra Ablan, a great-granddaughter of Ablan Sr.
“This year’s theme is ‘Patriotism in the Bagong Pilipinas.’ Simply defined, patriotism is the love of the nation, devotion to the nation, and support for the nation. May the legacy that my great grandfather and the bravery and patriotism of Filipinos who have fought for the country’s independence serve as our guiding post in beating the odds that hinder our progress as a nation,” she said.
Ablan Day is a special non-working holiday celebrated every 9th of August in Ilocos Norte pursuant to Republic Act 6941. (JCR/AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)
