"PAMBANSANG ARAW NG WATAWAT" KICK-OFF IN MARINDUQUE

(Colors currently displayed at the Capitol Grounds)


PAMBANSANG ARAW NG WATAWAT
KICK-OFF ACTIVITY
MARINDUQUE PROVINCIAL CAPITOL,
MAY 28, 2008 – 8:00 am

MESSAGE DELIVERED BY PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATOR
LORD ALLAN JAY Q. VELASCO

Love of country, respect for the Flag and the elderly, patriotism and nationalism are values that are never outmoded. These values tend to surge when times are hard, like today in the face of a common enemy. Today’s enemy is not the foreign troops that Marinduquenos were faced with in 1898 and 1900 during the first and second phase of the Philippine Revolution – battles that are already familiar to us because we also commemorate them.

Marinduque today is continuously at war against poverty and we, the servants of the people know only too well the worth of a united, unified resolve against this real enemy. This war cannot be won with apathy, kawalan ng pakialam.

Love of country and patriotism, to me take on different forms now. Involvement and participation is the key. It is patriotic to campaign for issues, seek out good information, raise one’s voice and insist on what is right. Insist on clean elections, for one. That’s rallying behind the very Flag that we have hoisted this morning.

May I share with you, for all its worth, the story of the arrival of the first Philippine Flag for Marinduque from an account written by Ramon Madrigal:

“On June 27th, (1898), the Governor’s (Gov. Martin Lardizabal’s) courier, Canuto Vargas, arrived in Boac bringing the first Philippine Flag for the Province of Marinduque. A huge crowd of people went to Mount Santol to welcome the Flag as the flag-bearer was entering the town on Calle Real. The crowd was so big that only the Flag tied to a bamboo pole could be seen moving slowly, the flag-bearer could not be discerned.
Only when it reached the Provincial building that the bearer was recognized as Canuto Vargas, a short man who was sweating profusely and looking exhausted. The people were most excited to see and admire the first Philippine Flag in the Province – the Flag they came to know and to revere so much and so fondly.”

On behalf of Gov. Carrion, may we thank all our colleagues from the national and provincial offices who have come to join this morning’s ceremony.

Mabuhay ang Watawat ng Pilipinas!