By Alma L. Tingcang
PAGADIAN CITY - Pagadian City celebrated the 115th Independence Day in simple but meaningful rites yesterday
at the Rizal Monument in front of the City Hall Complex.
Mayor Romeo P. Pulmones,
ably represented by Councilor Roque M. Yamba said our forefathers risked their
lives and shed their precious blood to gain freedom from foreign oppression.
“If we place a high
premium on freedom, there is a need to raise our capacity to live up to the
responsibilities of free men and women,” the mayor opined.
He said “the real issues
hampering the freedom that we are experiencing should be confronted with and
let us strive for higher standards of good governance. Our collective efforts
will contribute much in preserving our freedom that would lead us towards a
brighter future.”
“This year’s theme: ‘Kalayaan
2013:Ambagan Tungo sa Malawakang
Kaunlaran’ is very fitting indeed since
we are moving towards development, hand in hand, each contributing our share to
national progress,” he added.
On the other hand,
Zamboanga del Sur first district representative Victor J. Yu said in his
message as read by former city mayor
and now board member-elect Joaquin G. Pajares said “development must be felt,
it must trickle down to every household and to every Filipino.”
“Filipinos have shifted
from fighting against foreign dominance to fighting domestic challenges. Our
country is on the right track, and we are winning the fight against poverty. No
longer are we the ‘Sick man of Asia,’ we are now a developing economy with a
GDP rate of 7.8%, the highest in Asia, higher than China and other developed
economies in Asia,” the good congressman said.
While agreeing that there is still so much to be done in
order that development will be felt by every Filipino, the congressman urged
everyone to work together to defeat poverty
and other threats to “our peaceful existence.”
Congressman Yu said we should not forget the virtues
and values that we have learned and use these to achieve our goals, especially
towards the development of our nation. (PIA9)