By Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY – The free and
independent republic that we are now enjoying is the fruit of the victory that
was achieved by our ancestors.
This was the gist of the message of Brigadier
General (BGen.) Felicito Virgilio Trinidad Jr., officer in-charge of the 1st
Infantry Tabak Division, which was delivered in Filipino by 53d Infantry Battalion
executive officer Major Eusebio Ganitnit during the 115th Independence
Day celebration held at Rizal Monument in this city yesterday.
Trinidad said “we give thanks to our heroes who
made the greatest sacrifice to keep us safe and free from our colonizers. They offered their blood and lives for our
independence and democracy. Thus, the independence that we commemorate today is
an everlasting legacy that we inherited from our patriots.”
“In this historic occasion, we salute their service,
honor their lives and remember that we owe them the freedom that we are
enjoying every day,” Trinidad continued.
Trinidad also said: “As inheritors of
independence, we need to carry out our responsibilities in protecting the independence
that our ancestors had fought and died for.”
Trinidad appealed to all Filipinos to remain
united and steadfast using the lessons learned from the past and help the
government and people in building a strong republic.
Major Ganitnit led the department heads of the
city government, officials and employees from the national government agencies
and civic organizations in the wreath-laying ceremony at the statue of Dr. Jose
P. Rizal.
In a related development, the 1st
Infantry (Tabak) division conducted a bloodletting activity in coordination
with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
Seven soldiers who got wounded in fighting
lawless elements were also awarded medals for gallantry at the Tabak
headquarters. (PIA9)