MANILA, Philippines- Sa selebrasyon ng 127th Independence Day, nanawagan ang ilang senador sa mas malakas na pagkakasa at kooperasyon sa lahat ng Filipino sa gitna ng isyung politikal na dumudurog sa bansa.
Ayon kay Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, dumalo sa Independence Day rites sa Barasoain Church sa Malolos, Bulacan, kakayanin ng Filipino ang hamon na bumabalot sa buong bansa sa ngayon.
“Instead of uniting towards a paradise that our countrymen aspire to, we are trying to fight with our fellow Filipinos whom we seem to love watching and experiencing,” pahayag ni Escudero, presiding judge sa Senate impeachment court, sa kanyang talumpati.
“Unity is the key to progress, harmony is the path to true change in our country. And if only the combined strength of the young and the old, educated or not, with or without appearance, regardless of gender, is true harmony. I see no reason why we cannot overcome any challenge and trial that destiny is currently throwing at us,” ayon sa Senate leader.
Umaasa naman si Escudero na paiiralin ng bansa ang political maturity sa harap ng selebrasyon ng ika-127 Araw ng Kalayaan mula sa dayuhang control at pananakop.
“Our country is old, more than a hundred years old. We no longer have reason to say that we are young and that we are just practicing. Hopefully, instead of trying to repeat the mistakes of the previous generation, we can learn from our history,” ayon sa Senate chief.
“Instead of trying to repeat the strife and conflict that we have seen in the past decades and centuries. Hopefully, we can change that and find what unites us,” giit niya.
Para naman kay Senador Loren Legarda na hindi lamang kalayaan ang pagdiriwang sa kasaysayan kundi sa pang-araw-araw na pangakong may prinsipyo na magbabantay sa kapaligiran, itaas ang kalidad ng edukasyon, preserbasyon ng kultura at tiyakin ang pagkakapantay-pantay sa lipunan.
“Freedom includes protecting the environment. The Philippines is one of the countries most at risk of disaster and the worsening climate crisis,” ayon kay Legarda sa kanyang keynote address sa Pamintuan Mansion sa Angeles City, Pampanga, na kanyang pinangunahan ang flag-raising ceremony.
“Every storm and flood is a reminder that part of our fight for freedom is protecting the nature that is our home,” dagdag niya.
Samantala, sinabi naman ni Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian na isang malakas na pagpapaala ang pagdiriwang ng Araw ng Kalayaan sa sakripisyo na ginawa para sa ating soberanya at “enduring spirit” ng mga Filipino.
Aniya, masyadong mailap ang tunay na kalayaan habang nagkukumahog ang mga Filipino sa tanikala ng kawalan ng trabaho, indigence at learning deprivation.
“As a nation, we must dedicate ourselves to overcoming these challenges to achieve greater freedom for every Filipino and a more prosperous life for future generations,” ani Gatchalian. Ernie Reyes
