Negros Occidental Governor’s Independence Day Message

If we are in accustomed times, we would be gathered together today to commemorate the 122nd Independence Day of the Philippines.

Today is the opportune time to be reminded that the freedom we are so privileged to have is not free, that so much was sacrificed for us to be in this free and democratic society. The Independence gained in 1898 and the fight we had to take to redeem our freedom in 1946 proved that of all the endowments we have as a people, our independence is the most expensive and the most demanding of all. The people who fought for freedom were just like us, people who never wished for war, people who would choose peace and freedom, had they been given the choice. However, choices need to be made and the heroes of our independence chose to fight so that the freedom and peace they also yearn will be enjoyed by generations next. Thus, it is the solemn duty of all generations to protect , preserve and promote our freedom.

We are in unprecedented times. And this allows us an opportunity as a people to honor the independence we won a century and decades ago in a remarkable manner. Our freedom is being attacked from different directions. The enemies we are presently fighting, are not just the threats to democracy, but also the kind of enemy that threatens our very existence. Thus, much is expected of us more than ever. While constant vigilance is imperative to protect our enshrined rights , the need to exercise discipline and self restraint to fight the unseen COVID 19 necessitates more from our already challenging duty to preserve the privilege of being in a democratic society. To quote the famous Peter Marshall, “Democracy is not freedom to do as we please but the freedom to do as we ought .”

As your Governor, it is my ardent hope that the present generation be conscious of our past, to understand that
history is not just some stories of the past, that our rich history was marked by sacrifices of real people just like us. That today, we are given the great privilege to do our part for our great collective history as a people, as a nation. Indeed, we are facing crisis of a different magnitude than we had in the past, but we were able to prevail and so we will, again.

Thank you and May the good Lord continue to bless our country and our province days of peace, prosperity and independence.

 

Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson,
Negros Occidental