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Province commemorates independence ​

​(June 13, 2018)

Drawing attention and giving emphasis to authentic human freedom, the Provincial Tourism and Culture Office presented a flashy and vivid audio-visual presentation on the eve of our country’s observance of the 120th Independence Day.

According to the moving slides, true liberty means helping others in the face of threats from within and without.

Among those utterly denounced and deliberately condemned were truncated thoughts, skepticism, distrust, insolence, disrespect, crankiness, bad-temperedness, cantankerousness, higgledy-piggledy and topsy-turvy mentality, violation of constitutional rights, affliction, injustice, favoritism and discrimination.

In his inspiring message, Board Member Mamerto Galanida invited everyone to visit Bucas Grande in its extended fiesta celebration to take shape from June 17 to 19  in honor of the Blessed Virgin.

BM Galanida walked down memory lane to exhaustively detail the heroism of Katipuneros which ultimately led to the declaration of freedom by Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo on June 12, 1898. He also revisited the historical backgrounder of the drafting and signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 30, 1898 wherein the United States ceded the Philippine Islands from Spain in consideration of $20 million. He also talked about the counsel of Gat Jose Rizal to Dr. Pio Valenzuela.

In line with the Rizalian credo, BM Galanida opined that Rizal stressed the importance of education which is more superior than bloody revolution, quoting him, saying: “When the people reaches that height, God will provide a weapon to fight, the idols will be shattered, tyranny will crumble like a house of cards, and liberty will shine out like the first dawn.”

In addition, BM Galanida said that the late Pres. Diosdado Macapagal changed the date of independence from July 4 which is now Filipino American Friendship Day to June 12 in August 1964, after Aguinaldo’s death at a ripe age of 95.

Also articulated by BM Galanida was the 9 degrees 40 min latitude cartographed by Antonio Pigafetta, depicting an island discovered by Ferdinand Magellan on March 16, 152. He said it was neither Limasawa in Leyte or Masao in Butuan, but rather, the exact geographical location points to a certain St John Island, where the first mass was officiated by Father Pedro de Valderrama

Volcanic activity obliterated it from the map but the lost island islas buenas seryo, Galanida, maintained had the closest proximity to the province of Surigao, being part and parcel of it.

He also narrated the gallantry of brothers Wenceslao and Simon Gonzales of Gigaquit. They were assassinated by Prudencio Garcia, just like the fate of brothers Procopio and Andres Bonifacio in the hands of Gen. Aguinaldo. Juan Gonzales, the father, also became Mayor of Surigao, said Galanida, where the Philippine flag was first hoisted in the entire Mindanao, at the old site of the city hall. Galanida added that another Gonzales named Florencio fought side by side with Leon Kilat in Cebu, that is why, a street was coined after him.

Heroism stretched up to the Pecho family who hailed from Dinagat, and Galanida went on recounting the struggles of brave locals against American and Japanese invaders, beginning with the Colorum Uprising of Don Albino Taruc.

On his part, Vice Gov. Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr. said that the provincial seal must be modified in order to do away with Dinagat from the map because it is now a separate and autonomous province.

Vice Gov. Egay also related on his recent journey and visit to the National Historical Institute in search of old relics and antiquated documents respecting the seal but there was hardly any on account of obsolescence and brittleness of ancient papers. He also paid tribute to the heroic resistance of Gov Protolico Egay, his grandfather, during the Second World War.

Also highlighted by the Provincial Tourism Office were its accomplishments like the International Gamefishing at the heart of Pilar town last April 12-15, as well as side events which comprised of the Liplipan Festival, Inter Municipality Dance Competition, Tiangge Tiangge, Brgy Beautification, catch & release tournament, LGBT Triathlon, Open Hiphop Fest, Baroto Race, One Surigao Founding Anniversary, Provincial Training Academy, and Groundbreaking of Bayay Surigaonon.

Other activities cited were the cheerdance competition, 62nd Annual National BSP Council meeting, Buyan nan Kultura sanan Arte, Provincial Tourism Development Council Meeting, Waste Safety & Rescue, capability-building seminar, Meet Russian seminar, cross cultural learning experience, turn-over of PPA passenger shed in General Luna, Siargao Tourism Masterplan, International Marathon, Provincial Arts & Culture Council meeting, and the docking of M/V Silver Cruise ship in Bucas Grande Island.

by: John Glenn Platil
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