Official Gazette for June 12, 1970: President Marcos, speaking on Independence Day, declared that this nation “will not bargain this freedom for wealth, comfort or ease.” The President reminded the nation that the freedom Filipinos enjoy today was achieved “through the sweat and blood of our fathers. . .and we cannot lose this freedom now.”
The President’s speech was delivered at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where seven citizens, who have distinguished themselves in various fields were given the Republic Cultural Heritage Awards. “In the fields of art and culture and in political life,” the President said, “we have made great strides.” These achievements, he said, are made more meaningful because they were attained in an atmosphere of freedom “which is truly our precious heritage.” (Full text of the President’s speech in OG.)
Earlier in the morning, the President led in the nationwide recitation of the pledge to the Flag and the Republic which was one of the highlights of today’s celebration of Independence Day.
The recitation of the pledge followed the simultaneous hoisting of the Philippine flag throughout the country at 7 a.m., with the President officiating at the Luneta rites, and Vice President Fernando Lopez at ceremonies held at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite.
Notwithstanding a heavy drizzle, a big crowd which included Senate President Gil J. Puyat, members of the Cabinet, representatives of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, war veterans, boy and girl scouts, and representatives of the Cultural Minorities attended the Luneta rites.
The President, together with the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, arrived at the Rizal Park shortly before 7 a.m. He was accorded military honors, including a 21-gun salute by a composite battalion of the AFP. He then hoisted the Philippine flag as the National Anthem was played: The flag ceremony was followed by the recitation of the pledge, “Ipinagmamalaki Ko Ang Aking Pagiging Malaya” (I Am Proud To Be Free). The text of the pledge follows:
(Isang Panunumpa) Ipinagmamalaki ko ang aking pagiging malaya, Ang kalayaan ay naging mabuti at maamo Sa lahat ng aking pangangailangan. Ipinagmamalaki ko ang aking minana Isinilang sa pawis at dugo ng aking mga ninuno At nagkaloob ng kaliwanagan at kaluwalhatian sa aking lahi. Ipinagmamalaki ko any bandilang nangangalaya sa aking mga pangarap At tinatalibaang may dangal ang lahat na taglay ko. Ako’y nananalig na: Sa bawa’t karapatang naisin ko, may katungkulang dapat kony gampanan; Sa, bawa’t pag-asang pasibulin ko, may gawaing dapat tuparin. Upany ang bansang ito’y Manatiling nakapagmamalaki at matatag, Sa pundasyon ng kalayaan, katarungan, pagkakapatiran at pagunlud, At any mga kalahi ko’y Lumaging nakapangyayari sa lupang ito, at Nagkakaisa kailan man, Sumusumpa akong maninindigan sa Republika Na taglay ang katatagan at kabutihang-loob, Na sa ilalim ng liwanag ng Bathala, Mapaglingkuran ko ang layuning panlahat At lunggatiin ng laliat, Kahit man maipagpakasakit ang kaalwanan, Kapalaran o ang buhay man.
I am proud to be free, Freedom has been good and kind To my every need.I am proud of my heritage Born of the sweat and blood of my fathers And giving light and glory to my race. I am proud of the flag that nurtures my aspirations And, guards with honor everything that I possess. I believe that: For every right I cherish, I have a duty to meet, For every hope I nourish, I have a task to keep. So that this nation may endure, proud and strong, on The rock of freedom, justice, brotherhood and progress And my people abide, sovereign in this land, and Forever united, I pledge to stand by the Republic with courage And goodwill, That under God’s light, I may serve the common goal And the common effort, even at the cost of ease, Fortune or life itself.
Shortly thereafter, the President and the First Lady made floral offering at the foot of the Rizal monument.
In consonance with the policy of fiscal restraint, the traditional civic-military parade was omitted. After the Luneta rites, the President and the First Lady, motored back to Malacañang for the Thanksgiving Mass. Auxiliary Bishop of Manila Amado Paulino officiated at the Mass. He was assisted by Fr. Juan Bautista, PGB chaplain. After the Mass, the President and the First Lady received Independence Day well-wishers, among whom were members of the diplomatic corps led by the Papal Nuncio, ranking
Have just finished exercising as I have not been able to do so for two days because of the heavy schedule.
Came from the Cultural Center for the Heritage Awards and a concert. I delivered the speech “Nourishing the Spirit.” “A nation is not a nation if it has no cultural life. It is not a people fulfilled if it has no art.” “The act of creating beauty is the ultimate in freedom.” “Every act of freedom builds the structure of our liberty.”
This morning I led in the pledge to the Republic and the flag at 7:00 AM. Mass at 8:00 AM with the Nuestra Señora de Guia of Ermita here in the Ceremonial Hall; Reception at 9:00 AM, the Civic Assembly for Women at 10:00 AM-12:45 where I delivered the main speech to the nation—“Freedom is every man’s responsibility.”
Met with VP [Fernando] Lopez, Senate Pres. [Gil] Puyat, Sec. [Felix] Makasiar, [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.], [Placido] Mapa [Jr.], Gen. [Eduardo?] Garcia and Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile reporting on the Cadig incident where as usual the media blew up the cases of conflicting claims into land grabbing all over the country. Mayor Villasin of Cadig is willing to give away such part of his lease as may have been actually occupied by the ten settlers before his lease.
officials of the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary branches of the government, Civic, Religious and Veterans organizations.
In offering a toast with the members of the diplomatic corps, the President expressed faith that ultimately men would discover that they are brothers and that they shall live in peace. After the reception, the President attended the award ceremonies of the Civic Assembly of Women of the Philippines in which he was guest of honor and speaker.
The President devoted part of the afternoon to desk work in his study. In the evening, the President, together with the First Lady, motored to the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Roxas Boulevard where he was principal guest of honor at the presentation of the Republic Cultural Heritage Awards to seven citizens, all prominent in the fields of science, arts and letters.
Meanwhile, the President continued receiving messages from heads of state all over the world felicitating the Filipino people on the 72nd anniversary of Philippine Independence. Among those who have wired their messages wishing the Philippines continued prosperity and progress were Sabah Alsalem Alsabah Amir of Kuwait, Chairman Ne Win of the Revolutionary Council of the Union of Burma, Emperor Hirohito of Japan, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Shahanshah of Iran, President Cevdet Sunay of the Republic of Turkey; Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, President Georges Pompidou of France, King Mahendra of Nepal, President Chiang Kai-Shek of the Republic of China, President Hans Peter Tschudi of Switzerland, President Gamal Abdel Nasser of the United Arab Republic, President Gustavo Diaz of Mexico; President Zalman Shazar of Israel, Queen Elizabeth of England, Crown Prince Regent Harald of Norway, King Savang Vatthana of Laos, Major General Yakubu Gowon, head of the military government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; President Urho Kekkonen of the Republic of Finland, King Constantine of Greece, King Bhumibol of Thailand; Archbishop Makarios, president of the Republic of Cyprus; President Fidel Sanchez Hernandez of El Salvador, President Joaquin Balaguer of the Dominican Republic, President J. M. Velasco Ibarra of Ecuador, President Americo Thomas of Portugal, President Rafael Caldera of Venezuela, King Gustaf Adolf of Sweden and King Mohammad Zaher of Afghanistan. Felicitations were also received from Capt. Emilio E. Massera the commander of the Argentine frigate La Libertad, which made a goodwill visit in the country recently; and from Consul General Fortunato Gerardo in Denmark
But this emphasizes the need for the Vice President to be more active on small settlers. He is apparently not working at all. And the Chronicle is still petty and spiteful.