Independence Day celebrations

The whole nation will be observing its 110th Independence Day on June 12. Celebrations will be focused on out-of-the-box activities on public service. This is in line with the theme "Republic Service, Tungo sa Ganap na Kalayaan at Kaunlaran" and the thrust of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) led by its chair Vilma Labrador and executive director Cecile Guidote Alvarez, will be offering cultural services as part of the Sentro K3 (Kaisahan, Ka-galingan at Kalayaan ng Bayan) at the Rizal Park, which is the highlight of the Independence Day celebrations from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. until June 12.

The event features beautiful and artistic exhibits of government agencies, continuing programs that would offer departmental services to people, seminars, job fairs, medical assistances, rolling stores, historical and cultural shows. Sentro K3 will also be replicated in various areas through the regional offices of the national government agencies.

The NCCA offers the Kalahi Cultural Caregiving workshops such as wood carving, pottery making, papier mache making, mask making, beadwork, arnis, folk dancing, choral singing, rondalla music, and song and instrument playing for the disabled as well as alfresco film showings at the open-air auditorium of the Rizal Park. This is in cooperation with the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC).

Dubbed as "SineKalayaan," the film showing features movies that remind people of our valiant past, and it includes Panaghoy sa Suba at 9 p.m. on June 11, starring Cesar Montano and Dekada '70 at 7 p.m. on June 12, starring Vilma Santos.

Panaghoy sa Suba (Cry of the river) was shot entirely in the province of Bohol and in Cebuano language. It won six major awards in the 30th Metro Manila Film Festival including the Second Best Picture. It is set in a village by the Loboc River during the Japanese Occupation from 1942 to 1945. Dekada '70, directed by Chito Rono, is the film adaptation of Lualhati Baustista's famous novel about the turbulent decade.

This year's Independence Day celebration will be ushered in by the traditional flag-raising ceremony at the Rizal Monument in Manila at 7 a.m. on June 12, led by Pres. Arroyo. Other places where flag ceremonies and programs will be held include Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite, to be graced by Vice President Noli de Castro as guest; Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan, with Speaker Prospero Nograles; Mausoleo delos Veteranos dela Revolucion at the Manila North Cemetery with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr., and Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City to be attended by Chief Justice Reynato Puno and DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza. Flag raising ceremonies will also be conducted in various historical sites in all the regions of the country.

For more details, log on to www.ncca.gov.ph.