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Photo/Files: Happy 115th Independence Day Philippines!

Araw ng Kasarinlan, the Day of Freedom

If you can possibly use the power of your imagination to take part of that special afternoon of June 12, 1898 when General Emilio F. Aguinaldo officially announced the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of the Philippines at the balcony of his house in Kawit, Cavite. 

Imagine that scene of the people proudly seeing a waved Philippine flag. 

On top of their lungs shouting "Mabuhay ang Kalayaan ng Pilipinas!"

While listening to the Marcha Filipina, the tune of our now called Lupang Hinirang.

You can just imagine.

Fact is, it's a wonderful time to be a Filipino every month of June as it will the month to celebrate a day of freedom. A time to celebrate the greatest right we have as Filipinos. It constantly reminds us that our nation is as great as it can be. And ultimately it proves that we are brave, sacrificing, and united in love.

Yet at this present time, I wish that every person of this nation may try asking themselves what freedom means to them today. Some may say freedom from NPA bandit oppression, freedom from poverty, freedom from bullying, freedom in equality, but in reality, the general populace are more concerned with the issues of AiAi and the sexual preference of Charice or whoever. 

Kalayaan is a term taken for granted by many; it may come in different forms and served in different ways. Kalayaan should also be protected, informed to the many, and must be practiced justly. It is time to be more aware of the things that should be us and for us. A lot of people already sacrificed their lives to protect this freedom; from internal threats that we make press that soon become forgotten. If we fail to act and love this country, it may not just be our sovereignty over some areas be taken away, it can also be our identity. 

So free yourself on that day and feel the air of freedom once again. 

Our dar President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the celebration of the Philippine’s 115th Independence Day at the Liwasang Bonifacio in the city of Manila.

Be there. Don't forget to wear the flag.

Trivia about our flag:

  1. General Emilio Aguinaldo, a prominent leader in the Philippine revolution against Spanish colonial rule, designed what was to become the Philippine flag during his exile in Hongkong in 1897.
  2. The original Philippine flag, was first sewn in Hong Kong in 1898, was made of silk.
  3. It was hand-sewn by three Filipino women by the name of Dona Marcela Marino de Agoncillo, her daughter Lorenza, and Mrs. Delfina Herbosa de Natividad, the niece of Dr. Jose P. Rizal.
  4. The Philippine flag was formally unfurled during the Declaration of Independence on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite.
  5. The golden sun of our flag is not exactly in the center of the triangle but shifted slightly to the right. It represents the original eight provinces that started the Philippine revolution against Spanish rule.
  6. Along with Bulgaria, the Philippine flag can be turned upside down. If the Philippines is under a state of war, the red stripe is flown upwards, while blue at times of peace. 
  7. Computer colors or HEX are Blue (#0038A8) Red (#CE1126) White (#FFFFFF) Yellow (#FCD116) based on the Republic Act 8491 in terms of their cable number in the system developed by the Color Association of the United States.
  8. Eight rays of the yellow sun represent the eight provinces as Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna, and Batangas.
  9. In 2009, a Senate Bill was introduced to add an additional ray to represent the Moro people in Mindanao who also fought the Spanish and was never occupied by the Spanish colonial government. As of September 24, 2009, it is in the process of bill reconciliation in Congress.
  10. Symbolism of our flag:

    BLUE FIELD - stands for peace, truth, and justice
    RED FIELD - stands for patriotism and valor
    WHITE TRIANGLE - stands for equality and fraternity
    EIGHT RAYS OF THE YELLOW SUN - represents the original eight provinces that started the Philippine revolution against Spanish rule
    THREE YELLOW STAR - represents Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the three geographical division of the country.
Some phrases are taken from Timawa with revision.

 © iamreservist.blogspot.com

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PHOTO/FILES: Preparation Freedom

Preparation Freedom

Civil Military Operations Group, Philippine Army showed their dedicated team in the preparation of this years' independence day that will take place on June 12, 2013 at Luneta Park. Regardless of the sun's passing, they used their own truck to light up areas where tents need to be properly set. And with the constant thunderstorms and lightnings' coming, these dedicated soldiers shows no reason to stop their days' work for the freedom day. 

#preparationfreedom #kalayaan 2013

© iamreservist

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Batang Mandirigma: Cpl Jelyn Dayong - Cadorna


Fourteen years have passed since a young guerilla fighter named Jelyn Dayong surrendered to the Philippine Army. Her previous life with the New People's Army may have slid through tough moments for a cause she can't grasp to understand but her wise decision to surrender gave her the most meaningful life she now has today.

She was thirteen years old at the time when she ran away from home in order to escape marriage. Too young and with a fragile mind, rebels took advantage of her weakness and recruited her to adapt their cause.

It was sometime February 1999 when resting somewhere in the mountain along with 19 other NPA comrades, a group of Scout Rangers engaged and surrounded them in Sitio Baglamag, Barangay Perdida, Alegria, Surigao del Norte. In the middle of the fireflight, Dayong was wounded while her comrades left her hopeless, fleeing away from the hot zone.

Meeting government troops in the area, it gave her the most scariest experience of her life having thoughts of her last breathe be taken away. To her surprise, our soldiers gave her the appropriate care in return.
It was not easy winning this young girl's heart full of left ideologies. A year of support and therapeutic help was given under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development by letting her attend bible study sessions, rebel returnee testimonials, and one-on-one sessions to name a few.

The new Dayong she now chooses to be granted her the future. After being able to finish high school, she decided to join the Philippine Army serving as a public servant and a true soldier for the masses. Others may not be as fortunate as she is but she is doing all her best to inspire the youth for choosing the right path.

A news clipping from the paper named Inquirer dated January 10, 2000 said, "The recruitment of child rebels started to swell after the surrender of Jelyn Dayong." While initially thought to be an isolated case, it was soon found that the NPA has recruited a staggering 86 child rebels in Mindanao alone. This is a clear violation in the international Convention on the Rights of the Child. 


It has always been the goal of this blog to promote peace and condemn the people who promote armed struggle, especially those who recruit minors just for the success of their laughable cause. I am for peace, no to armed struggle!

Read more: 74 NPA members surrender recorded since January
References:

  1. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2479&dat=20001010&id=u1g1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=gSUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1554,35129739
  2. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-153478874/child-rebel-now-army.html


 © iamreservist.blogspot.com

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Young PMA officer killed after engaging with NPA Bandits

A bright young army lieutenant, 2Lt Dennis Avila, PMA Class 2011, died while fighting the New People’s Army (NPA) bandits in Bgy San Luis Malitbog, Bukidnon last June 7, 2013 (Friday) at 11:15am. 

Prior to the encounter, Avila and his team were performing combat operations in the village of Abacahan in Mat-I, Claveria, Misamis Oriental where they spotted 30 fully armed bandits who engaged them hours of intermittent gun battle.

He and another Pfc Andilong was wounded in the intense firefight with the bandits and were airlifted to the nearest military hospital but Avila succumbed to his wounds. 

Lt Avila showed courage and dedication to his duty even for a short stint of time. He was assigned at the 58IB after graduating PMA. 

Buhay ang iyong Kagitingan sa aming diwa, Second Lieutenant Dennis Avila!

The author of this blog pledges to pray for our troops everyday. To the family who lost a love one, the Filipino people extends their condolences. The brave young officer named Dennis Avila is now home.


© iamreservist.blogspot.com

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Navy Reservist to be honored after Cebu Pacific 5J 971 mishap

The 'Guiding Voice', Captain Bok of Cebu Pacific 5J 971 © Sherwin Reyes/PhilMug
Reservist News - After the Cebu Pacific crew failed to provide much needed attention to the passengers, Captain Bok or ENS Marlon Deang Bo of the Philippine Navy Reserve responded the call to help his fellow passengers during the mishap of a Cebu Pacific flight 5J 971 after it missed the runway in Davao International Airport last June 1, 2013.
Because of this 'heroic' attempt to calm the passengers, he will be honored from doing his heroic deeds. A Navy spokesperson Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo, the Navy’s Civil Military Operations Group spokesman said, “We are formally documenting his heroic deeds so the Navy, as Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano, the Flag Officer in Command if the PN also desires, can honor the hero of that Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 971,”.


 I give my salute to you Ensign Marlon Bo! Isa kang laang kawal na dapat gayahin! 

 QUOTE:

© AFP/Karlos Manlupig
MANILA, Philippines – A Navy reservist will be honored by the Philippine Navy for his “heroic deeds” after he helped calming down passengers in a Cebu Pacific plane 5J 971 that missed the runway of the Davao International Airport and landed on mud and grass at the side on Sunday.

Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo, the Navy’s Civil Military Operations Group spokesman, identified the “hero” as Lieutenant Marlon Bo, a Navy reservist and a graduate of Philippine Merchant Marine Academy in 2003.

“We are formally documenting his heroic deeds so the Navy, as Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano, the Flag Officer in Command if the PN also desires, can honor the hero of that Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 971,” he said Wednesday.

Bo was one of the passengers in the Cebu Pacific plane when the incident happened.

Nino Alinsub, also one of the passengers, recalled how Bo helped the passengers to safety.

“It took the courage of one person, whom we only know as Captain Bok from the Philippine Navy, to stand up and calm everyone down. He knew what he was doing, and he was in control when even the cabin crew looked like they were really at a loss on what to do. Capt Bok gave clear instructions for everyone to sit down, so that we could leave row by row to prevent the plane from tilting over. He was the clear definition of a “guiding voice,” he said in his blow-by-blow account.

The stricken Cebu Pacific Manila-Davao flight plane was removed from the runway of the Davao International Airport late Tuesday night.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/421173/navy-to-honor-hero-in-cebu-pacific-plane-mishap