AGUINALDO BIRTH ANNIVERSARY. Malacanang declares March 22 a special non-working holiday in Cavite to commemorate the 149th birth anniversary of the first President of the Republic of the Philippines General Emilio Aguinaldo. Photo shows Aguinaldo during his younger years. (Photo courtesy of Museo ni Emilio Aguinaldo)
KAWIT, Cavite – Malacaǹang Palace issued Proclamation No. 446 Friday, declaring March 22 as a special non-working day in the province of Cavite.
The proclamation, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, is in view of the “celebration of the birth anniversary of General Emilio Aguinaldo,” the first President of the Republic of the Philippines.
“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the Province of Cavite be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the proclamation states.
To commemorate the occasion and to continuously advocate the great leader’s legacy and highlight his role in history, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Provincial Government of Cavite and the Municipality of Kawit – through its local Tourism Office – are collaborating to organize a day full of activities.
In homage to Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, provincial and local officials will grace the event with thanksgiving mass, flag raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at the General’s mansion turned museum, the Aguinaldo Shrine.
Philippine Navy will, again, serve as the Military Host.
NHCP’s Cavite Cluster Head Paulette M. Bedruz said the March 22 festivities will kick off at 9 a.m. at the museum-shrine where Cavite historians spearhead the province’s heritage series.
This educational project, the 1st collection series composed of 12 modules, sought to re-live and re-highlight the gallantry of Aguinaldo, as well as the other Caviteǹo heroes who fought the Spanish rule and led to the declaration of the country’s independence in 1898.
The book series is also purported to preserve Cavite’s rich cultural heritage by focusing on Cavite’s historical sites and churches, history of cities and towns, origin of customs and traditions and the province’s significant role during World War II.
A project of the Cavite’s Historical Society (CHS), the heritage series aims to benefit Cavite teachers and students including the provincial government and private sector so they may learn the actual events that transpired in the province during the revolutionary period.
Philippine Historical Society President Dr. Emmanuel Calairo said the program modules will offer something old and new from those previously published books on Emilio Aguinaldo and some will be released to the public for the very first time.
On the initiative of Cavite Governor Jesus Crispin Remulla, the provincial tourism office, headed by its officer-in-charge Elinia Imelda Rozelle S. Sangalang, included some parallel activities like the official tagline launch of the Cavite Provincial Tourism, a declamation fete and arranged groups for cultural presentations as sidelights during the event.
Born in Kawit, Cavite on March 22, 1869; General Aguinaldo was the 7th of 8 children of Don Carlos Aguinaldo and Doňa Trinidad Famy who are in the business of trading salt and the bolos of Kawit to Capiz, Mindoro, Marinduque, Tabias Islands and Masbate on board a Paraw christened San Bartolome.
He first served as cabeza de barangay of Barrio Binakayan, then as capitan municipal of Kawit in 1895.
He was among the first Katipunan leaders to raise the standard of revolt in Cavite during the outbreak of the Revolution against Spain and has been awarded the highest prize of the Revolution, having been elected President of the Revolutionary Government in 1897 on his birth anniversary.
Although the general wished to live up to 100 years, he succumbed to coronary thrombosis on February 6, 1964 at the age of 95. ( PNA)
