RIZAL SHRINE. Despite its renaming by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines from “Dambana ni Rizal” to "Museo ni Jose Rizal sa Calamba", ordinary folks in this Rizal birthplace still refer to it as “Bahay ni Rizal.” Locals staged a hero’s tribute to national hero Dr. Jose Rizal -- for igniting the spirit of nationalism and freedom -- during the observance of the 120th celebration of Philippine Independence Day on Tuesday (June 12, 2018). (Photo by Saul Pa-a)
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna -- Amid the celebration of the 120th Philippine Independence Day here, ordinary folks shared how independence day and freedom have an interplay in their lives as they eke out their daily living in the country’s 9th richest city.
A stone’s throw away from the city hall event, ordinary city folks told Philippine News Agency (PNA) that “Independence Day” and freedom ring in their hearts and that they enjoy the blessings and benefits of democracy in their own way.
The 68-year old side-walk vendor Aling Stella said that for her, Freedom Day was “masaya, kasi malaya tayong tumahak sa ating buhay, yung kaya mong gawin ang gusto mo, basta wala kang inaagrabyado at sumunod sa batas” (happy, because I am free to go on with my life. You are able to do as you wish, provided you do not aggrieve anybody and follow the law).
She said she used to peddle goods around town in her younger days, but now that she is old and sickly, she settled to vending at the sidewalk near the junction of Chipeco Avenue Extension and the provincial road where droves of local and foreign tourists spend time at the city’s Hot Spring Resort Capital of Barangays Pansol, Bucal and Bagong Kalsada.
“Iba na ngayon, marami ng paninda, marami ka na ring kakumpetensiya di tulad noong talibata pa ako. Malayo na narating ng Calamba. Maraming negosyo, industriya at sasakyan. (Times have changed, there are a lot of goods to sell, a lot of competitors unlike the days when I was younger. Calamba has made strides in businesses, industries and transportation),” Aling Stella observed.
Ka Benny, a 65-year-old fruit vendor admitted that they used to sell limited fruits then, but now there is freedom for anybody to sell both local and imported fruits. The traditional “pako” (edible ferns), suha (pomelo), camote (sweet potato), papaya, dalandan (native orange) and lanzones are still saleable, he said.
“Iba yung dulot ng kalayaan, kasi ngayon marami kang magagawa, maraming paraan, mabuting diskarte lamang at kayod, aangat ka rin (Independence has its benefits because now you can do a lot, there are several options to engage in gainful work, various ways and the smart choice to improve yourself, and level up),” Ka Benny shared.
The 62-year-old Mang Carlo, who has worked for 14 years as an overseas Filipino worker, loved to stay for good in this city, saying being free in one's own country feels great.
“Mahirap maghanap buhay sa abroad, 'di tulad dito. Masaya ka, kapiling pamilya mo. Malaya kang gawin gusto mo tulad ng senior citizen na ako. Natuto ako sa mga skills training, sa mga planta dito sa Calamba. Nag jeepney driver ako, tapos ngayon tricycle na lang kasi matanda na (It is difficult to work abroad unlike here. I feel happy to be home with my family around. You are free to do that makes you happy like me now as a senior citizen. I learned through skills training because there are a lot of factories here in Calamba. I was a jeepney driver then and now a tricycle driver because I’m old already),” Mang Carlo narrated.
He said that the city government has provided them benefits for senior citizens like free medicines, free movie passes, gift packs and financial assistance “which comes for free to us in our twilight years.”
Kuya Lando, a 45-year-old construction worker also said that freedom and independence are gifts because heroes died for us to win these, so we should nurture these legacies.
“Mas matamis ang ma-enjoy mo yung pinaghirapan mo. Tulad ng mga bayani natin, di basta-bastang hirap nila tulad ni Rizal, Bonifacio, Luna at sana maintindihan natin ang saya na dulot ng kalayaang ito. Mahirap man, basta happy ka lang lalo dito maraming construction, maraming trabaho. Lalaki ang kita. Happy pamilya mo. (It is sweeter to enjoy what you have worked hard for. Just like our heroes, their sacrifices are no ordinary struggles like Rizal, Bonifacio, Luna and I hope we could understand the joy brought by this freedom. While it may difficult, as long as you are happy like several constructions here, there’s so much work. This means your income will improve. Your family would be happy),” Kuya Lando said. (PNA)
