Duterte to lead Araw ng Kalayaan activities in Rizal Park with Robredo

President Rodrigo Duterte will lead the 119th Philippine Independence Day celebration in Rizal Park with Vice President Leni Robredo.

At a briefing in Malacañang, National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) chairman Rene Escalante and Executive Director Ludovico Badoy said Robredo already confirmed her attendance for the wreath-laying and flag-raising activities in Rizal Park, Manila on June 12.

Escalante added that Robredo had been invited to all NHCP-organized Araw ng Kalayaan activities.

After the Rizal Park event, Duterte will proceed to Malacañang for the Independence Day Vin d’Honneur. Malacañang has yet to confirm if Robredo has been invited for the occasion.

Meanwhile, some government officials and senators are slated to lead Independence Day celebrations in other areas.

• Senator Panfilo Lacson and Tourism Sec. Wanda Teo – Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite
• Senator Loren Legarda – Barasoain Church in Malolos City, Bulacan
• Senator Sonny Angara – Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine in San Juan City
• Justice Mariano del Castillo – Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City
• Philippine Veterans Affairs Office administrator Ret. Lt. Gen. Ernesto Carolina – Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion in North Cemetery, Manila
• Education Secretary Leonor Briones and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Asst. Sec. Rolando Asuncion – Pamintuan Mansion in Angeles City, Pampanga

Other Cabinet officials are also assigned to different historical locations for the simultaneous flag-raising ceremony:

• Justice Sec. Vitaliano Aguirre II – Baguio City
• Budget Sec. Benjamin Diokno – Calamba, Laguna
• Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana – Davao City
• Communication Sec. Martin Andanar – Bukidnon
• Environment Sec. Roy Cimatu – Iloilo City

More activities

Escalante said one of the new highlights of this year’s celebration is the human flag formation of around 2,500 people as initiated by the GMA Network program iBilib.

There will also be a “Parada ng Kalayaan” at the Quirino Grandstand at 3 p.m. and a cultural show led by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts at the Rizal Park at 6 p.m.

"Nais ko pong ipaalam na magkakaroon po tayo ng konting traffic rerouting kung saan po magaganap. Dalawang araw po ito dahil ‘yung June 11 magkakaroon muna tayo ng mga rehearsals," Escalante said.

"At gaya ng palaging pinaalala na iba na ang panahon natin ngayon, maging mapagmatyag po tayo at kung may mga nahalata tayong hindi maganda. So nagkalat po ang pulis at mga alagad ng militar, maari pong ipagbigay natin sila ng alam --- ipagbigay-alam natin sa kanila," he added.

Freebies, perks

The NHCP also announced that the public could enjoy free rides on the MRT and the LRT on June 12 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Aside from that, the public could also head to the Rizal Park on Monday for other perks, like free medical check-up, dental services (tooth extraction only), and optical examination from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Jobseekers can also join the Kalayaan Job Fair from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry will have a Diskwento Caravan on June 11-12 at 8 a.m.-5 p.m. where basic commodities and school supplies will be sold at a discount.

NHCP Executive Director Ludovico Badoy also announced that various agencies of the government will put up a station in Rizal Park on June 11-12 to extend their services to the public for free.

“‘Yung mga pampamahalaang programa at serbisyo kung saan ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno ay magbibigay po ng serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan. Lahat po ito libre. Halimbawa, po sa NBI magbibigay po ito ng mga NBI clearances; sa ating LTO, magre-renew ng license kung kailangan mag-renew na ’yung ating mga kababayan, mag-renew ng registration ng mga kotse, et cetera, et cetera,” he said. — RSJ/KBK, GMA News