AS the country marked the 128th anniversary of Philippine Independence on Friday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on the people to “protect truth from distortion” and “restore trust in a time increasingly marked by division and distrust.”
“As we honor this day, we are reminded that freedom is not merely a legacy we inherit but a responsibility we must uphold. While our forebears fought colonial oppression through revolution, reform and intellectual resistance, we face challenges of a different kind today,” Marcos said in his message.
“May this occasion deepen our understanding of the past and inspire a renewed sense of duty to our country,” he said.
The president said the declaration of independence in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12, 1898, was a landmark in the nation’s history. “It was the moment we formally asserted our right to govern ourselves and determine our own destiny. The years that followed tested our resolve as we built institutions, strengthened national unity and sustained a truly independent Republic,” he said.
The president said he hopes that the occasion would deepen the people’s understanding of the past and inspire a renewed sense of duty to the country as the nation continues building a Bagong Pilipinas “worthy of the sacrifices that secured our sovereignty and of the dreams and aspirations that gave birth to our Republic.”
“We must protect truth from distortion, harness technology wisely and restore trust in a time increasingly marked by division and distrust,” Marcos said.
Together with the first family, the president led the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at the Rizal Monument at Rizal Park in Manila.
A Parada ng Kalayaan followed at the Quirino Grandstand, featuring colorful floats and patriotic music.
Flag-raising events were held simultaneously at the Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite; the Barasoain Church in Bulacan; the Pinaglabanan Shrine in San Juan City; the Mausoleo de los Veteranos dela Revolucion in Manila; the Museo ng Kasaysayang Panlipunan ng Pilipinas in Angeles City; and the Bonifacio National Monument in Caloocan City.
In her Independence Day message, Vice President Sara Duterte stressed that freedom is “never permanent” unless it is defended.
Speaking at the Rizal Park in Davao City, Duterte said the freedom that was declared by Emilio Aguinaldo on June 12, 1898, was “never a gift,” but was paid for and earned through courage.
Duterte called on Filipinos to “resolutely stand up” for truth, accountability, freedom and sovereignty.”
She said that sovereignty is not only lost when the country is invaded by foreign armies, but also lost if public services become public businesses and if government officials steal public funds like a “criminal syndicate.”
“Every peso stolen from the people’s treasury steals a child’s freedom from hunger. It steals a student’s freedom from illiteracy or substandard education. It steals a patient’s freedom to obtain quality health care. It steals a worker’s freedom to earn a decent living. Every ghost project is a classroom never built. Every corrupt contract is a road that was never built for farmers to bring their produce to the market,” Duterte said.
In his Independence Day message, Speaker Faustino Dy III said that freedom must create opportunities and improve lives as it serves as a foundation for shared progress and nation-building.
Dy said the promise of independence remains incomplete if its benefits are not felt by all.
“But the true essence of freedom is not just liberation from oppression. It is also our ability to work together to build a more prosperous, more just and more resilient nation,” Dy said.
The Philippine National Police reported that Independence Day celebrations across the country were “generally peaceful and orderly.”
Around 89,000 police personnel were deployed nationwide for Independence Day.
Several cause-oriented and nationalist groups staged a protest outside the Chinese Embassy in Manila, calling for stronger protection of Philippine sovereignty and an end to what they described as continued Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea.
The demonstration was led by the Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement and joined by members from allied organizations, including the Alyansa Bantay Kapayapaan at Demokrasya, Liga Independencia ng Pilipinas, People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms, and several youth and sectoral groups.
Protesters said holding the protest on Independence Day carried symbolic weight, stressing that the country’s struggle for sovereignty did not end with colonial rule but continues in the face of modern-day territorial and maritime disputes.
FDNY convenor and spokesman Giselle Albano said the rally served as a reminder that defending sovereignty remains an ongoing duty.
In a statement on the State Department website, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the year 2026 also marks 80 years of diplomatic ties between his country and the Philippines.
Rubio said the United States “stands proudly” alongside the Philippines as “friends, partners and allies” that are committed to a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”
“With over four million Filipino-Americans living in the United States and more than 750,000 Americans living in the Philippines, the ties between our peoples and our nations have never been stronger,” he said.
King Charles III of the United Kingdom sent his greetings to the Filipino people in a statement released by the British Embassy on Friday.
“This day serves as a valued opportunity to reflect upon the enduring friendship between our nations. I am deeply encouraged by the strength of our bilateral ties and remain committed to fostering even closer cooperation in the years to come,” Charles said.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) joined in celebrating Independence Day, paying tribute to the courage and sacrifices of Filipino heroes who secured the country’s freedom.
Tourism Secretary Bernardita Angara-Mathay said their legacy continues to inspire efforts to build a stronger, more inclusive and globally competitive tourism industry.
The DOT also honored modern-day tourism front-liners, including hospitality workers, tour guides, transport operators, artisans, entrepreneurs and community stakeholders who help showcase the Filipino spirit to the world.
For the Liberal Party, Independence Day is about freedom from disinformation and lies.
In a statement on its social media platforms, the party said that every generation faces “its own form of bondage that must be confronted.”
“In our time, chains and cannons are not the greatest threats to freedom. The threat is quieter... It comes in the form of lies repeated until they appear to be truth. Of propaganda that turns fellow Filipinos against one another. Of corruption that is simply accepted as normal. Of abuses of power that are shrugged off as long as we are not directly affected,” the party said in Filipino.
“Little by little, these things steal our ability to trust one another. They lower our expectations of government, society and ourselves. Instead of striving for a better nation, many have learned to settle for less than the bare minimum of transparency, accountability and compassion... this is the bondage that this generation should overcome,” they added.
The Philippine Embassy in Greece, together with members of the Filipino community, marked Independence Day with a flag-raising ceremony at the official residence of Ambassador Giovanni Palec.
The celebration was attended by about 150 people, including representatives from 48 Filipino community organizations, Filipino residents from various parts of Greece, and personnel and dependents of the Philippine Embassy, the Migrant Workers Office and the Onsite Welfare Office-Greece.
The participants also listened to messages from President Marcos, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan.
In his keynote remarks, Palec underscored the importance of unity among Filipinos in Greece and encouraged community members to preserve the positive reputation that Filipinos have built abroad through hard work, professionalism, and respect for local laws and customs.
He also highlighted the vital role of Filipino community leaders in assisting newly arrived migrants as they adjust to life and work in Greece.
The celebration ended with a ceremonial cake-cutting and a traditional Filipino breakfast served in a fiesta-style atmosphere.
