Doing it My Way at Independence Day (Part 1)

Last night I googled the schedule of events for the celebration of the 113^th Philippine proclamation of Independence, as per the schedule, PNoy will be giving a speech at 6:30 at Quirino Grandstand.

The following morning, I found myself still taking a bath at 6:30 so I half expected that I would run in the middle of his speech. At 7:00am, I was at Tayuman station, the fare was free for the morning probably due to the Independence day festivities.  I rode the train and alighted on Quirino station, walked along  the streets of Ermita until I got myself skirmishing against people traffic somewhere near the Grandstand where a job fair sponsored by the Department of Labor and Employment was taking place. So I had to trudge through the massive block of people until I reached the Quirino grandstand, but to my dismay, the speech had already ended when I arrived and all I saw were the colors retreating before Rizal’s monument and the Mayor Lim, who seemed to dye his hair white, passing by me. A battalion, clad in yellow shirts bearing the bold letters MMDA are surely no-miss. Government officials and employees in their very respectable traditional wear (I just don’t know if they are as respectable as their costumes in the workplace.) who looked like ninong and ninangs about to attend a wedding, paraded against my direction. 

By that time, I was half convinced that I wasted my time so I just bought a glass of taho and a Philippine flag which I kept hanging from my messenger bag throughout the day. I am quite indifferent on the market made from “selling” the Philippine flag. I think things like this must be must venerated upon and treated with due respect. While I was finishing my taho with every sip coinciding with the beat of the bugle played by the marching band, I was handed by a lady in her mid-thirties a flyer on the prophesies of the Bible, proofs that the end time is near, and that people’s sins – clearly, she one of those conspiracy driven people that aim to cause commotion to the happy few. After the last note of the bugle, a set of white and pink balloons were released to the sky resembling sperm cells with a string attached to their ends waving like little flagella propelling themselves into the sky.

As I searched the net yesterday, I find that there are only few sources online regarding the Independence day. I suggest the government should have its own advertising strategy to make the Filipinos realize how important this event is and how many people in the past sacrifice for the freedom that we enjoy today. 

(to be continued)