The City Government of Davao on Thursday commemorated the 127th year of Philippine Independence, with invited guests from local and national government offices.
Senator Bato M. Dela Rosa, who was the guest speaker of the event, said Dabawenyos knew how hard-earned our freedom is.
“We earned our peace with discipline and intelligent obedience, through a leader who did what he could to achieve and sustain order. We built this city not with foreign applause but with local pride and sacrifice. Sa kada Dabawenyo nga mutabok sa pedestrian lane, sa kada driver nga mutuman sa speed limit, sa kada unsa ka tao nga dili magpatakag panigarilyo ug panlabay ug basura sa public spaces, sa kada motorista nga magsuot og helmet sa ulo og dili sa siko (For every Dabawenyo who crosses the street on the pedestrian lane, for every driver who follows the speed limit, for every person who does not smoke or litter in public spaces, for every motorist who wears a helmet properly on the head and not on the elbow)—every single one of us here knows what it took for Davao City to come this far, and for our proud city to be what it is today,” he said.
“The brand of freedom this city offers is not the absence of change or limits—it is born from streets built on trust and pride, and from people who have learned to love the ways of peace and order. It is the kind of freedom that allows us to say with certainty—Davao Life is Here,” Dela Rosa added.
He said that Davao City has produced some of the most loved leaders, and the world is slowly realizing that we are a force to be reckoned with.
“Davao City is, and has always been, the home of champions. The future—kaugmaon—is now our responsibility. What we do today will echo through time. Therefore, under the strong leadership of the city government, let us act in a way that will be remembered for generations—by every Filipino who believes that justice must serve the people, not just the powerful few who sit in comfortable homes,” Dela Rosa said.
He also mentioned in his speech the enduring legacy of former Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte, whom the city will never forget and still considers its beloved mayor.
During the program, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, through a speech read by Vice Mayor Melchor Quitain, said that the celebration marks the indomitable spirit of the Filipino people in enduring struggles and sacrifices in asserting national identity.
The mayor emphasized that amid the current volatile political climate, it is the Filipino people’s duty to uphold and protect the freedom from foreign and local influences that continue to violate our rights as a democratic country.
He said that while our ancestors carried bolos to fight, today’s generation of Filipinos has education, innovation, good governance, and a steadfast commitment to justice.
He urged everyone to continue taking a stand and fighting not just for freedom, but also against injustice, poverty, corruption, and threats against our sovereignty.
“Let us all proudly carry the legacy passed down by our ancestors—with courage, integrity, and resolute hope for a better future—as we build a stronger, united, and more resilient Philippines in the years ahead,” he said.
The Independence Day commemoration was attended by guests from consular offices, city councilors, department heads, veterans’ federations, officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines – Eastern Mindanao Command, as well as officials from other divisions, brigades, battalions, community defense groups, and the Community Defense Center. Also present were officials from the Philippine National Police, national government agencies, and representatives from invited organizations. CIO
