MALOLOS, Bulacan, successfully commemorated the 116th anniversary of the First Philippine Republic via its historic festival, Fiesta Republica, last January 17 to 23, 2015.
If you recall learning this from your History class, it was at the Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan, that the Malolos Congress put together and ratified the Constitution that gave birth to the First Philippine Republic on January 23, 1899, and put in place General Emilio Aguinaldo as the first president of the Philippine Republic. This was a major turning point not only in the nation’s history but in the history of Asia and Africa. Unfortunately, January 23 has not been declared as a National Holiday and there is no major celebration of the Anniversary of the First Philippine Republic.
Thus, the City Government of Malolos, led by Mayor Christian Natividad, has taken the initiative to stage the annual celebration that the Anniversary of the First Philippine Republic deserves. This year, the celebration has even grown bigger, with Fiesta Republica being a national celebration of Philippine history in the whole City of Malolos and involving the different barangays and schools in the city and attracting participation from neighboring provinces as well.
A series of events and activities were staged to drumbeat the celebration, which peaked in the last two days of the celebration.
One of the events held was the Timpalak Awit-Makabayan, which pitted the singing talents of youth choirs coming from places like Manila, Laguna, Nueva Ecija and Iloilo. After the finals showdown held at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center (MSCC), Ramon Magsaysay High School Chorale Manila took home the grand prize and the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) Chorale placed second.
An early evening concierto performance by the Philippine Madrigal Singers also drew a huge crowd, followed by yet another crowd-drawing event, the Ginoo and Binibining Republica Filipina 2015 national pageant. Now on its second year, the Ginoo and Binibining Republica Filipina twin pageants had nine contestants each, coming from not just Bulacan but also Manila, Valenzuela City, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo, Zambales and Bataan. The costumes, inspired by the different festivals in the Philippines, were colossal and colorful. After grueling rounds of competitions, emerging victorious as this year’s Ginoo and Binibining Republica Filipina, respectively, were Wilzen Estabillo of Tarlac and Jeslyn Santos of Bulacan.
On January 23, Araw ng Republikang Filipino itself, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas graced the commemorative rites held at the Patio of historic Barasoain Church. Joined by National Historical Commission chairperson Dr. Ma. Serena Diokno, Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado and Vice Governor Daniel Fernando, Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad and Vice Mayor Gilbert Gatchalian, Secretary Roxas led in the flag-raising ceremony and the wreath-laying at the foot of Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo’s monument.
Then it was the grand celebration out in the streets, with the Pasiklaban ng mga Banda, a parade of Brass Bands that in its own way revives the Brass Band Festival introduced by Gen. Aguinaldo in Malolos, Bulacan, in the early 1900s.
Coming immediately after the Pasiklaban ng mga Banda was the Dulansangan, a national street dance-drama competition showcasing the different historical events that took place in pursuit of Philippine freedom and sovereignty. The parade of historical vignettes made the rounds of the major streets of Malolos then wound up at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center, where the groups held a grand showdown. Schools representing different barangays in Malolos took part in the Local level, while representative groups from other places like Manila, Cavite, Rizal and Nueva Ecija were featured in the National Level.
Malolos, the Renaissance City, has come a long way from the time the First Philippine Republic was born in 1899 — and the Fiesta Republica proved just how progressive the city has become. Hopefully, the City Government of Malolos’ initiative to commemorate the anniversary of the First Philippine Republic annually triggers an even bigger national celebration in the years to come, whoever the officials in the national, provincial and local levels may be.
