Governor Daniel R. Fernando led the brief yet meaningful commemoration of the 123rd Anniversary of the Malolos Congress with the theme “Kongreso ng Malolos: Gabay sa Pagsulong sa Hamon ng Kasalukuyang Panahon” held at the historic grounds of Barasoain Church in the City of Malolos, Bulacan on Wednesday, September 15.
Fernando, together with Vice Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado, National Historical Commission of the Philippines representative Engineer Candido Castro, City of Malolos Mayor Gilbert Gatchalian, Vice Mayor Noel Pineda, Rev. Fr. Domingo Salonga of Parish Priest Nuestra Senora Del Carmen
and Deputy Bulacan police director for administration Lt. Col. Allan Palomo led the celebration with a flag-raising and the ceremonial offering of flowers at the life-size statue of General Emilio Aguinaldo, president of the First Philippine Republic.
The commemoration of the 123rd anniversary of the Malolos Congress is the culminating activity of the weeklong celebration of Singkaban 2021 and is organized by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and the Provincial Government of Bulacan through the Provincial History, Arts, Culture, and Tourism Office.
The governor said that convening the Malolos Congress on September 15, 1898, symbolized hope after years of colonization from foreign invaders.
He expressed hope that Bulakenyos "will see the light of hope amidst the pandemic."
Fernando said the Malolos Congress, formally known as the "National Assembly" of representatives, was the constituent assembly of the First Philippine Republic that convened at the historic Barasoain Church Malolos, Bulacan. The Malolos Congress drafted the Malolos Constitution, which gave credence to the declaration of Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898
Historians said that on July 18, 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo issued a decree asking for the election of delegates to the revolutionary congress, another decree was promulgated five days later, which declared that Aguinaldo would appoint representatives of congress because holding elections was not practical at that time.
Aguinaldo appointed 50 delegates in all (but this number changed from time to time). In accordance with these two decrees, Aguinaldo assembled the Revolutionary Congress at the Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan on September 15, 1898, where the atmosphere was festive and the Pasig Band played the national anthem.