For the first time in his six-year stint as the country's leader, President Duterte is set to lead the commemoration of the country's 124th Independence Day in Rizal Park, Manila, on June 12, Malacañang revealed.
The theme for this year's celebration is "Kalayaan 2022: Pag-suong sa Hamon Ng Panibagong Bukas (Rise Towards The Challenge Of A New Beginning)."
Duterte's attendance at the Independence Day celebration in Luneta on Sunday morning will be his third since he became President in 2016.
During the virtual Filipino-Chinese Friendship celebration on June 8, President Duterte said the celebration of the 124th anniversary of Philippine Independence is a "testament to how our forefathers fought for the freedoms that we enjoy today."
"May it inspire us to take after the courage of our heroes as well as encourage us to use our ability, skills, and knowledge for the benefit of our community," he said in his taped message.
The President urged Filipinos to take to their heart all the learnings from the past, especially the countless hardships Filipinos had to endure as a people.
"Let our rich histories move to translate our love for this country into real acts of goodwill for all our fellow men," Duterte said.
President Duterte has attended only two Independence Day celebrations in the past six years. His first was the one in Kawit, Cavite, in 2018, where 10 demonstrators heckled him as he was starting his speech.
His second Independence Day celebration was in Malolos, Bulacan, where he revealed that a wall was being erected at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes' Cemetery) to honor medical frontliners who died in the line of duty due to Covid-19.
"Lahat yung mga namatay-- mga doctor pati mga nurses, yung mga attendants ng nahawa ng (Everyone who died-- doctors, nurses, attendants who got) Covid-19-- will be honored by their names inscribed on that wall. It is now being built," he had said.
Busy Sunday
After the event in Rizal Park, the President is set to grace the naming and commissioning of BRP Melchora Aquino in Port Area, Manila. This 97-meter multi-role response vessel (MRRV) is the second vessel made in Japan for the Philippine Coast Guard.
Initially named MRRV-9702, BRP Melchora Aquino made its maiden voyage from Japan to Manila on May 27.
Meanwhile, President Duterte is likewise set to attend the lowering of the first tunnel-boring machine, train demonstration, and unveiling of the Philippine Railways Institute Interim Simulator Training Center of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) in Valenzuela City.
In February, the Philippines and Japan signed the 253.3-billion-yen (PHP112.1 billion) loan agreement for the Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1. This is the second tranche of the official development assistance loan. The first tranche of 104.53 billion yen was signed in March 2018.
The MMSP is one of the flagship developments under the "Build, Build, Build" program. The 17-station subway will reduce the travel time between Quezon City and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from the current 70 minutes to only 35 minutes.