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Padilla on Independence Day: We are not yet free from poverty

Philippines | National

Padilla on Independence Day: We are not yet free from poverty

By Dhel Nazario

Senator Robinhood "Robin" Padilla said that while the country can celebrate its freedom from foreign invaders on Independence Day, he believes that when it comes to poverty, the nation is not yet free.

In an interview on Tuesday, June 11, Padilla said that the fight now is for freedom from poverty not against another country.

"Ang kalayaan dapat naguumpisa yan sa sarili mo. Yan ang tanungin natin sa kababayan natin. Sa palagay nyo ba malaya tayo? Ako hindi (Freedom should start from yourself. That's what we should ask our citizens. You think we are free? I don't think so)," he said.

"Hanggang ngayon mahirap tayo. Ang pinaglalaban natin kalayaan sa kahirapan, di sa kalaban (Until now we are poor. What we're fighting for is poverty, not against an enemy)," he added.

He mentioned that a person is truly free if he or she has food and shelter.

"Paano tayo magiging malaya pinaguusapan natin dito mag-import tayo ng bigas uli, pati isda, import natin. Wala tayong pagkain. Paano tayo naging malaya? (How can we be free we're importing rice and fish. We have no food. How are even free?)" he said.

"Kaya siguro ipagdiwang natin ang Araw ng Kalayaan dahil nanalo ang bayani natin noong araw laban sa mga dayuhan. Pero sa usapin ng kahirapan, di pa tayo malaya (We can celebrate Independence Day because our heroes before won against foreign invaders. But when we talk about poverty, we are not yet free)," he added.

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Independence Day Senator Robin Padilla

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