ILOILO CITY – The province of Iloilo emerged as the grand champion in the float category in the Parada ng Kalayaan (Freedom Day Parade) during the 126th Philippine Independence Day in Manila.
ILOILO Gov. Arthur ‘Toto’ Defensor Jr. (center) receives the trophy from Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Chairperson Lisa Guerrero Nakpil of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). The float of the province of Iloilo that depicted the Cry of Santa Barbara won as best float in the Freedom Day Parade in the 126th Philippine Independence Day in Manila. (Iloilo Capitol PIO)
Iloilo Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. received the trophy and P1-million cash prize from Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Chairperson Lisa Guerrero Nakpil of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).
Iloilo’s float bested nine other participating local government units (LGUs).
The provincial float depicted the “Cry of Santa Barbara,” the pivotal moment when Ilonggos finally took arms against the colonialists despite having defended the Spaniards during the onset of the 1896 revolution.
Gen. Martin Delgado, the Ilonggo revolutionary leader who later became the first Filipino governor of Iloilo, proclaimed the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Visayas on November 17, 1898 in Santa Barbara, Iloilo.
The Cry of Santa Barbara is also believed to be where the Philippine flag was raised outside Luzon for the first time.
THE float of the Cry of Santa Barbara won as best float during the Freedom Day Parade in Manila for the 126th Philippine Independence Day on June 12. (Iloilo Capitol PIO)
The float was designed by Architects Glene Rose Sesbreño and Ian Peter Lama and executed by the team of Engineer Jeb A. Escarilla.
A performance of the Cry of Santa Barbara choreographed by Julius Sollesta gave the audience watching at the Quirino Grandstand a glimpse of historical event.
The LGU of Santa Barbara led by Mayor Dennis Superficial were also participants.