INTRODUCTION
May isang heneral na naging Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas. Wala siyang hinangad kundi ang i-ahon ang kanyang mga kababayan sa dinaranas na kahirapan. Dahil sa nalalapit na pagpalit ng siglo, ninais niyang mahanay ang pilipinas sa mga bansang malaya at may dangal.

From this hallowed balcony, General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the First Philippine Republic 96 years ago. His act embodied the triumph of our heroes who came together and gave of their blood and lives to free us from oppression.

Their struggle was to liberate us from the Spaniards, who came to deliver us from sin. But they were soon replaced by the Americans who came to deliver us from ignorance. Then came the Japanese who wanted to deliver us from western influence.

Exactly one-half of the past 96 years saw our country changing hands from one colonizer to another. But the Filipinos’ determination to pursue freedom and self-rule did not waver until, in 1946, we were finally left to govern ourselves.
THE CHALLENGE OF TODAY
Marahil ay pinagtiyap lamang ng pagkakataon na ang inyong Pangulo ngayon ay isa ring heneral. At tulad noong 1898, tayo ay nahaharap sa isang bagong siglo. Kaya’t sa dakilang araw na ito, balikan natin ang nakaraang halos isandaang taon ng ating kasarinlan.

As we now turn toward a new century, we are still aiming for our country to find its rightful place in the community of nations.

We are not any less embattled today in the 1990’s than our revolutionaries were during Aguinaldo’s time. We are equally besieged as they were besieged — although not by the forces of conquering armies but by today’s challenges which require revolutionary change without the violence of armed revolution.

In our quest for a just and prosperous future, we have to carry on with the proud legacy of our heroes to be united, disciplined, and courageous, but within the bounds of a liberal democracy.
WE ARE ENSLAVED BY OUR OWN WEAKNESSES
Kung naging malaya tayo noon sa pang-aapi ng mga dayuhan, ano ang dahilan at alipin pa rin tayo ng pang-aapi ng kahirapan, karahasan at kawalan ng katarungan? Bakit kinakailangan ng marami nating kababayan na mangibang-bansa upang doon ay paaliping muli sa mga dayuhan?

Mga kababayan ko, hindi na ang mga dayuhan ang uma-alipin sa atin, kundi ang ating mga sarili. Wala tayong kalaban upang maging ganap na malaya kundi tayo-tayo na rin.

Alipin tayo ng kawalan ng tiwala sa sarili nating kakayahan.

Alipin tayo ng pagwawalang-bahala. Dahil sagana tayo sa likas na kayamanan, kailanman ay hindi tayo magdarahop.

Alipin tayo ng pagkakanya-kanya, na sinamantala ng ‘di kanais-nais na kulturang pulitika upang tayo ay maglaban-laban at magsiraan.

Alipin tayo ng maling paniniwala na tungkulin ng pamahalaan lamang na pangalagaan ang ating kapakanan at tugunan ang ating mga pangangailangan.

My countrymen, we have been enslaved by our own weaknesses and failings — our lack of faith in our own capability to achieve; our complacency that our bountiful nature will provide our sustenance; our lack of a sense of nationhood fomented by the divisive culture of political patronage; our mistaken notion that government must dole out, subsidize and cater to our every need.

My fellow Filipinos, times have changed. We live in a world where the new economic order demands the highest degree of competitiveness among countries. We are faced with challenges which require our united stand, our selfless service, our disciplined reforms.

If we refuse to ride the tide of change and mend our ways, our beloved Philippines shall continue to be an aberration in a region experiencing prosperity and dynamic growth.

Kung hindi natin babaguhin ang ating mga maling paniniwala at pag-uugali, mapag-iiwanan tayo ng ating mga karatig-bansa na patuloy sa pag-unlad.
THE NEW CALL TO DUTY
What our country needs now are more of those who have faith in themselves, who can make the seemingly impossible happen.

Kaya sa pagdiriwang natin ngayon ng ating kasarinlan, isipin natin ang hinihingi ng bagong panahon: ang magtiwala tayo sa ating kakayahan, ang muli tayong magkaisa, ang pagsamahin natin ang ating mga talino at lakas upang matamo natin ang tunay na kahulugan ng kalayaan — mapayapa at masaganang pamumuhay.

Today, the Philippines is at the threshold of growth. There is thus no more opportune time than now to call on our people to sustain this momentum, to preserve our gains, to push our shared vision of “Philippines 2000!!!”. If we can do this, then the sacrifices made by those led by Aguinaldo who fought and died a hundred years ago will not have been in vain.

Four years from now, we shall mark the first centennial of our independence. It shall signal the renewal and transformation of our nation as she journeys into the next century. But as early as today, let us commit ourselves to our national renewal in the same spirit that the heroes of the 1890’s committed themselves to the revolution.
CLOSING
Today, I also do honor to the original Filipino national flag which was proudly unfurled by President Emilio Aguinaldo at this balcony while our national anthem was being played for the first time.

The flag, sewn by Marcela Agoncillo, is too fragile to be flown on this occasion but the new flag we see today equally symbolizes our liberty, just as the strains of Julian Felipe’s “Marcha Nacional Filipina”, then as now, embodies the noble ideals of our race.

Ang ating bandila at pambansang awit ang patuloy na nag-uugnay sa mga simulain at adhikain ng mga bayani natin noon at ng sambayanang Pilipino ngayon. Sa tuwing makikita at maririnig natin ang mga simbolong ito, sana ay pag-alabin nito ang tapat nating pag-ibig sa Diyos, sa Bayan, sa ating kapwa, at sa kalikasan.

Whenever we see our national flag and hear our national anthem, let us pause to reflect on whether we have been worthy of the proud legacy of our past. If not, may their sight and sound reawaken in us the spirit to work as a national team and to serve constructively so we, the Filipinos, may all win a brighter future.

Mabuhay ang Republika ng Pilipinas!!!