INTRODUCTION
Ang nakaraang pagdiriwang natin ng Sentenaryo ng Kasarinlan ng Pilipinas ay nagbigay ng panibagong dangal at sigla sa ating sambayanan. Sa ating pagpupugay sa kadakilaan ng ating mga bayani, nagpamalas din tayo ng pagkakaisa at pagsasama-sama na siyang kailangan natin ngayon upang makamtan ang minimithing kapayapaan at kasaganaan.
Mahalaga ang pagbubukas nitong Dambana sa Pugad Lawin, kaugnay pa rin ng ating sentenaryo, sapagka’t dito inilunsad ni Andres Bonifacio ang Himagsikan laban sa mga Kastila na nagtapos sa pagsilang ng bansang Pilipinas. Ang dambanang ito ang magpapanitiling buhay ng magandang halimbawang iniwan ng mga Katipunero upang maging makabayan ang damdamin nating mga pilipino.
It is fitting that we inaugurated this Pugad Lawin Shrine soon after our centennial celebrations because it was here that our quest for freedom all began.
The “Cry of Pugad Lawin” that Andres Bonifacio and his fellow Katipuneros issued here on august 23, 1896 lighted the flames of the Philippine revolution. In tearing up their cedulas or tax certificates on that day, our revolutionary forebears did not merely repudiate the claims of Spanish colonial power to their persons and their possessions. It was an act of a handful of brave men for all our people — the 6.2 million Filipinos living then, as well as the many generations of Filipinos who came after them.
From that day onward, the story of our people would forever be rooted on Pugad Lawin and along our quest for nationhood — and never again would the history of our archipelago be the same.
Our people have gone through many trials and crises since then, but they have managed to overcome each trial and crisis by looking to the revolutionary spirit that set us on the road to freedom and nationhood.
THE CENTENNIAL FREEDOM TRAIL
Reliving the past and strengthening our sense of history is easier now with the opening of various historical sites which form part of the Centennial Freedom Trail (CFT). The CFT is a network of twelve historical sites which have played a key role in the events and lives of heroes during the Philippine Revolution.
Since the Cry of Pugad Lawin signaled the start of the revolution, there is no denying the importance of the development of this site in tracing back our history. The 32 life-sized sculptures featured in this park will always bring to mind the Katipuneros gathered here who tore their cedulas while shouting “Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!” As a symbol of defiance to colonial rule and as a pledge to defend the country’s freedom.
The provincial seals which will be installed around the site will signify the unity of our country. And one cannot possibly miss the shrine’s 105 feet-tall flagpole waving high and proud the Philippine flag as the symbol of our freedom and sovereignty.
The fact that this shrine is part of the school grounds of the Ismael Mathay Sr. High School in Barangay Toro, Project 8, Quezon City, also reminds us that the ideals and virtues of our heroes should be imbibed by the young so they shall live on from generation to generation.
Ang dambanang ito ang magsisilbing buhay na larawan ng diwang pilipino — maka-diyos, makabayan, makatao, at maka-kalikasan. Ang diwang ito na siyang nagbigkis sa ating mga kababayan noon ang gagabay sa atin sa pagharap sa panibagong dantaon.
Our heroes of a century ago, fighting only with bolos and muskets and shedding their blood in the battlefield, dreamed of a free Philippines yielding its full bounty of progress through the efforts of our people. On this site, they shattered the tranquility of colonial rule with a ringing cry for revolution.
CLOSING
We, the heirs to the fruit of their struggle, should strive as hard to allow lasting peace to prevail in our land. We must work together to redeem their revolutionary dream by bringing our country to full modernization and to a higher place of respect and dignity in the family of nations.
We can be the modern-day equivalent of our heroes of a century ago by contributing our share to national development. It will be less hard on us now because we fight the battles with computers and cellular phones in our classroom, workplaces, laboratories and markets.
In the last six years of the Ramos administration which led to our centennial celebrations, we have shown the world our capacity to make reforms and attain progress. We have turned our country around from decades of decline and turmoil into a time of national transformation and sustainable development.
As we enter the second hundred years of our nationhood and the next millennium, we can face the challenges ahead of us through the united efforts of all sectors of our society.
Sa maluwalhating pagdiriwang natin ng ating sentenaryo siyam na araw na ang nakaraan at sa maayos na transisyon ng liderato siyam na araw mula ngayon, ating ipinakikita kung paano natin pinahahalagahan at pinangangalagaan ang ating kalayaan at demokrasya.
Kaya’t dito sa dambana ng pugad lawin, mangako tayong makikilahok sa lahat ng mga gawaing pambansa upang sama-sama nating makamit ang tunay na kalayaan, hindi lamang sa kasalukuyan kundi pati na rin sa kinabukasan.
Mabuhay ang Sigaw ng Pugad Lawin!
Mabuhay ang ating mga magigiting na rebolusyonaryo!
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!