ROXAS LEADS LIBERAL PARTY EVENTS ON THURSDAY

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas will lead the Liberal Party's commemoration of two significant events in the nation's history -- the 1971 Plaza Miranda bombing and the 1983 assassination of national hero Ninoy Aquino.

"Ngayon, kitang-kita na natin ang mga paghihirap at pang-aapi ng pamahalaan na nakita natin noong rehimen ng Martial Law. Laging itinatago ang ginagawa ng pamahalaan sa taumbayan, mababa ang tiwala ng taumbayan sa gobyerno, magulo na naman sa Mindanao at walang respeto sa batas at sa mga karapatan ng bawat tao," he said.

"Marami sanang leksyon sa kasaysayan ng ating bansa at ng Liberal Party na natutunan ang ating mga lider at ang taumbayan. Isa na dito ang katotohanan na kaya nating iangat ang ating bansa mula sa pagkakalugmok sa kahirapan at kawalan ng katahimikan. Ang kailangan ay isagawa na natin ang mga leksyon ng nakaraan," he added.

Tomorrow morning, Roxas will join his fellow LP stalwarts at the Manila Memorial Park, Parañaque City, in a wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of the late Senator Aquino, on the 25th anniversary of his assassination, which eventually led to a people's revolution that overthrew the Marcos dictatorship. A mass will be held afterwards at the Don Bosco Chapel in Makati City.

In the afternoon there will be a 37th anniversary commemoration of the Plaza Miranda bombing, which led to the deaths of nine and scores injured, including Roxas' parents, the late Senator Gerardo "Gerry" Roxas and his wife Judy Roxas.

"We remember the times in our country during and preceding Martial Law. They were dark times for my family and the country. Plaza Miranda was just the beginning of a long 15-year struggle for our freedom. It is now 37 years since, and our future is once more under a cloud of uncertainty. But one thing is for sure: we will defend our Constitution and the welfare of our people no matter what," he said.

In the evening, the LP will be paying tribute to partymates who have been awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service: former Senate President Jovito Salonga, Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca and Naga Mayor Jesse Robredo.

"Oras na para muling pag-alabin ang apoy ng Partido Liberal. Oras na upang ihayag sa mundo na gaya ni Ka Jovy, gaya ni Ninoy, gaya ng tatay ko, hindi tayo matatakot. Hindi tayo aatras," he said.

"Buhay ang Partido Liberal. As long as there are Filipinos who continue to believe that the Filipino is worth dying for, our party will live on," he added.