ROXAS: "MANINDIGAN PARA SA KINABUKASAN"
LIBERAL PARTY CONTINUES FIGHT FOR FILIPINOS' FREEDOM

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said the Liberal Party remains committed to ensuring the long-term peace and stability in the nation, amid the uncertainties during this present administration.

"Noong panahon ng diktador, ang Partido Liberal ang lumaban para sa kalayaan ng ating bayan. Hanggang ngayon, ang LP pa rin ay maninindigan para sa ating kinabukasan," Roxas said, as the Liberal Party commemorated two significant events in the country's history: the 1971 Plaza Miranda bombing and the 1983 assassination of national hero Ninoy Aquino, which both occurred on August 21.

In the morning, the LP joined the Aquino family in commemorating Ninoy's death anniversary, with a wreath-laying ceremony at the hero's tomb in Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City, and a mass at the Don Bosco Chapel in Makati City.

In the afternoon, another wreath-laying ceremony was held in the City of Manila, at the site of the Plaza Miranda bombing, which happened 37 years ago. Nine people were killed and scores were injured, including Roxas' father, the late Senator Gerardo "Gerry" Roxas, and mother, Judy Roxas, when two grenades were thrown onto the stage, during a campaign rally of the LP.

"Agosto 21, 1971, sa Plaza Miranda, dalawang granada ang inihagis sa entablado. Siyam ang namatay at 95 ang nasugatan, kabilang ang liderato ng Partido Liberal. Muntik na akong maulila," he said, adding "Isinusumpa ko, hindi ko hahayaang maulila ang Pilipinas."

"Miski ang bulag mapapansin ang pagkakapareho ng madidilim na panahon noon sa panahon natin ngayon," he added.

Even such dark times gave way to better ones, and Filipinos once more regained their freedom from the Marcos dictatorship in the EDSA Revolution of 1986. "I firmly believe that we will eventually be able to rise above the oppression and corruption that we experience today, and bring about a government that the people truly deserve," he said.

Such shining examples of good governance, Isabel Gov. Grace Padaca, Naga Mayor Jesse Robredo and former Senate President Jovito Salonga, are recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service and are all Liberal Party stalwarts. In the evening, their partymates held a dinner in honor of the three public servants.

Roxas said, "Buhay ang Partido Liberal. Hangga't may Pilipinong naniniwala na may maliwanag na kinabukasang naghihintay sa atin, naniniwala na 'The Filipino is worth dying for', buhay na buhay ang Partido Liberal."