Text by Therese Mole
Photos by Rogelio Amarille
To celebrate the 121st Philippine Independence Day Anniversary, Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan held Kalayaan 2019: Tapang ng Bayan, Malasakit sa Mamamayan on June 11 at the XU Gymnasium.
The annual event, which was spearheaded by the Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts, celebrated the event through a flag-raising and ceremonial tying of ribbons representing the colors of the Philippine flag.
Various performances from XU Glee Club, XU Junior High School (JHS), XU Cultural Dance Troupe, XU Band, and XU Senior High School (SHS) showcased the Filipino culture through songs and dance presentations.
Senior High principal Dr Rogelio Gawahan and VP for social development Roel Ravanera gave speeches on the essence of celebrating the country’s freedom. They respectively gave inspirational messages to the Xavier Ateneo community to value independence and freedom.
"Tayo ang bumobuo ng ating bayan, ang katatagan niya ay salamain ng katapangan ng mamamayang walang pagkukuwaring nagmamalasakit para sa mahal na Inang Bayan," Gawahan said.
"Pagpapaslamat hindi sa tamis at pangako ng dila kundi sa pagkilos at pagyakapsa kung anong nararapat para sa pagwawagayway ng tinitingala nating bandila."
The Pledge of Action for Social Justice by the Central Student Government presidents in JHS, SHS, and tertiary followed. Each of them delivered their speeches in different languages — English, Filipino, and Visayan.
XUJHS CSG president Rey Llamas concluded his speech by saying, “I say that enlightened and inspired with cura personalis (care for others) at the forefront of our minds, we, student leaders, might one day become social media leaders who can draw connections between achieving social justice by becoming men and women for others and realizing academic success for all.”
XUSHS CSG president Justin Mar Alvear promised to do their jobs with honesty as they will become examples of good governance.
“Hindi man po malaki ang magagawa namin, ngunit samahan ng buong puso at katapatan ay malaki na po ang magagawa nito sa pagbabago,” Alvear said.
Meanwhile, CSG president for tertiary level Audrey Yu left a message to the people who partook in Kalayaan 2019.
“Mahimong sensitibo kita sa kultura ug sa mga nag kalain-laing mga etniko ug maningkamot nga tapuson ang diskriminasyon, pag daug-daog sa kabos, ug upang pang dagway sa inhustisya sa katilingban,” Yu shared.
Kalayaan 2019 concluded with the exit of the Foyer Honors led by the XU Reserve Officers' Training Corps with university president Fr Roberto "Bobby" C Yap SJ and the CSG presidents.∎