ILOILO City – This city celebrated the 127th Philippine Independence Day not just with patriotic fervor but with a strong message of cultural pride and economic progress, spotlighting its emergence as a premier tourism and heritage destination.
Held at Plaza Libertad on June 12, the event was headlined by Mayor Jerry Treñas and Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 6 director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez, who both emphasized that freedom must also be lived through inclusive growth and cultural empowerment.
Rodriguez highlighted the city’s international recognition, including its designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and the recent global performance of Tribu Paghidaet at World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. She cited these milestones as proof that “the power of culture can unite, inspire, and tell the story of a free and proud people.”
In 2024 alone, Iloilo City welcomed more than one million tourists, generating P9.4 billion in tourism revenues. With 119 DOT-accredited tourism enterprises, the city’s thriving creative and cultural economy has become a key driver of post-pandemic recovery and community-based development.
“Let this moment remind us that freedom is not just something we inherit. It is something we uphold every day — by embracing our identity, by choosing compassion, and by building inclusive communities where no one is left behind,” Rodriguez said.
Mayor Treñas, meanwhile, urged Ilonggos to view kalayaan (independence) not only as a historical gift but as a living responsibility.
“Kalayaan is the hard-won gift of our heroes… Kinabukasan is the future we shape through good governance… Kasaysayan is our past, our source of strength and identity,” he said, drawing from the day’s theme Kalayaan, Kinabukasan, Kasaysayan.
The program included a flag-raising ceremony and wreath-laying at the monument of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, as well as cultural performances and recognition of modern-day heroes from the tourism and heritage sectors./PN
