TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite – Former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Friday shared his “experience” with Caviteno statesman Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first President of the Philippines.
Lacson recalled he was part of the delegation of the Imus Institute that was sent to Kawit for the the wake of Aguinaldo, who died in February 1964. Lacson at the time was in fourth year high school.
“I’m the only one in this venue who saw Aguinaldo during his wake, after he died. I was at the time a fourth year student and a cadet officer at the Imus Institute,” he said in Filipino at the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate’s press conference here.
“I had that rare opportunity to personally see him, even if he had already died,” he added.
Related: Ping Lacson, Ibinahagi ang Karanasan kay Hen. Emilio Aguinaldo
He said that while many would consider those who died in battle to be more heroic, Aguinaldo’s death in the 1960s – long after he fought for Philippine independence – was no less noble.
Lacson stressed that as a Caviteno, nothing can take away from Aguinaldo his role in Philippine history.
“Philippine independence was declared on June 12, 1898, in our province. It was followed by the Malolos Congress in Sept. 15 of the same year. But it was in Cavite where we first declared our independence from foreign powers,” Lacson said.
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Ping Lacson, Ibinahagi ang Karanasan kay Hen. Emilio Aguinaldo
TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite – Ibinahagi nitong Biyernes ni dating Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ang kanyang karanasan na makapiling ang Kabitenyong statesman na si Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, ang unang Pangulo ng Pilipinas.
Ayon kay Lacson, kabilang siya sa delegasyon ng Imus Institute na pinapunta sa Kawit para sa burol ni Aguinaldo, na namatay noong Pebrero 1964. Sa panahong iyon, nasa fourth year high school si Lacson.
“Ako lang sa kwarto dito na nakita si Aguinaldo during his wake nang namatay siya. Nandoon ako nag-aaral sa Imus Institute, in my 4th year. Cadet officer ako,” nakwento niya sa pulong pambalitaan ng Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate dito.
“I had that rare opportunity na makita siya although yun nga, nakaburol siya noon,” dagdag niya.
Ani Lacson, bagama’t mas masidhi pang maging bayani si Aguinaldo kung namatay siya noon pang araw noong ipinaglalaban niya ang ating kalayaan, hindi dapat minemenos ang pagiging bayani niya at pagiging bahagi ng kasaysayan ng Pilipinas.
“After all, June 12, 1898, ang unang Republika ng Pilipinas sa ating lalawigan naganap. Ito sinundan lamang ng Malolos Congress noong Sept. 15 of the same year. Pero talagang original ang Cavite sa pagdeklara ng independence mula sa banyaga,” ani Lacson.
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