GMA leads Independence Day rites

Despite weeks of continued destabilization attempts against the Arroyo administration, a beaming President Arroyo arrived at the Rizal Park yesterday morning and led the celebration of the 107th Independence Day celebration.

Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza, who sat near the President at the Quirino Grandstand, observed that the President appeared "more relax and in the correct mood during the Independence Day celebration."

He added that Mrs. Arroyo did not appear bothered by recent efforts to unseat her from Malacañang. "She gave us and the crowd a genuine smile. She even waved to the people a few times…It is such a beautiful day to celebrate our independence," Atienza said.

So far, efforts of the opposition to topple her administration has fizzled out, the last being the appeal of former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Deputy Director Samuel "Sammy" Ong for the public to secure him at the San Carlos Seminary in Makati City.

Ong admitted on June10 that he has in his possession the "mother of all tapes," which allegedly contained the recorded conversation between President Arroyo and Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio Garciliano.

In separate interviews, Atienza and Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong of the Western Police District (WPD) both agreed that this year’s commemoration of the country’s freedom day is more symbolic because of the recent turn of political events following the jueteng controversy and the wiretapped conversation of the President.

"The celebration has taken a more meaningful turn," Atienza said.

"Despite rumors of destabilization, the government is still here and it has given us more reasons to celebrate," Bulaong added.

The Western Police District (WPD) said that between 5,000 to 7,000 people attended the celebration and around 1,000 policemen were deployed to secure the area. The number was double the 500 policemen deployed to ensure the peace and order in last Saturday’s National Day of Mourning, that was mostly attended by anti-Arroyo groups.

The WPD estimated that 5,000 people gathered at the Liwasang Bonifacio.

Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano said all talks of destabilization had very minimal effect on tourism.

"I was in South Korea and Japan while this was going on, and there were no reports about it in other countries," he said.

"I am sure that other governments might have been looking at the situation here but tourists are not concerned for as long as tourists destinations are secure. They do not care about political dynamics or political squabbling," Durano added.

Mrs. Arroyo arrived at the Rizal Park at 8:15 a.m. yesterday to lead the flag raising ceremony.

Among the personalities present during the occasion were Papal Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Franco, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Sen. Mar Roxas, Tarlac Rep. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, retired Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and present Philippine Badminton Association vice president Edgar Aglipay, and PNP National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO)Director Vidal Querol.

Flag raising ceremonies were simultaneously held at the General Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite; the Rizal National Monument in Rizal; Barasoain Church in Malolos City, Bulacan; the Andres Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City; Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion at the Manila North Cemetery; the Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine in San Juan; and in Cebu and Davao.