Quezon City celebrates Independence Day

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. led city officials yesterday in the celebrating the 107th anniversary of Philippine Independence during the flag raising ceremony at the Quezon City hall grounds.

The mayor was joined by members of the City Council led by majority leader Ariel Inton, Central Police Chief Nicasio Radovan Jr., Fire Marshall Chief Inspector Oscar Villegas, barangay officials, and various non-government organization and city hall employees.

The Independence Day program, with the theme "Bayan Ko Mahal Ko," started at 6:45 a.m. with the arrival honors followed by the flag raising ceremony and the laying of wreath at the foot of the statue of Dr. Jose Rizal beside the Quezon City hall building.

The local government of Quezon City used to join the yearly Independence Day celebration at the Rizal Park in Manila but when Belmonte assumed office, the city administration decided to hold its Independence Day festivities in the city to give residents the opportunity to participate in the celebration.

Manuel Sabalsa, chief of the city’s Public Order and Safety, has ordered the deployment of traffic enforcers to ensure the orderly movement of vehicles, particularly along the Elliptical Road, Kalayaan, East, North and Commonwealth avenues.

"Traffic was normal and no build up was monitored during the celebration," Sabalsa said.

The city celebration was highlighted by a cultural show at the Eastwood City Central Plaza in the Libis district center at about 5:30 p.m.

The cultural presentation featured some of Quezon’s City performing artists, including the Quezon City Symphonic Band, Social Security System Choral Society, the Singing Cooks and Waiters, the Ateneo College Glee Club and the Quezon Performing Arts.