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Filipino, 2 Spaniards proclaimed ’adopted sons’ of Baler today
BALER, Aurora â?“ Two renowned Spaniards, who helped foster closer ties between the Philippines and its former colonizer Spain, are set to be proclaimed today along with a Filipino expatriate as "Adopted Sons of Baler" during celebrations marking the sixth anniversary of Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day.
President Macapagal-Arroyo, fresh from a working visit to the United States, is expected to fly in today to this capital town â?“ birthplace of Commonwealth President Manuel Quezonâ?†to lead the proclamation of the three adopted sons of Baler during this morning’s rites at Baler Church coinciding with the 109th anniversary of the "Siege of Baler."
The event will be witnessed by Spanish Ambassador Luis Arias-Romero, Chile Ambassador Ovid Hrasich, Cuban Ambassador Jorge Rey Jimenez, Charges-de-affaires Manuel Perez Iturbe of the Republic of Venezuela and Nikolaus Verghis of the Hellenic Republic and Ambassador Alistair Belle Macdonald of the European Union.
The Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day has been observed on the 30th of June each year since 2003 when RA 9187, authored by Sen. Edgardo Angara and his son House Deputy Majority Leader Juan Edgardo Angara, was signed into law by President Arroyo.
Senator Angara said that the three personalities who will be officially proclaimed as adopted sons are Professor Jose Ignacio Bidon, writer-film director Jose Angel Valbuena Garcia and Exequiel Sabarillo Salvilla, a Filipinista in Spain.
Bidon is a leading law practitioner in Sevilla, who forged a football cooperation program between Andalucia and the Philippine Football Federation. Garcia directed the national TV documentary "Los Hijos de Baler" and the full-length film "Returning to the Siege of Baler." Salvilla pioneered research efforts on the siege in 1985.
Angara, who chairs the Philippine-Spanish Parliamentary Group, said the efforts of the three "adopted sons" further strengthen the ties now binding the Philippines and Spain.
"By recognizing their efforts on this occasion, we will commemorate mutual friendship and affection between the two nations and also mark the cultural and historical ties between our country and its former colonizer," he said.
Mrs. Arroyo, assisted by the senator, Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, Congressman Angara and Baler Mayor Arthur Angara, will lead the wreath-laying ceremonies at the stone church to pay homage to the heroism of both Filipino and Spanish soldiers.
The inter-agency committee for the celebration said other highlights of today’s events are the unveiling of a mural at the Museo de Baler by national artist Abdulmari Imao, viewing of the archeological exhibit and re-enactment of the Siege of Baler.
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June 30, 2008
In commemoration of the 6th Phil-Spanish Friendship Day
ANGARA HAILS 3 ADOPTED SONS OF BALER
Senator Edgardo J. Angara today acknowledges the significant contributions of three adopted sons of Baler who foster strong relations between the Philippines and Spain amidst geographic and linguistic differences.
"The historical significance and untiring efforts of these three adopted sons of Baler has contributed much in the strengthening of ties that bind the Philippines to our historical madre patria," said Angara, who also chairs the Philippine-Spanish Parliamentary Friendship Group.
He added, "By recognizing their efforts in this occasion, we will commemorate mutual friendship and affection between these nations. Also, it marks the cultural and historical ties between our country and its former colonizer.
The three adopted sons of Baler include: Exequiel Sabarillo Salvilla, a Filipinista in Spain who pioneered the research on the Siege of Baler in 1985; Jose Ignacio Bidon, a leading practitioner and professor of law in Sevilla who promoted football cooperation program between Andalusia and the Philippine Football Federation; and Jose Angel Valbuena Garcia, who sought to preserve history of the Siege by writing and directing the national TV documentary Los Hijos de Baler and the full-length film Returning to the Siege of Baler.
Gracing this event is President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is set to lead the wreath laying ceremonies at the Baler Church in the morning to pay homage to the heroism of Filipino and Spanish soldiers.
The celebration will also be witnessed by His Excellency Amb. Luis Arias Romero from the Kingdom of Spain; Amb. Ovid Hrasich from the Republic of Chile; Amb. Jorge Rey Jimenez from the Republic of Cuba, Charges-de-affaires Manuel Perez Iturbe from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Charges-de-affaires Nikolaus Verghis from the Hellenic Republic; and Amb. Alistair Belle Macdonald from the European Commission.
Other attendees also include: National Historical Institute Chairman Ambeth Ocampo, National Museum Director Cora Alvina, Aurora Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara and Baler Mayor Arthur Angara.
The celebration will be highlighted by the proclamation of the adopted Sons of Baler, the unveiling of the mural at the Museo de Baler by national artist Abdulmari Imao, the viewing of the archeological exhibit and the re-enactment of the Siege of Baler. Several cultural activities and presentations are also lined up for the said event.
In 2003, Senator Angara authored Republic Act No. 9187, creating the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day and setting its observance on June 30 of every year. It symbolizes the Filipino people’s gratitude and appreciation for Spain’s inestimable legacy of faith, culture and values to our nation, including the beginnings of the country’s political solidarity as one people despite the geographic divisions and linguistic differences.
June 30 was the day in 1899 that President Emilio Aguinaldo signed a decree declaring as friends, not prisoners of war, the Spanish soldiers who surrendered to the Filipino soldiers after a long siege, of 337 days inside the Baler church. The same decree granted the Spanish soldiers safe passage to return to Spain.
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