NEWSFLASH

ERAP, GLORIA LEAD INDEPENDENCE DAY RITES

Manila, June 12, 2000 - President Estrada and Vice President Glosia Macapagal Arroyo lead the nation in today's celebration of its 102nd Independence Day in Cavite and at the Luneta.

It was at historic Kawit, Cavite where General Emilio Aguinaldo hoisted the Philippine flag and proclaimed independence after more than 300 years of Spanish colonial rule.

The President and the First Lady, Dr. Luisa "Loi" Ejercito, will helicopter from Malacañang to Kawit to raise the the flag at the balcony of the Aguinaldo Shrine. Simultaneously, Arroyo will raise the flag and lay a wreath at the Rizal Monument at the Rizal Park in Manila.

Former Prime Minister Cesar Virata, a great-grandson of Aguinaldo and now a leading economic adviser to President Estrada, will read an excerpt from Aguinaldo's "Declaration of Philippine Independence" at the Kawit rites.

>From there, the first couple will proceed to the Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park for the civic-military parade and traditional Presidential address.

They will join other government officials and members of the diplomatic corps before the "Parade of Unity," a combined presentation of floats in which the participants are wearing tribal and other traditional costumes, and a festival of lights and fireworks.

The Parade of Unity will be followed by the "Rituals for Unity" show by the world-famous Philippine Bayanihan Dance Co.

President Estrada will then deliver his Independence Day message to the nation. The Independence Day parade will follow the President's address.

The Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan, the venue of the Malolos Revolutionary Congress and where President Estrada took his oath of office in 1998, has been spruced up for today's celebration. The church was renovated in 1998 for the Philippine Centennial celebration.

The Malolos Revolutionary Congress drafted the Malolos Constitution that paved the way to the declaration of Philippine independence by Gen. Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite.

Other venues for today's rites are the Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine in San Juan, Metro Manila; Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City; and the Mauseleo de los Veteranos dela Revolucion at the North Cemetery, Manila.

A civic-military parade at the Rizal Park will commence at 4 p.m. today followed by fireworks display and capped by street dancing.

The civic and military parade will be led by President Joseph Estrada and other top government and military officials.

The Armed Forces will display their new battle tanks, locally-made armored personnel carriers, artillery and other military materiel.

The Air Force will conduct an airshow using its Israeli-made fighter jets and its much-feared helicopter gunships it uses in the war against the ambitious Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The Navy will hold a rescue and search operation demonstration in the sea and display its newly-acquired British-made battleships at the Manila Bay near its headquarters.