Freedom is commitment to nation, nature, future – Legarda

In celebration of the Philippines’ 127th Independence Day, Senator Loren Legarda emphasized that freedom is not merely a commemoration of history but a daily commitment to principles that safeguard the environment, uplift education, preserve culture, and ensure social equity.

“Sa kalayaan, kabilang ang pagprotekta sa kalikasan. Ang Pilipinas ay isa sa mga bansang labis na humaharap sa panganib ng sakuna at ng lumalalang krisis sa klima,” Legarda said in her keynote address at the Pamintuan Mansion in Angeles City, Pampanga, where she led the flag-raising ceremony.

“Bawat bagyo at pagbaha ay paalala na bahagi ng ating laban para sa kalayaan ang pangangalaga sa kalikasang tahanan nating lahat,” she added.

Since being first elected as a senator in 1998, Legarda has pushed for the passage of significant environmental laws. Among these are the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Climate Change Act, People’s Survival Fund, and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act.

The four-term senator also pushed for an agenda focused on independence from illiteracy and poverty.

“Tiniyak nating ang bawat batang Pilipino ay mabibigyan ng tamang alaga, nutrisyon, at edukasyon sa kanilang mga unang taon ng paghubog, panahon kung kailan nahuhulma ang pag-iisip, asal, at kakayahan ng isang bata, at kung kailan dapat nagsisimula ang pagkalinga ng estado,” Legarda said of the recently passed Early Childhood Care and Development System Act.

She also expressed her elation on the Senate’s passage, on third reading, the proposed Career Progression and Development System for Public School Teachers and School Leaders law.

“Layunin nitong bigyang-daan ang malinaw at makatarungang landas ng propesyonal na pag-unlad para sa ating mga guro na siyang gumagabay sa ating mga kabataan,” remarked the bill’s author.

“Sapagkat ang dekalidad na edukasyon ay hindi lamang karapatan, ito ay sandigan ng ating kalayaan.”

Being independent is a celebration of Filipino culture, she stressed.

“Mahalagang balik-balikan ang ating pinagmulan. Sa ating kasaysayan at kultura nakabaon ang ating kaluluwa. Hindi ito palamuti, kundi mismong pinagmumulan ng ating pagkakakilanlan.”

Legarda has pushed for the passage of important legislation such as the National Cultural Heritage Act and the Cultural Mapping Law. Also included are initiatives promoting handwoven textiles, culture, tradition, literature, museums, the Gabaldon school buildings, music, architecture, and food, among others.

“Saan man tayo naroroon—sa Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, o sa ibayong dagat—ang ating pagka-Pilipino ay isang dangal na buhat sa dugo ng ating mga ninuno, at isang pananagutan na buhay sa puso ng bawat isa sa atin,” she said.

“Tayo ay isang bayang pinanday ng laban: sa pananakop, sa diktadura, sa sakuna, at sa krisis. Ngunit sa kabila ng lahat, tayo ay muling tumindig. Sa bawat sugat, tayo ay humilom. Sa bawat pagbagsak, tayo ay bumangon nang mas matatag, mas buo, at mas makatao,” she concluded. (30)