Philippines Independence Day celebrations launch with flag raising in Manila

The Philippines on Sunday marked its 118th anniversary of independence from Spain with nationwide celebrations kicked off by a flagraising event by the president at a historical urban park in Manila.

President Benigno Aquino III inaugurated the commemorative activities by raising the national flag and laying wreathes at the bronze and granite Rizal Monument in the urban historical park in the capital at 8am local time (12am GMT), followed by a speech at the Vinn d’Honneur reception at the Malacanan Palace.

“To our hard won Filipino freedom... may it never be challenged, diminished or negated,” said President Benigno Aquino in a televised reception at the Malacanan Palace, as tweeted by The Philippine Inquirer.

Other rites kicked off simultaneously in urban centers throughout the Southeast Asian nation to celebrate its 1898 declaration of independence from Spanish colonizers, including the blasting of fog horns and flagraising in Quezon City, San Juan City, and Caloocan City.

A jubilant color run in Manila also punctuated the day, with thousands of athletes in the ‘Colors of Freedom’ event waving flags while wearing neon rainbowcolored wigs, an epa journalist reports.

The day also marks Aquino’s last Independence Day in power, as he will officially hand over the presidency to Rodrigo Duterte on Jun. 30.