I.N. town marks Freedom Day with public services

SAN NICOLAS, Ilocos Norte, June 12 (PIA) – This premier town celebrated today the 117th Independence Day with various public services held at the Robinsons Mall here.Vice Mayor Dr. Alfredo Valdez, Jr. announced the screening for the scholarship slots of the “Bin-I Foundation” of the local government.

“San Nicolas aims to eradicate the bondage of poverty through education and with that we are providing scholarship grants to help every San Nicoleňo further improve their economic lives,” Vice Mayor Valdez said.

The local government is currently supporting over 100 college scholars and plans to increase slots for this school year.

To further educate the community on the cause and effect and some prevention tips on dengue, the local government also held an anti-Dengue Forum in time for the rainy season spearheaded by the Ilocos Norte Medical Society.

In his speech, Valdez took pride of the development of San Nicolas in terms of business and livelihood to its constituents.

“We can say that San Nicolas is not being left behind when it comes to economic development. Our town is the center of businesses in the north, we are a hall of famer awardee for the most business-friendly town in the country, Valdez said.

These, according to Valdez, are product of good governance, independent and competent local officials.

Retired Veteran Post Commander Nicolas Asuncion, also spoke about his experiences during the war saying that independence is having a good government providing good services to its people like a mother and a father in the family who mold their children to become a law-abiding citizen of the country.

A group of students also re-enacted the historic Philippine liberation where Katipuneros tore their ‘cedula’ as a sign of freedom from the foreign colonizers.

Earlier in the morning, the local officials, police officers, senior citizens, students and teachers, veterans and others offered flowers were offered at the Jose P. Rizal monument during the wreath lying ceremony in the San Nicolas town plaza.

The Freedom Day commemoration in this town ended with festive song and dance numbers as a reflection of the joy and peace of every Filipino when the Philippine Independence was first announced on July 4, 1946. (Cherry Joy D. Garma/PIA-1, Ilocos Norte)