Hardware, guns to be on parade

CEBU, Philippines - The public will have a chance to see in person different kinds of military weapons and vehicle they only see in movies and television because these will be paraded in celebration of the 115th Independence Day today.

Among the military hardware that will be paraded by the Armed Forces Central Command are the V-150 Armored Personnel Carriers, 105 millimeter howitzers, rocket launchers and others.

Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of Cebu City Sports Center who has been tasked to organize the activities of the Independence Day celebration in the city, said the city will also bring its heavy equipment and new vehicles to join the parade at 2 p.m.

"Mga 200 ka heavy equipment ug mga vehicles sa City Hall ang iapil sa parade," Ballesteros said during the press briefing yesterday.

The city's celebration today will begin with a fun run at 4 a.m. Around 1,000 runners will start from Plaza Independencia to Fuente Osmeña and then back. The first 300 finishers will be given tokens.

Ballesteros said in the afternoon government officials and employees, including high school and college students from selected schools in the city and the families of veterans will join the parade with flags.

Mayor Michael Rama is scheduled to deliver a speech at the Plaza Independencia after the parade then Cebu City officials will release a dozen doves to commemorate the first Independence Day celebration.

The first Independence Day was celebrated when Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo waved the Philippine Flag at the terrace of his house in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12, 1898 to celebrate the country's independence from the Spanish colonial rule.

Ballesteros added that at 7 p.m. tonight, a "Bayle sa Sugbo" will be held at the Plaza Independencia where traditional dances like cha-cha, kuratsa, tango, waltz and others will be performed.

Since the Cebu City Medical Center has been assigned to host the activity, its nurses and other female employees will be tasked to entertain those who want to dance but have no partners. –(FREEMAN)