<font color='black' size='4' face='Times New Roman, Times, serif'><span style="font-size: 18px;">T</span><font size="4">his is an added editorial for June 17.</font>
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<b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Kalayaan 2015 Saipan</font></b>
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<font size="4" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">"<i>Tagumpay sa bagbabagong nasimulan </i>(victory of the new start already made)<i>, abot kamay na ng bayan </i>(extended hand of the nation)", was boldly announced and printed on stage of the Philippine Independence Day celebration under the shaded parking and walkway of the Marianas Business Plaza.</font>
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<font size="4" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">June 14 belonged to the gather-about, eat-out, sing-out, shout-out and out-dance-everyone-who-dares-foot-tap <i>Pinoys </i>that characterized the celebration of the Philippines' 117 Independence Day declared against Spain by General Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite, 1898. </font>
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<font size="4" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Who gathered about? Tan Holdings' VP Glicerio Arago, the Philippine Honorary Consul of the CNMI was there, having graced the flag-raising event June 12, moseyed over to Tinian on Saturday, then returned to Saipan June 14, actively performing his duties though his appointment has yet to be formalized. The program started at noon, and Eli elucidated on the occasion's theme, affirming a people's new start but requiring all to join a cooperative effort to move forward together.</font>
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<font size="4" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Recognizable in the crowd mid-afternoon was soccer aficionado Tan Cho Yee <i>aka </i>Jerry sporting his red Rolando football shirt. Tan Holdings' companies employ many who are members of the United Filipino Organization, the <i>Bayani</i> group, and other bodies. </font>
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<font size="4" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">OK. The eat-out. One can tell that the crowd had a sweet tooth. Most of the food and beverages on sale were high on sugar content, and the lard that cooked the fried food and the oil that dripped from the bbq explained wayward girths; half a reef fish on eggplant and kang-kong along were healthy fare.</font>
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<font size="4" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Young voices sang beautifully though they seemed anxious to shout-out volume on a high note. Still parents were proud as their children handed music on USBs to the sound crew, adorably and confidently took to the stage to entertain the crowd.</font>
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<font size="4" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Group performances took their vocal and audio turns, but the local High School swinging singers out-wiggled and out-swayed each other on the stage floor. </font>
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<font size="4" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Then Larry Lee, erstwhile NMC business instructor, a recipient of a Legislature recognition of his community work, former Philippine PCV in the early 80s, got his band to sing a stylized version of <i>Dahil Sa Iyo, </i>and the crowd went wild. The artist practices his art with a camera and the uke. Lito and Femie Rey also had their Cornerstone Church group counted on stage along with other performing groups who entertained the audience. </font>
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<font size="4" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Freedom <i>(kalayaan) </i>is bandied about on festive occasions but an elusive reality to 90 million Filipinos scattered over an archipelago whose wealth </font>
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<font size="4" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">is half owned by 3,000 families. <i></i></font>
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<font size="4" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><i>Bayan ko, binihag ka, </i>now refers to the stranglehold of a few. Most of the nation's 10 million-some in diaspora, including the crowd gathered Sunday afternoon in Saipan, are nomads who go where the compensation would allow them to remit earnings to their beloveds back home. A sad story, but it is also a permission to be street-smart world-wise <i>Pinoy. </i>It is time to be sick of the <i>binihag ka </i>story.</font>
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<font size="4" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><i>Kalayaan! </i>It's what <i>Pinoys </i>decide that it be their story. We concur.</font>
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<i>j'aime la vie</i>
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<a href="mailto:pinoypanda2031@aol.com">pinoypanda2031@aol.com</a>
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<i>yesterday, appreciate; tomorrow, anticipate; today. participate. in all, celebrate!</i>
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