Nacionalista Party or
Partido Nacionalista, the country’s oldest political party, was
founded on April 29, 1907 under the leadership of Sergio S. Osmeña,
Sr., Manuel L. Quezon, Rafael Palma and other “young turks” when our
country was under the United States colony.
With an honor roll of
producing six Philippine Presidents - Manuel L. Quezon, Jose P.
Laurel, Sergio S. Osmeña, Ramon F. Magsaysay, Carlos P. Garcia, and
Ferdinand E. Marcos, the Nacionalista Party has the distinction of
being the most enduring political party not only in the
Philippines
but also in Asia.
Donned in filipiniana
or americana old and young Nacionalistas were welcomed by world class
talents of P.U.P. Banda Kawayan and Las Piñas Boys Choir from the
moment they entered the convention center.
Senator Alan Peter S.
Cayetano, NP Secretary General, in his welcome address remarked that
“NP will be the party that will give us the first President for the
next 100 years.”
Senator Manuel Villa
extolled the virtues of the NP leaders, stressing that they should be
emulated by those engaged in public service. He also encouraged
future leaders to follow the lead of the NP leaders, keeping in mind
their responsibility as public servants and practitioners of change.
“As public servants,
we should keep in mind our motto – “Ang Bayan Higit Sa Lahat” (The
Nation Above All Else) as we go along with our responsibility to
provide a better future for our people, “ Villar said.
The highlights of the
NP centennial were the unveiling of the book, “Building the Nation:
First 100 Years, Nacionalista Party 1907-2007,” which explores the
early days of the organization to the present and details how the
Party flourished and struggled through the days of glory and trials of
the Filipino people in building the nation in the last century; the
launching of “Pondo sa Sipag-Puhunan sa Tiyaga,” a nationwide project
spearheaded by Senate President Villar aimed at promoting
entrepreneurship and providing Filipinos livelihood opportunities that
would help them better their lives; and the turnover of ceremonial
check worth P1 Million to the NP Youth Network in its continued
support and belief for the Filipino youth and their potential.
A spectacle during the
affair emceed by former Cavite 2nd District Rep. Gilbert C. Remulla
was the audio-visual presentation in recognition of the past
presidents of NP showing vintage pictures of President Sergio Osmeña,
Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon, Hon. Jose Yulo, Senate
President Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez, Senate President Gil J. Puyat,
Speaker Jose B. Laurel, Jr., and Vice-President Salvador “Doy” H.
Laurel.
The Laurels - family
of singers, led by actor Cocoy Laurel provided musical numbers to the
delight of the power-packed crowd and comedian Nanette Inventor
brought the house down with her antics.
Taking turns rendering
beautiful music during the sit-down dinner reception were the Cercado
Sisters, the Siblings, the Vitan Family, Abegail Dorado, and Dex de
Rosa, while an excellently prepared sumptuous food by Via Mare was
being served consisting of chicken binakol with chicken quenelle on
lemon grass, and roast pacific sea bass with tomato salsa – served
with heart of palm egg roll.
Mother-and-daughter
tandem, Senate’s President better half Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia A.
Villar, and only daughter, Cynthia A. Villar, Nacionalista youth
representative, busied themselves hopping from one table to another.
NP stalwarts in
attendance during the centennial were incumbent Taguig 1st District
Rep. Ma. Laarni L. Cayetano, Cavite 3rd District Rep. Jesus Crispin C.
Remulla, Bukidon 2nd District Rep. Teofisto Guingona III, Ambassador
Jose Macario Laurel IV, former Quezon Governor Wilfredo Enverga,
Manila 5th District Rep. Joey D. Hizon, and Samar 1st District Rep.
Rodolfo T. Tuazon.
Other distinguished
guests were former Senator Helena C. Benitez, Senator Ernesto Maceda,
Quezon City Mayor Adelina Rodriguez, Ambassador Raul Goco, Solicitor
General Frank Chavez, Ilocos Rep. Gualberto Lumauig, Bacolod Rep.
Wilson Gamboa, Marinduque Rep. Edmundo O. Reyes, III, DENR
Undersecretary Mario S. Roño, DENR Assistant Secretary Democrito
Mendoza, Jr., Calbayog City Vice Mayor Virgilio Rosales, Calbayog City
Councilors Ariel Rosales and Djuvan Tan.
Veritable list of
the country’s who is who in government. present were San Juan Rep.
Ronaldo B. Zamora, Parañaque 1st District Rep. Eduardo C. Zialcita,
Pangasinan 6th District Rep. Conrado M. Estrella, III, Laguna Rep. Dan
S. Fernandez, CIBAC party-list Rep. Joel J. Villanueva, Davao del Sur
Governor Douglas Cagas, Batangas Vice-Governor Jose Antonio S. Leviste,
II, Pasay City Mayor Pablo Trinidad, Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin T.
Gatchalian, Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri, and UNO spokesman
Adel Tamano, to name a few.
Former
2nd District Calbayog City Councilor Ariel M. Rosales, Senator and
NP Secretary General Alan Peter S. Cayetano, and former 1st
District Samar Rep. and NP Leader Rodolfo T. Tuazon. |
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FM
Cabinet Secretary Conrado Estrella, Senate President and NP
President Manuel B. Villar, Jr., House Speaker Jose C. de Venecia,
Jr., former Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay, and Quezon City
1st District Rep. and NP Leader Vincent P. Crisologo. |
