Duterte leads 124th Independence Day rites at Rizal Park

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, June 12, 2022, graced the commemoration of the country’s 124th Independence Day at the Rizal Park in Manila.

The occasion themed “Kalayaan 2022: Pagsuong sa Hamon ng Panibagong Bukas,” marked the last time Duterte would be leading the event as president before his term ends on June 30.

He led the flag raising ceremony and wreath-laying for the event.

In celebration of this year’s Independence Day, Duterte on Wednesday urged Filipinos to take after the courage of Filipino heroes who have fought for the Philippines' freedom.

The outgoing chief executive also said the country's rich history should move Filipinos to translate their love for the Philippines into actions of goodwill for their countrymen, asking the Filipinos to "take to heart all the humbling learnings from the past, specially the countless hardships that we had to endure as a people."

Aside from Rizal Park, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines said simultaneous flag-raising and wreath-laying were to take place in some national historical sites for the commemoration of the 124th Independence Day.

At the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez led the flag raising ceremony, according to Super Radyo dzBB reporter Mao dela Cruz.

WATCH: Flag raising ceremony, isinagawa sa Aguinaldo Shrine sa Kawit, Cavite ngayong ipinagdiriwang ang ika-124 na anibersaryo ng Araw ng Kalayaan. | via Mao dela Cruz pic.twitter.com/tADSXvVCMs

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 12, 2022

A socio-civic parade, some cultural shows, and a job fair will also be held in Kawit, the municipality where Emilio Aguinaldo, the first Philippine president, declared Independence Day on June 12, 1898. —KG, GMA News