Malacañang marks the founding of the Katipunan
Malacañang on Monday marked the 122nd
anniversary of the founding of the Katipunan, the secret society that helped
spark the 1896 Philippine Revolution.
“Exactly 122 years ago, the Katipunan was
founded with the ideals of freedom and patriotism, its members fueled by love
for country and solidarity,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a
statement.
“Today, many generations hence, we continue this
struggle to build a better nation by strengthening our mechanisms of
transparency, accountability, and inclusive prosperity through reform,” he
added.
On July 7, 1892, as Dr. Jose P. Rizal was about
to be exiled to Dapitan in Mindanao, members of a secret council convened in
No. 72 Azcarraga St. in Manila and founded the Kataastaasang Kagalang-galangang
Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK), which advocated freedom from Spanish rule
through an armed struggle.
Among those who founded the KKK were Andres
Bonifacio, Deodato Arellano, Valentin Diaz, Teodoro Plata, Ladislao Diwa, Jose
Dizon and members of the La Liga Filipina, organized by Dr. Rizal.
“As we mark this anniversary, we invite you to
revisit this important landmark in our history, details of which can be found
on the Presidential Museum and Library website:
http://malacanang.gov.ph/4304-the-founding-of-the-katipunan,” said Lacierda.
PND (ag)
Palace sees steady growth in tourism industry
The country’s tourism industry has grown impressively
in recent years, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a press
briefing in Malacañang on Monday.
The industry grew by 10.3 percent and
contributed 6 percent to the economy in 2012, employing 4.2 million
individuals, Lacierda said.
Last year, international tourist arrivals
reached 4.68 million, 9.6 percent higher than the 4.27 million posted in 2012,
he said, adding that the Department of Tourism is projecting the figure to
increase to 6.8 million by the end of this year.
“This would solidify our country’s reputation as
one of the top tourist destinations in the world,” he said.
President Benigno S. Aquino III is slated to
deliver the keynote address at the grand launch of Marco Polo Ortigas in Pasig
on Wednesday (July 9).
Establishments such as this not only reflect
foreign investors’ trust in the country but are also expected to bolster the
tourism industry, Lacierda said.
The 313-room five-star hotel in the Ortigas
central business district will be managed by Marco Polo Hotels.
According to reports, president and chief
executive officer of Xin Tian Ti Development Corporation, Samuel Po, partnered
with Marco Polo Hotels and invested P3 billion to develop Marco Polo Ortigas.
“Marco Polo Hotels has been known for its
excellent services and first-class signature touches. We are incredibly excited
to be affiliated with this reputable hotel brand in Asia-Pacific for the Marco
Polo Ortigas, a P3-billion investment,” Po said in a statement, noting that
this investment was his group’s answer to the Philippine government’s call for
fresh investments in tourism.
Marco Polo Ortigas is the third Philippine hotel
in Marco Polo's portfolio, the other two being in Davao and Cebu.
Next to China, the Philippines now has the most
number of Marco Polo Hotels in Asia.
Marco Polo Hotels is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of The Wharf (Holdings) Ltd., a Hong Kong-listed company with core business
interests in property and investments in communications and container-terminal
operations. PND (ag)
