President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead the 109^th celebration of Philippine Independence at the Rizal Park in Luneta, Manila on Tuesday (June 12).

The celebration, with the theme, "Sama-sama sa Pagpupunyagi at Pagdiriwang," will kick off with a flag-raising ceremony at exactly 7 a.m. Flag ceremonies will be held simultaneously with the Luneta event in various historical sites in Luzon and other designated areas in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The President will be assisted in the flag ceremony by officials of the Independence Day 2007 Committee and Manila City Mayor Jose L. Atienza Jr.

After the flag-raising, the President will lead the wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of the Rizal National Monument, after which she will view the Barangay Kalayaan Exhibits and Fairs around the monument before proceeding to the Quirino Grandstand to deliver her Independence Day message.

A 15-minute military parade in front of the Quirino Grandstand will spearhead the Parada ng Kalayaan, which will be followed by the Cultural Center of the Philippines Dance Festival and Tableu onboard native vehicles marking significant periods and events in the country’s 109 years of independence.

The program will begin with an ecumenical prayer to be followed by Tourism Secretary Ace Durano’s introduction of the President as keynote speaker.

The "balanghay" representing the first tableu, includes "Magandang Lupain," the barter trade, Sanduguan, a contingent from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and a float from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The second tableu will be represented by "karitelas," with the "Jota," the "Babaeng Malaya" and the evolution of the Philippine flag aboard.

The third tableu will have the "trambia" with a "Dalagang Bukid," a brass band, a ballroom dance onboard, together with contingents from the Department of Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

The fourth tableu consisting of a "Pistang Pilipino" shall be riding on a "jeepney," and will be accompanied by a contingent from the National Anti-Poverty Commission and a float of the Microfinance Committee.

The fourth tableu will feature the "Kultura ng Rehiyon" of Cebu, Zamboanga and Leyte, and floats of the Super Regions – North Luzon, Luzon Urban Beltway, and Mindanao.

The tableus will be followed by marching groups from "Magiting na Pilipino, Tagumpay ng Mundo" composed of medical workers from the Department of Health; Business Processing Association of the Philippines under the Commission on Information Communications Technology (CICT); and 100 cyclists from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, together with the five Filipinos who have scaled the top of Mt. Everest recently, representing the "Atletang Pilipino."

Also joining the group is the "Gawad Kalinga" contingent of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).

The finale of the Parada will be the entry dubbed "Paraisong Pilipinas."

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