Iloilo’s participation in the “Parada ng Kalayaan 2024” on June 12 marks the first time the province, like other local government units outside Manila, joined the Philippine Independence Day parade in Rizal Park.

Iloilo was invited to the parade because it is the site of one of the 11 significant historical events that signified the start of the journey to independence, the “Cry of Santa Barbara.”

“This is the first time that local governments were invited to participate in the Independence Day parade, and we are thankful for this opportunity,” noted Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. “It allowed us to showcase the important role that the Ilonggos played in the fight for freedom.”

The “Cry of Santa Barbara,” which occurred on November 17, 1898, marked the formal inauguration of the Federal State of the Visayas, with Roque Lopez as president and General Martin Delgado as the army's general-in-chief.

It was also the first instance of the Philippine flag being raised outside Luzon, made possible after it was “smuggled” to Santa Barbara from Jaro by Patrocinio Gamboa and Honorio Solinap.

The “Cry of Santa Barbara” float won first place in the contest among 10 other entries, with local government units competing for the grand prize of P1 million, courtesy of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The “Parada ng Kalayaan 2024,” a brainchild of First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, featured 22 beautifully decorated floats from different provinces and national government agencies, showcasing the rich history of the Philippines.

The various floats depicted 11 significant events representing the country’s struggle for freedom from colonial rule and the 10 original branches and cabinet departments of the first Philippine Republic.

Iloilo’s float featured the Santa Barbara Church and Convent, a neoclassical complex that is not just an architectural marvel but a site of profound historical significance.

Declared a national landmark in 1990 and a national cultural treasure in 2013, it was in this complex that General Delgado convened the junta, a council that orchestrated the first cry for revolution against Spanish rule in Iloilo.

Governor Defensor described it as “not just a float but an installation art” and plans to reassemble it in Iloilo, as it is now on display at the Cultural Center of the Philippines until June 16.

Defensor said he wants the Ilonggos to appreciate the float, a vibrant tribute to a pivotal event in Philippine history that symbolizes the Visayan region’s crucial role in the struggle for independence.