“Celebrate the country's Independence Day with much enthusiasm under renewed hopes of a better future under the administration of President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.”

This was the call made by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim after receiving a total of 100 flaglets from the Chinese-Filipino Business Club Inc. (CFBCI) during a courtesy visit at the City Hall Thursday.

At the same time, Lim also enjoined residents and all Filipinos to unite under and extend their all-out support to the incoming Aquino administration to help ensure its success and efforts toward a better life for all.

“President-elect Aquino has promised to rid the country of corruption and I am certain he will, considering his untainted record as a public official for the past many years as three-term congressman and as senator,” Lim stressed.

“This year’s Independence Day commemoration is special since the country will be led by a new President, in the person of Aquino,” he added.

The mayor also expressed optimism that Aquino will follow the footsteps of his parents, the late President Cory Aquino and martyred Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., who both sacrificed a lot for the country.

“I am sure that President Aquino will live up to the high expectations of the more than 15 million Filipinos who voted for him by emulating the good governance exemplified by President Cory and the dedication to public service displayed his father, Senator Aquino,” Lim said.

Meanwhile, Lim also called on residents to display patriotism by putting up the Philippine flag outside their homes as a way of expressing their love of county.

The 100 flaglets given by the CFBCI, he said, will be distributed to the city’s public elementary and high schools for them to display in line with the Independence Day celebrations.

“We should remember the Philippine heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country’s freedom and emulate their examples by being good citizens and doing everything to contribute to the uplift of the Filipinos and the country in general,” he said.