In line with the celebration of the 149th founding anniversary of Tarlac Province and the National Flag Day, Tarlac State University executives led by President Dr. Arnold E. Velasco attended the flag-raising ceremony hosted by the Provincial Government of Tarlac earlier today (May 28, 2022) at the Tarlac Capitol grounds.
According to Tarlac Province governor-elect Hon. Susan Yap, this year’s founding anniversary celebration, which coincides with the National Flag Day, is a kick-off for the sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary of the province in 2023.
“Kailangan nating sariwain at matandaan na nakasama ang Tarlac sa ating bandila. Isang ray [sa bandila] ay ang ating probinsya diyan kung saan pinaglaban ng ating mga ninuno ang liberasyon natin from foreign invaders. Dapat natin ‘yan ipaglaban at isapuso na napakahalaga ng naging role ng ating lalawigan sa lahat ng laban at digmaan na nangyari dito sa Central Luzon,” Gov. Yap said.
She also recalled facts about the province from National Historical Commission of the Philippines Commissioner Dr. Lino L. Dizon’s lecture from previous years about Tarlac’s beginnings.
“[May] dalawang reasons kung bakit nabuo ang ating lalawigan. Napakahalagang alam natin kung bakit Tarlac is Tarlac and where it is now. He said that Tarlac was carved out of two provinces ‘di ba, kinuha mula sa Pangasinan at kumuha rin po sa probinsya ng Pampanga,” she said.
“But for very specific reasons, because of its situation in Central Luzon, it was carved out dahil, number one, for military reasons kaya mapapansin niyo dito nakabahay ang karaming ng malalaking kampo, NOLCOM, TRADOC, Armored Brigade, Air Force, nandito po sa ating probinsya, so safe tayo. Pangalawa, economic reason, because it is in the heart of Central Luzon. Kung mapapansin niyo [ang Tarlac] talaga ang crossroad going north and south, east and west dito sa Luzon,” she added.
After the flag-raising program, the TSU Center for Tarlaqueño Studies held a lecture via Zoom in anticipation of the sesquicentennial celebration of Tarlac as a province with Commissioner Dizon as the resource person. This event was organized in partnership with the NHCP, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and MAHARLIKA student organization of the College of Teacher Education.
Meanwhile, the TSU Performing Arts Dance Troupe also performed their signature folk dances during the flag-raising program.
