Manila, June 12 -- House Speaker Faustino Dy III on Friday called on Filipinos to ensure that freedom serves as foundation for shared progress and nation-building.

In his message for the 128th anniversary of Philippine Independence, Dy said freedom must create opportunities and improve lives.

"Ang tunay na diwa ng kalayaan ay hindi lamang ang paglaya mula sa pananakop. Ito rin ay ang kakayahan nating magtulungan upang bumuo ng isang mas maunlad, mas makatarungan, at mas matatag na bansa (True freedom is not only freedom from colonization. It is also our ability to help each other to build a more prosperous, more just and more stable nation)," he said.

Independence, Dy said, becomes more meaningful when it expands opportunities for fam...