President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and people of the Republic of the Philippines on the occasion commemorating the 118^th Independence Anniversary of that country on June 12, 2016.

Independence Day, also known as Araw ng Kalayaan, or (“Day of Freedom”) is an annual national holiday in the Philippines observed on June 12, commemorating the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. Since 1962, it has been the country’s National Day.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, in a message to her counterpart, His Excellency Mr. Benigno Aquino III, President Sirleaf extended warmest congratulations and best wishes to the Government and people of the Philippines on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name.

The Liberian leader expressed the hope that the bond of friendship so happily subsisting between the two countries and peoples will continue to flourish in the years to come.

She also anticipates collaboration for the actualization of the ideas and aspirations of their two peoples.