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| Independence Day |
Today, the Philippines, my ever beloved, celebrates its 114th
Independence Day. But actually, I’d like to call it a commemoration of the
Declaration of Independence, which reached its climax on June 12, 1898, when revolutionary
leader and the country’s first president Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo hoisted the Philippine
flag for the first time on the balcony of his mansion in Kawit, Cavite. However,
neither the Spanish, nor the American government recognized this. Our
independence was merely a “declaration,” in paper only, and not in reality.
In fact, on Dec. 10, 1898, by virtues of the Treaty of
Paris, Spain ceded the Philippines to America. The Philippines was never free
until the United States granted the country’s independence on July 4, 1946. We observed
our independence day every fourth of July until May 12, 1962, when Pres.
Diosdado Macapagal issued Presidential Proclamation 28 declaring June 12 as a
legal holiday in commemoration of the country’s declaration of independence. On
Aug. 4, 1964, Congress ratified trough RA 4166 July 4 as Republic Day, while
June 12 as Philippine Independence Day.
According to the late Education Secretary Alejandro Roces, this
act was patterned with that of the US, who declared its independence July 4,
1776. However, it wasn’t really recognized as an independent nation by Britain
until 1789.
But I don’t think the same could be said for our country. In
my point of view, although the US declared in independence in 1776, it has
never been under the rule of any country since then, so it could truly claim its
independence. But not for the part of
the Philippines. We declared our independence in 1898, but we have been
colonized many times over. We fell on the hands of Americans, then to the
Japanese. So, there’s really no point of calling ourselves free when in fact we’ve
been colonized twice over.
This is just my point. I love my country and I am proud of
my nationality. It’s my own point of what should be than what it is.
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