Independence Day

LAST Tuesday, the nation commemorated the historic proclamation of independence 120 years ago in Kawit, Cavite (formerly called Cavite el Viejo) with the public reading of the Act of the Declaration of Independence. Filipino forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty of the country from Spain. Here is how our history books describe that day, the 12th of June, 1898:

The National flag, made in Hong Kong by Marcela Agoncillo and two other friends, was unfurled with the playing of the Marcha Filipina Magdalo or the national anthem now known as Lupang Hinirang composed by Julian Felipe. The Act of Declaration of Independence signed by 98 people was written and read by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista in Spanish….The Declaration is part of a long line of declarations of independence and included a list of grievances against the Spanish government stretching back to Magellan’s ’ arrival in 1521 and conferred upon Emilio Aguinaldo all the powers necessary to enable him to discharge the duties of government, including the prerogatives of granting pardon and amnesty… Later, in Malolos, Bulacan, the Malolos Congress modified the declaration upon the insistence of Apolinario Mabini who objected to the original proclamation that placed the country under the protection of the United States. Not long after, Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish-American war. The Declaration was never recognized by either the United States or Spain.”

As many now realize, our history is full of controversies. And one of them is the true date of independence. We all know that following the end of World War II, the United States granted independence to the Philippines on July 4, 1946, through the Treaty of Manila. Later, in 1964, upon the advice of historians and nationalists, President Diosdado Macapagal signed into law RA 4166 designating June 12 as the country’s independence day.

Some historians argue that August, 1896, is more meaningful as this is the date that Filipinos openly declared the intention to separate from Spain through the symbolic tearing of the cedulas, the symbol of taxation…The concept of “Kalayaan” or freedom is ingrained in the Katipuneros’ struggle.

And here is another view. Bobby Reyes (2003) describes them as the “wars of independence.” He says: “If we were to celebrate the declaration of Philippine independence, we could mark April 27, 1521, as the day the Filipinos first declared their freedom. The naturalized Spanish explorer Magallanes died in Mactan on that day at the hands of native freedom fighters. But do historians admit that fact? No. The Philippines at that time consisted of warring tribes. The archipelago was not yet a nation…. Prior to the founding of the Katipunan in July, 1892, there were at least 32 instances since 1754, of rebellions, mutinies, and revolts against the Spanish government… the war for independence in 1898 actually began in 1892 with the founding of the Katipunan. Prior to the execution of Rizal in 1896, there was the First Cry of Independence in 1895 in Montalban, Rizal followed by the Cry of Balintawak in 1896.”

Today, we continue to ask the question, “Are we truly independent?” We can only find the answer by reflecting on the present social, economic, cultural, and political realities. How is it that despite our rhetoric about inclusiveness, the social divide continues to widen? Why have we allowed the migration of our citizens to other shores when our country is richly endowed? What are we doing in enhancing the Filipinos’capability to exploit our natural resources? What are we doing to promote a conducive work environment for our people? Why have we allowed the continuing harassment of our fishermen in Scarborough Shoal? Why would they have to pay “tong” to fish in their own shores? What have we done to provide the lumads and our indigenous people access to their ancestral domain? Why are we unable to act collectively as a community? Why have we allowed the few powerful and privileged to control the resources of our land? What are we doing to put the destiny of our people and country in our own hands? What are we doing to demonstrate love of country?