Independence Day

“A NATION is born into freedom on the day when such a people, moulded into a nation by a process of cultural evolution and sense of oneness born of common struggle and suffering, announces to the world that it asserts its natural right to liberty and is ready to defend it with blood, life, and honor.” – Former Pres. Diosdado Macapagal

On Sunday, June 12, Filipinos across the globe will actively participate in the revelry, as the Philippines commemorates its 113th year of independence.
Philippine flags will be waved proudly, festivities peppered with song and dance numbers will culminate and banquets of glorious, generously-portioned and mouth-watering Filipino food will be served all over the world — proof that wherever the globe-trotting Pinoy may be, he remains cognizant of his roots and proud of his heritage and his homeland.
In the United States, Filipino-Americans are already making preparations for the big day, working with this year’s theme: “Kalayaan: Paninindigan ng Bayan.” Various Fil-Am organizations have their own respective events which either culminated this week or will culminate on Sunday.
But amid the bevy of festivities, let us not forget the essence of our independence — it should not be just about ostentatious parties, nor entertainment and food.
Before the first Philippine Declaration of Independence on June 12, 1898 in Cavite, our kababayans had to go through a lot of struggles and sacrifices, under Spain’s colonial rule. Even the original day of its declaration (June 12) had to go through some major hurdles before being recognized as the official date which marked our sovereignty.
General Emilio Aguinaldo’s public reading of the Act of the Declaration of Independence and proclamation of Philippine sovereignty and independence on June 12, 1896 was, originally, not recognized by both the United States and Spain.
When Spain ceded the Philippines to the US during the 1898 Treaty of Paris, which formally ended the Spanish-American War, the United States gave first recognition to Philippine Independence on July 4, 1946, in the Treaty of Manila.
From then on, Philippine Independence Day was observed every 4th of July and not June 12, as originally declared by Gen. Aguinaldo. But, upon the advice of historians and nationalists, President Diosdado Macapagal signed Republic Act No. 4166 into law on August 4, 1964 — permanently designating June 12 as Philippine Independence Day.
Here are some excerpts from “June 12 as Independence Day,” as written by Pres. Diosdado Macapagal (from the archives of the Philippine History Group of Los Angeles, through the assistance of the Philippine Consulate General):
“The promotion of a healthy nationalism is part of the responsibility of the leaders of newly independent nations. After they lay the foundation for economic development, they promote nationalism and spur the search for national identity. This we can do by honoring our distinguished forebears and notable periods in our history. A step we took in this direction was to change the date for the commemoration of Philippine Independence day.”
“I felt, too, that July 4 was not inspiring enough for the Filipino youth since it recalled mostly the peaceful independence missions to the United States. The celebration of independence day on June 12, on the other hand, would be a greater inspiration to the youth who would consequently recall the heroes of the revolution against Spain and their acts of sublime heroism and martyrdom. These acts compare favorably with those of the heroes of other nations.”
“There was no difficulty in adhering to June 12, however, because although Aguinaldo Government was a dictatorship in view of the military operations he was then leading, he led in converting it into a republican Government in the Malolos Congress. Moreover, the celebration of independence refers to its proclamation rather than to the final establishment of the government. In the case of America, when independence was proclaimed on July 4, the American Government was still a confederation and it was much later when it finally became a federal government.”
“The historical fact was that the Filipinos proclaimed their independence from foreign rule on June 12. Even the national anthem and the Filipino flag which are essential features in the birth of a nation were played and displayed respectively at the independence proclamation in Kawit.”
Indeed, we, as Filipinos, have so much to be thankful for. And while it is in our nature to be resplendent with celebrations, let us remember that beyond the merry-making and the bountiful feast, it is still our unwavering sense of patriotism which matters most. (AJPress)