This is the thirteenth and final post in my series, written for practical people, both Filipino and foreign who care about the country of the Philippines and would like to do something, within their own means and power, to make it a better place.
Today’s excerpt is quite appropriate as it publishes as we Americans head into one of our very special times of the year, the July 4th holiday which celebrates the birthday of our country, specifically the signing and public reading or our Declaration of Independence. The USA didn’t actually become a nation on that day, we had to fight a war against one of the greatest powers in the world to make the words of the declaration mean something. Many things have come to pass since that momentous day in 1776 when 13 little dirt poor, unorganized and often isolated colonies declared themselves independent and launched immediately into a war to set themselves free from a nation that was not dictatorial or violent, but an oppressive colonial dictator none the less.
The Philippines has a history with many parallels to the US. In fact, for many years the Philippines celebrated a shared Independence Day along with the US, because the actual date the Philippines stood up as a sovereign nation recognized by the the world community is 4 July, 1946, (see Treaty of Manila)
Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country.
But the Treaty of Manila was no more the birthday of Philippine Independence than the Treaty of Paris, 3 September, 1783 is the birthday of the USA, 7 long years after the Declaration of Independence. It took the Philippines slightly longer.
The Philippine Declaration of Independence occurred on June 12, 1898 in Cavite el Viejo (now Kawit), Cavite, Philippines. With the public reading of the Act of the Declaration of Independence, Filipino revolutionary forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain.
Of course it really wasn’t the Spanish the Philippines need to declare independence from the US having convincingly “kicked their butt” in the Battle of Manila Bay the preceding month. Remember “You may fire when you are ready, Gridley?”
But the fledgling republic did manage to get themselves into a shooting war with one of the greatest powers on earth, the USA. In the US the Philippine-American War is often called the “War of Philippine Insurrection”. The war is officially said to have ended on July 4, 1902 (there’s that date again) but shooting continued until at least 1913 when an uneasy truce with America came into actual being, lasting in on for or another all the way to 1946.
So again, the parallels between the USA and the Philippines coming into nationhood have a lot of similarities, but it took the Philippines a little long from declaration to actual sovereign nation status ,,, about 44 years.
As an American with a military background I am often disappointed when I see fellow Americans at public events where our national anthem is played, or especially at a parade where virtually no one renders proper honors to our national ensign (commonly called a flag). But that disappointment is nothing compared with what I see of Filipinos when the Philippine colors are brought into a room or especially when the Lupang Hinirang is played. No wonder the author of 12 Little Things added this rule.
If you want respect, you must show respect. Especially to your own nation and it’s national symbols of sovereignty. Parents, you can talk about poverty, lack of education, government corruption. a dearth of opportunity and all those other negative things, but it costs exactly zero pesos and very little time to teach you children (by example) to render the respect due your own country … and others if their nation anthem is played. It’s cheap, it’s easy, and it is important, no one is going to respect your country if you yourself do not.
In case you don’t know the rules, Filipino or foreigner, when any country’s national anthem is played, a respectful person rises, assumes the position of attention (which means they stop talking, chewing, spitting or texting, by the way), remove their headgear, faces the music or the ensign of the country and remains standing respectfully until the last note. Citizens of the country being honored should render the hand salute if in uniform, if in civilian clothes they should remove their headgear and hold it over their heart. If no headgear is worn, they salute by placing the right hand over the heart. And yes, if you are a dual citizen you absolutely should render the honors to both country’s anthems being played. It costs nothing and brands you as person to be respected, because you render respect, and it’s worth doing even if those around you don’t bother to, … or so Dave opines.
This will conclude my comments on the worthwhile book, 12 Little Tings. I recommend it highly. If you have trouble getting your own copy, contact me and I will help.
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