Workers hoist the Philippine flag at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite yesterday in preparation for Independence Day celebrations in the place where the Declaration of Independence was first read by revolutionary president Emilio Aguinaldo. Photo by MANNY MARCELO
It’s a big day here in the Philippines today … Independence Day. I really noticed the flags living the expressway and every "Municipio" … town hall … that we passed on our trip up to Pangasinan on Saturday.
You know, as an American living here I see plenty of things I could find fault with. In fact, I do, from time to time, although I try not to make a habit of it. But faults or no faults I really have a lot of respect for the Philippines and for the heroic Filipino freedom fighters who took on first the (then) might of the Spanish and later the full force of the United States (ever notice how in the Philippines it is called the War of Independence but in the US it’s called the "Philippine Insurrection". I guess when one country invades another by force, imprisons and even executes numbers of its citizenry and then ‘squats’ there like a large, demanding houseguest who won’t leave, the concept of ‘war’ or ‘insurrection’ is certainly in the eye of the beholder, isn’t it? (no comparisons’ with the senseless occupation of the sovereign country of Iraq now, GW "Shrub" Bush is, I am sure, monitoring these words with the Carnivore system, and, of course there is no true comparison … the Philippines we "bought" from someone who didn’t own it, Iraq we just "took".
Present day politics aside, there are a lot of my fellow Americans who have many unkind things to say about the Republic of the Philippines. yet I would submit we take a look at a number of other former Spanish possessions. Guam. Another small island country. They didn’t become truly independent, they are essentially still a ‘ward’ of the US and a huge source of welfare expenditures … must like the Indian people’s reservations that my poor US has yet to figure out how to administer.
How about Cuba? Another small island nation that kept itself separate from the US … but they didn’t stand on their own feet, they aligned themselves strongly with the former Soviet Union. Do you think, perhaps, with all things taken into consideration, that the Philippines, who has been truly independent a shorter time than Cuba ought to get some credit? Frankly, I do.
Happy birthday, my adopted country. Don’t worry, I still wave "Old Glory", but I recognize the world is more than big enough for other nations as well. May both our ensigns fly high for along, long time to come.
Largest know Philippine flag flying (22 x 44 feet) on the former US Navy headquarters flag pole, Subic Bay metropolitan Area Hq building, Zambales, Philippines.
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Hi Laurence, Hmm, hadn’t even thoughtof Siapan … indeed the list is longer than one thiks at first, isn’t it?
Philly,
Don’t forget Saipan, where the sweatshops can proudly apply the “Made in the USA” label on garments made by indentured Filipino workers.
Hekllo Andrew,
Indeed there is still never total agreement today. As a non-Filipino (and thus having no real vote) I favor 4 July myself. After all, that is the date of true independence, from the US and all other nations. OTOH, 12 June is much more like 4 Huly in US history, as the US was by no means free on 4 July 1776, we had just started, formally, the beginning of a long struggle. That makes the events of 12 June pretty much the equivilentof 4 July in the US sense.
Karnow’s book, though, is very authoritative and an excellent source, so who’s really to say what “Dado” Macapagal’s real thoughts were?
Hi Paul,
Thanks for visiting and for your comment. No, sorry, it’s not the12th. I intended to explain that … you know what happens to good intentions …. the Philippines has fallen into that ‘make a three day weekend at all cost’ syndrome and yesterday, Monday the 9th was the ‘observed’ holiday. Your son’s birthday … happy birthday, guy …. and the ‘real’ Independence Day at still the 12th of June.
Is it the 12th already? Lost track of time! Independence Day is also my eldest son’s birthday, so I’d better get the “belated” card in the mail!
Hi! Here is an interesting tid bit from Wikipedia about Independence Day in the Philippines:
“From 1946 to 1961, Independence Day was observed on July 4, but President Diosdado Macapagal, upon the advice of historians, reverted to the June 12 date, which up to that time had been observed as Flag Day.”
The REAL reason that Macapagal changed the date of Independence Day was he was tired of having competing celebrations with the U.S. embassy, according to Stanley Karnow’s book “In Our Image: America’s Empire in the Philippines”. If you haven’t read it, i recommend it highly.
Happy Independence Day!