Yet another glorious Independence celebration
It’s time that Filipinos must rise above the “I” mentality
The Proclamation of Independence on June 12, 1898 by General Emilio Aguinaldo does not only signify our military victory against Spain, but, most importantly it marks the climax of the Filipinos’ struggle to be liberated from the arrogance of Spanish rule. It also ushered the establishment of a new revolutionary government and the creation of a military force ready to defend a nation longing for freedom.
While the freedom we have envisioned did not possess the character of absolute sovereignty because of our dependence on the American government (who bought us from Spain for $20 M – if I may remember it right), yet, it symbolized the great patriotism of our founding fathers.
We may recall that when United States President – Harry S. Truman, issued a proclamation recognizing the independence of the Philippines on July 4, 1946, it was not a grant of independence (but recognition) because we were already independent. For 16 years, we celebrated our Independence Day on the “glorious fourth” of the American people. It was not until May 12, 1962 when President Diosdado Macapagal moved the commemoration of our Independence on the day Gen. Aguinaldo made the declaration in Kawit, Cavite.
Though the celebration of our Independence Day on June 12 has a great historical relevance (to us as a people), rather than July 4, the most pressing question today is, How far we have gone after 105 years - as a people?, as a government and nation?
Every year, we always prepare an extravagant celebration to commemorate our freedom. Yet, this occasion has never found a meaningful place in the hearts of our people (especially those in the government who have not kept their campaign promises). We have done many years of costly celebrations, many years of eloquent speeches at Rizal Park and Aguinaldo Shrine, but, all these were just many years of parroting.
This year’s celebration of our independence is yet another year of merry-making, another year of praises and wreath-laying at the tomb of our heroes, another year of traffic rerouting, of street demonstrations and rallies and another more year of failed promises.
We as a people have not matured and realized, yet, the innermost dimension of freedom that we ought to celebrate during Independence Day. We have not evolved from the materialistic tendency of our ego to a mystical experience and collective consciousness. The argument of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (a French Jesuit philosopher and paleontologist) exemplifies the consequence of our failure to transcend saying, “unless we depersonalized our ego, we will never reach the apex of our existence – the Point Omega”. We, (if I may rephrase it) will never develop and mature into the “we” (“tayo” and not “ako lang” mentality) level of our political existence. Politicians will continue to enrich themselves while ignoring the suffering and poverty of the masses.
We, as a nation have continuously disregarded the noble task of good and honest governance. Corruption in every level of government bureaucracy is ignored and sometimes consented. The government is still fighting and negotiating with the Muslim extremists in the Southern part of the country. Peace negotiations and ceasefires have been underway for many years now. We continue to beg from other countries for economic and military assistance. Majority of our people are in constant struggle for a hand-to-mouth existence. The House and Senate floors are preoccupied with too much bickering and debate, all are, but, designed to protect their own political interests. Our foreign debts appear to be a hopeless case. Though we are now free from foreign colonial enemy, yet, we have not overcome our greatest colonial egoism within every branch of government.
If we don’t rise above our “I” mentality, then, we will never realize the true essence of economic freedom. Henceforth, the seeds of freedom sown by Andres Bonifacio and the Katipuneros will only remain in the pages of our history. Its message will be pointless and its celebration will just be another kind of national holiday, rather, than an inspiration to all Filipinos - on what can be done when people are united in the spirit of genuine nationalism.
After all, freedom and independence are epitomized, not, in the poetic words and arguments of a propagandist, but, in the courage and valor of a revolutionist.