PHOTO: STOCK.XCHNG/NAZARETH
(The author is a Licensed Physical Therapist and Healthcare Professional, Writer and Humanitarian. A graduate of the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) and De La Salle University-Health Sciences Institute (DLSU-HSI). He is also a member of the Philippine Physical Therapy Association and UPLB Zoological Society (Ozooms), as well as a humanitarian of the John F. Kennedy Foundation, William J. Clinton Foundation, UPLB and Bataan Communities and Philippine Star.
feature
Substantial Relevance of Philippine Independence on Philippine Society by Lucas Banzon Madamba II
S
ince time immemorial, our country has been struggling in its state of independence. Independence is a condition of a country, nation or state in which its residents and population or some portion thereof, exercise self-government and usually sovereignty over its territory through a regime of democracy. Democracy is a form of government in which all citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Democracy is a form of government which is for the people, of the people and by the people (as reflected in U.S. President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address). The Philippine Declaration of Independence occurred on June 12, 1898 in Cavite II el Viejo (now Kawit) in Cavite, Philippines. With the public reading of the Act of the Declaration of Philippine Independence, Filipino revolutionary forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo (the 1st President of the 1st Philippine Republic) proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the Philippines from the colonial rule of Spain, which was defeated at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. We can discern from times past that the Philippines has struggled in its journey towards attaining freedom and independence through the ages. The Philippines has trekked through the dark shores of Spanish colonization where the Filipinos were rudely treated as low individuals by the Spanish Authorities to the malignant walls of the Japanese during the Japanese Occupation, to the cancerous halls of the Dictatorship as well as to the tumorous skylines of Poverty. It was the profound patriotic courage and bravery as well as the nationalistic devotion of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, who fought for the achievement and realization of the pinnacle of freedom and independence (through peaceful means via his two classic novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo) to awaken the spirit of the masses en route towards enlivening national consciousness against the dark halls of Spanish rule. Andres Bonifacio, on his part, led the Katipuneros and the entire Katipunan in fighting for Philippine freedom and independence also against the Spaniards through the spark of the revolution. Apolinario Mabini (Brains of the Revolution), Emilio Jacinto (Brains of the Katipunan and Writer of the Kartilya ng Katipunan), Graciano Lopez Jaena (Greatest Orator of the Propaganda Movement), Juan Luna (Great Filipino Painter), General Antonio Luna (Greatest General of the Philippine Republic), General Gregorio del Pilar (Hero of the Battle of Tirad Pass), Marcelo H. del Pilar (Editor of the La Solidaridad and One of the Leading Propagandists), Lapu Lapu (Hero of Mactan who bravely fought the Portuguese Navigator, Ferdinand Magellan), General Emilio Aguinaldo (1st President of the 1st Philippine Republic), President Ramon Magsaysay (3rd President of the 3rd Philippine Republic, the 7th President overall, the President who opened the doors of Malacañang Palace to the 6 Bagong Bayani JUNE 2011
people and the most loved Philippine President), Senator Ninoy Aquino (who fought the Marcos dictatorship and awakened the eyes of the Filipino masses to aim for the zenith of national freedom and independence during the 20 years of authoritarian rule of the architect of Martial Law) and many other heroes who fought courageously and against all odds for the benefit of freedom and independence in the Philippines. Now, what is the current state of our country? Is our country free already? The answer may be a yes in some aspects. But it can also be a no in some other ways. Yes because our country may have been freed from the dark walls of the Spanish colonial regime, from the dark halls of the Japanese Occupation during World War II and from the dark corners of the dictatorship but No because our nation is still lingering in the darkness of national poverty and still struggling in its journey towards the attainment of the summit of national and international prosperity (that is, in its aim to become one of the major forces in Asia and in International Communities). It is the national poverty that has prevented our nation from “moving forward” not only in Asia but also in international arena. What factors account for the national poverty in the state of our country which has hindered our nation in its trek towards progress? Unemployment, corruption, lack of education of some people, and declining health system of some sectors are the answers. Based on the national statistics, the unemployment rate in the Philippines has increased from 7.3% to 8 % and around 3 million people are unemployed. In addition, the budget deficit has ballooned and capital accumulation has somewhat bogged down. If the Philippine government and other sectors of society make good and productive use of its funds (especially funds acquired from other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, etc…) for the progressive benefit of communities and humanity like providing jobs and livelihood for the unemployed, promoting livelihood programs for communities and humanity, protecting the general welfare of the public as well as protecting, preserving and defending our Constitution and if we will continuously place ourselves in the spirit of genuine and absolute unity, energy, devotion, faith, sacrifice, patriotism and service towards humanity and the benefit of communities with the aid of Almighty God, then our nation will surely succeed in its journey towards progress not only in the local environment but also in Asia and in international settings. As U.S. President John Kennedy said: Ask not what your country can do for you; Ask what you can do for your country.” As President Ramon Magsaysay said: “ Our country and people shall shape a future, worthy of our noble heritage, if we but act together, act unselfishly, and act with courage in a spirit of patriotic dedication.” As the Philippines celebrates its Independence Day on June 12, 2011, the call to “move forward” in the next coming chapters of democracy will always remain.