Denial or Whatever, Are We Really Independent?

On July 4, 1946, the Bicol High School led the celebration of independence day in Calabanga. One of the highlight of the occasion was a parade around the town with adorned floats of young maidens and men of the locality, many of whom were students of the distinguished school.

It was a memorable event having been the first ever independence day celebration of its kind in the municipality during that period. Actually, it set a trend and model for succeeding years of same celebration.

Quick recall here, the renegade revolutionary government of Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence on June 12, 1898 in his residence in El Viejo (Kawit), Cavite, from the colonial Spanish regime. Unfortunately, neither the United States nor the Spanish government recognized the proclamation. It instead ushered the transfer of power from Spain to the American masters in 1902.

After forty four years, the Philippines gained its true independence as a new nation on July 4, 1946. The last July 4rth independence day celebration was observed in 1964, after which Republic Act 4166 moved it to June 12, with the first observance effected the following year.

By celebrating independence day on June 12, instead of July 4, can we entertain the concept that historians, nationalists, etc, committed a blunder in supporting a continuous total denial that the Philippines was never under the rule of the Americans, ever? Hence, we observed independence day from the Spanish crown and not the American eagle? Just thinking aloud.

But it doesn’t matter now. Are the people really independent? Happy independence day, just the same.

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