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Philippine Independence Day Issue P Philippine Independence Day Issue Editor’s Notes: ………………………… “Happy Independence Day, Philippines!” ……………………. Eddie Zamora Featured Items: 1. Philippine Independence Day, A Brief History ……………………………………………………………………….. The Editor 2. I Am Proud To Be A Filipino ……………………………………………………………………….. by Nelson Lagos Ornopia, Sr. 3. Presidents Of The Philippines ……………………………………………………………..………………………………. Group Effort 4. The Philippine Flag and Its Symbols ……………………………………………………………………………………. The Internet 5. The Philippine National Anthem …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. SULADS Corner: …………………………..………………… “Sulads Is Like A Rose” ………………… by Crisophel Abayan. NEMM Patch of Weeds: …………………………………………………………………………….……………………………..………….. Jesse Colegado LIFE of a Missionary: ………………… “President of SDA Church Visits ‘Land Eternal’”………..………. Romulo M. Halasan CLOSING: Announcements |From The Mail Bag| Prayer Requests | Acknowledgements Meet The Editors |Closing Thoughts | Miscellaneous Happy Independence Day, Philippines! very June 12 the Philippines celebrates its Independence Day. Having lived in America some 30 E years now I am familiar with how people celebrate Independence here—they have parades, barbecues and in the evening fireworks. When we left the Philippines years ago fireworks were banned in the country. I don’t know how it is today. It would be wonderful if Filipinos celebrated Independence Day similar to or better than the usual parades, picnics, barbecues and some fireworks. When I was a kid growing up, Independence Day was observed on July 4th, the day when the United States granted the country independence from American rule. The American flag was finally lowered from government building flagpoles and the Philippine flag was hoisted in its stead. From that day until one day in 1962 the country celebrated Independence Day on the same day the United States celebrated its own Independence Day. But on May 12, 1962 then President Diosdado Macapagal issued Presidential Proclamation No. 28 declaring June 12 as a special public holiday to commemorate Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo’s declaration of Philippine Independence from Spanish rule on June 12, 1898. here were several firsts that took place on that day. The Filipino flag, which was made by Marcela Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo and Delfina Herboza in Hong Kong was unfurled for T the first time. The Marcha Filipina Magdalo composed by Julian Felipe which today has been renamed Lupang Hinirang was played by the San Francisco de Malabon marching band (I used to think the title of that anthem was Bayang Magiliw). Some individuals pointed out that Spain did not recognize Aguinaldo’s declaration because on May 1, 1898 Commodore George Dewey of the United States Navy defeated the Spanish Armada at the Battle of Manila Bay, thus ending the Spanish-American War. Spain ceded the control of the islands to the Americans. America did not recognize Aguinaldo’s declaration of independence either because they now had taken control of the government. That is the reason why some dissenters spoke against the change of the date of Philippine Independence because in reality the country was still under the rule of a foreign country, the United States of America. Some patriotic Filipinos even started a rebellion against the Americans but they were defeated. It is almost like Yoyoy Villame’s verses which said bolos and spears were no match with guns and cannons. Some even pointed out that Andres Bonifacio, the leader of the secret revolutionary society Katipunan, also declared independence from Spain on April 12, 1895. He and his men wrote on the walls of their cave hideout Viva la Independencia Filipina! (Long Live Philippine Independence!) Bonifacio then started the Philippine Revolution which ended in December 1897 when Spain agreed to a truce with the Katipuneros with a stipulation that rebel leaders, including Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, be exiled to Hong Kong. Even today some people still don’t approve of the change of the date for the observance of Philippine Independence from July 4 to June 12. For us Christians, the real Independence Day we should be looking forward to should be the day when we could really be free from sin and the author of sin, the devil himself. “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. Romans 8:20, 21 (NIV). Let us celebrate the Philippine Independence Day on June 12, the date that the government has declared it to be observed, but let us look forward to that greatest Independence Day when we will have freedom from sin and everything that sin has brought to this earth. Eddie Zamora Redlands, California Philippine Independence Day, A Brief History unday, June 12, 2016 the Philippines will celebrate Independence Day. June 12, 1898, was the day when Emilio Aguinaldo unfurled the Philippine flag for the first time, the S Philippine National Anthem was played for the first time by the San Francisco de Malabon marching band. The declaration independence from Spanish rule was read by the author of the 21-page document, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista. The 5-peso bill shows the image of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo on the front, and a depiction of the celebration when the declaration of Independence was made at Aguinaldo’s home, appears on the reverse side. Before this event though, another person and national hero, Andres Bonifacio, the leader of the revolutionaries called Katipuneros also declared independence from Spanish rule as he drafted more members to his organization. He wrote on the walls of the cave which was his hideout “Viva la independencia Filipina” which was the goal of his secret society. He initiated the Cry of Pugad Lawin (Hawk’s Nest) which was the start of the Philippine Revolution. It ended in December 1897 at the Pact of Biak-na-Bato where the Spanish government agreed to end the war with the revolutionaries if leaders, including Gen. Aguinaldo would be exiled to Hong Kong. An earlier 5-peso bill has Andres Bonifacio’s picture on the front and the Katipuneros’ initiation ceremony appears on the reverse side. The Spanish government did not recognize Aguinaldo’s declaration of independence. Commodore George Dewey of the U.S. Navy sailed into Manila Bay on May 1, 1898 and defeated the Spaniards thus ending the Spanish-American War. The Spanish government ceded the Philippine Islands to American rule. Dewey brought back Gen. Aguinaldo from Hong Kong and he brought his countrymen together to make that June 12, 1898 Declaration. Commodore Dewey did not recognize Aguinaldo’s declaration of independence either because the Americans ruled the Philippines until 1946. Some important events did take place on June 12, 1898 aside from the declaration of Independence. The first Filipino flag, made in Hong Kong by Marcela Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo and Delfina Herboza was unfurled. The tune Marcha Filipina Magdalo composed by Julian Felipe was played publicly for the first time by the San Francisco de Malabon marching band. This became the Philippine National Anthem, “Lupang Hinirang.” The United States governed the Philippines until July 4, 1946 when they finally turned over the reins of the country to Filipino officials. Before this Independence Day from the United States, Japan did occupy the Philippines and it formed a puppet government with Jose P. Laurel as president. The person recognized by the United States as president of the Philippine Commonwealth at this time was Manuel L. Quezon. American soldiers, fighting side by side with Filipino soldiers (the Filipinos were considered members of the USAFFE--United States Armed Forces in the Far East) under Gen. Douglas MacArthur fought hard to defeat the Japanese. This is a very brief history of how the Philippine Independence Day came about, and why people have varying reasons on when it should be observed. The Internet (p.s. The United States offered the Filipinos the chance to gain statehood like Hawaii but the Filipino leaders preferred to have an independent country.) I Am Proud To Be A Filipino Nelson Lagos Ornopia, Sr. (The views expressed in this article are those of the writer, not the CyberFlashes) y given name, Nelson, sounds American or of western origin, probably because my parents admired Nelson Eddy, a popular American singer and actor. But my surname MOrnopia is a well-known Filipino name in the town of Tabogon, Northern Cebu, Philippines. In fact as appearing in Facebook the Ornopia Clan Worldwide (OCW) cofounded by Ronald Ornopia and Abby Pelaez Ornopia (whose main office is in Cebu City) boasts, as of today, 2,304 members! Among the many reasons why I am proud to be a Filipino is because of the rich heritage we have as a people, handed down to us by our ancestors starting from the great Cebu Chieftain Lapulapu, who fought and killed Ferdinand Magellan, the person credited with discovering the Philippines, down to our great hero Dr. Jose Rizal, and the Katipuneros who resisted the Spanish colonizers leading to our Independence as a nation. Of course we cannot forget our valiant Filipino soldiers who fought in the battlefields of Bataan and Corregidor against the Japanese invaders! However there are times when I feel ashamed as a Filipino when I hear of negative reports about our people especially in the government, involved in rampant graft and corruption, cheating and vote-buying, even killings during election time! Abuses are rampant in government agencies such as the Bureau of Customs, BIR, Immigration, LTO, etc. Their actions place a black mark on our country as perceived by people from other nations. But despite these negative pictures, our country exhibits many positive and bright images which still makes me proud. Besides our rich heritage, the Philippines which has been called “The Pearl of the Orient” in our National Anthem has many historical places and beautiful tourist spots which have attracted visitors from all over the world.
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