Independence Day

In 1946, America changed our status from that of a commonwealth to a republic. To make sure we will always remember that it was through their kindness that we became independent, the formal ceremonies such as the lowering of the U.S. flag, the raising of our flag and the reading of U.S. Pres. Truman’s edict was made on July 4, 1946. Note that July 4 is American’s Independence Day. Nationalists like Jose P. Laurel, Sr., Claro Recto, Lorenzo Tañada, Luis Taruc, etc. were checkmated. If they objected, they would be charged as ungrateful to America who liberated us from Japan or worse, be accused Communists Hukbalahaps. In 1962, Pres. Diosdado Macapagal signed into law a bill declaring June 12 as our Independence Day. While we revolted against Spain in 1896, it was only on June 12, 1898 that President Emilio Aguinaldo officially declared the Philippine Republic by raising our Flag and singing the national anthem (in Spanish believe it or not) in Kawit, Cavite.

There still is a very serious omission which must be corrected. On April 27, 1521 Lapu Lapu killed Magellan and defeated the Spaniards in the battle of Mactan. This created three firsts in world history. This was: one, the first time a Southeast Asian nation had the guts to resist a western colonizer; two, the first time a Southeast Asian nation won against a white colonizer until Indonesia won against the Dutch in 1949. We hope that after over 400 years of callous oversight negligence and indifference (1521-2018) our leaders will penitentially and remorsefully listen to the dying, ebbing, fading, smoldering dreams of Filipinos, especially ang Kaliwat ni Sugbuanong Lapu Lapu and declare by law April 27 as the glorious victory of Lapu Lapu in Mactan and make it a super holiday.