The Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence can be read here.
Apolinario Mabini, to put it mildly, was not happy with the proclamation. Read what Onofre Corpuz has to say about it here: O.D. Corpuz to receive top UP honours
But there it is. The story of our nationhood has been one of trying to emerge from wanting to be a protectorate, and risking all that it takes to be free. We are still trying to make that choice.
The Independence Day That Wasn’t is an interesting article, and one I agree with partially.
If we follow the articles above, our independence day should be the one proposed by Dr. Corpuz; but also, we should make the date the senate rejected the RP-US bases treaty a national holiday, too.
Incidentally, today, we will be waving Philippine flags the colors of which were changed in 1998. The problem is, the flag manufacturers can’t make the exact shade of blue mandated by law. Which means both government and people are all flouting the law in waving a flag whose colors do not match the colors mandated by law.
How typical of our country. Faults, failings, failures and all, it’s the only country we have. And I’m sure you, as I do, loves the country.
We have been free for 58 years; but it was 106 years ago that that freedom was proclaimed for all the world to know.
Ever since I was writing in TODAY, I kept trying to point out the great historical importance of that date. At the very least, it should be a national holiday. Thanks for your comment!
Finally someone agrees with me that we should date our independence to the day the Phil. Senate rejected the bases treaty. That was the day we cut the umbilical cord that bound us to the US. Before that we were dependent on the US for almost everything. After that, we started to stand on our own.
MLQIII:
I just re read the O D Corpuz speech. I have finished
reading the Roots of the Filipino Nation and the Economic
History of the Phil. Interesting read. Too bad, he allowed himself to be used, by Marcos