Perplexing June 12

By Gerry Garcia

THE proclamation of Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898, was more an expression of will and faith than actual acquisition. What we gained freedom from did not strike us as fully convincing as we were still under Spanish domination fighting against social and political injustice.

Most Pinoys believed the June 12 celebration was more nationalistic than anything else in choice and was not reflective of reality.

It was on July 4, 1946 that the United States made good its promise of complete independence for the Philippines and declaring it as a “separate and self-governing nation.”

Decades of growth and experience in self-rule under American administration were further enhanced with the establishment of the 10-year Philippine Commonwealth in 1935 to serve as final gauge for Filipinos to effectively govern themselves which ended in 1946 — the chosen year for Philippine Independence. Manuel Luis Quezon was inaugurated president of the Philippine Commonwealth on Nov. 15, 1935… then freely elected for a second term in November, 1941.

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An interesting sidelight to the history of Phil-American relations is that the Philippines came into US hands by accident. America did not come to conquer the country but was compelled by circumstances to invade Manila Bay as part of its involvement in war with Spain resulting from American plan to help Cuba gain independence from Spain..

American troops then occupied the Philippines, which had been in Spanish hands for 3 centuries.

Under the terms of the peace treaty signed in 1898, Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States for 20 million dollars.

There was opposition to America’s annexing the Philippines because it was unconstitutional, against American ideals. Again the Philippines was too far away from the Pacific coastline of the USA– about 6,000 miles.

American policy toward the Philippines, as announced by the US Senate. It is not intended to incorporate the inhabitants of said islands into citizenship of the United States, nor is it intended to permanently annex said islands… but it is the intention of the United States to establish a government suitable to the wants and conditions of the inhabitants of said island, to prepare them for local self-government.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/here-and-there/)

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