Freedom’s heroes

By Marifi Jara

INDEPENDENCE is a loaded word.

It connotes freedom, power and self-sufficiency.

On Tuesday, June 12, we commemorate our nations 109th year of “independence”. I put that heavy word in quotation marks because in the true and deep sense, we did not really gain our sovereignty on that day in 1898.

Emilio Aguinaldo proudly declared our independence as a Philippine Republic in Cavite then; a flag sewn by three women – Mrs. Marcela Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo and Delfina Herboza – was unfurled and that was the basis of what has become our official flag today; the Marcha Filipina Magdalo composed by Julian Felipe, now known as the Lupang Hinirang, our national anthem, was played by the San Francisco de Malabon marching band; and a big crowd witnessed that event.

We can only imagine how inspi-ring that moment must have been. Couldn’t come close to watching a Manny Pacquiao victory in the roped ring. It gives me goosebumps visualizing it. Our forefathers who were present, especially the revolutionaries who made sacrifices and risked their very lives in the name of freedom, must have been moved to tears as the declaration was read, the flag waved and the music played.

But the glory of that day would be short-lived. Even as it was happening, Spain and the United States of America were already cooking up their own deal behind our backs.

In December of that same year, Spain and the United States of America signed the Treaty of Paris wherein the Philippines, along with Cuba, was sold for a total package price of $20 million. A real bargain!!! Then the Americans merely picked up from where our Spanish colonizers – who for the most part plundered our rich country for three long centuries – left off.

I don’t mean to be a party pooper here. I say we should, by all means, celebrate June 12 as our Araw ng Kalayaan. The declaration, the flag, the song, and especially our heroes certainly deserve remembrance.

It’s a good day to recall what the symbols on our flag signify – the stars, the rays of the sun, the colors. And maybe for once in a long time, let’s sing the Lupang Hinirang with feelings.

And as we pay homage to our individual and collective heroes on this special day in our history as a nation, let us also remember our modern-day heroes who are scattered in every corner of the world.

As long as Filipinos are compelled to leave the Philippines because it cannot offer enough professional, economic and personal opportunities for growth – for as long as our people cannot feel empowered in their own homeland – we can never really call the Philippines independent.

As long as there is no real, appropriate and sustainable economic growth here, we will keep seeing more and more Pinoy heroes taking the flight out to face the fight for financial independence for their families.

How many Pangasinense families are sacrificing a father, a mother, a daughter, a son, a sister, a brother for precious foreign currency? Some are battling abject poverty, others are aiming for a more comfortable way of life, several are in pursuit of dreams that are unreachable if they lingered here.

A meaningful Independence Day to us all.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/roots/)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments