By: Bong Amora
Spain and American Occupation
Spain ruled the Philippine Islands, which was named after Spanish King Philip II in 1542. On June 12, 1898, Filipinos declared their independence from Spain.
Historians say that the Philippines became a colony of Spain in 1521 when Portuguese Navigator Ferdinand Magellan on behalf of Spain reached Mindanao and Cebu. Others insist that the first Spanish settlement was established in the Philippines in 1565, marking the onset of Spanish colonial rule.
In 1898 Spanish-American War erupts and the Americans won the battle that lasted 4 months and ended Spanish rule in the Philippines. It was called Americas splendid little war.
The Americans after the war with Spain bring all the Philippine islands under military
American Soldiers
control. Pres. McKinley believed that “Filipinos were too uncivilized to govern themselves.” The then Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and the Filipinos who fought along with the Americans against the Spaniards were shocked and felt betrayed after two years of fighting for our independence from Spain. (Gift from Gods).
Thereafter, the Americans ruled the Philippines and declared its independence on July 4, 1946. But Filipinos first declared their independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo maintained that June 12, 1898 as the anniversary of the Philippines real independence.
Pres. Mckinley
It was then declared in 1962 that the official Independence Day is June 12 and July 4 as “United States-Philippine Friendship Day.”
Overseas Filipinos celebration
Overseas Filipinos are noted on their patriotism to our beloved Philippine history and Philippine Embassies around the globe are very busy in preparation for the 109th Philippine Independence Day Celebration.
Renowned celebration of such pinoy event that I am aware of was “Saplot Saysay” in Israel during the 106th Philippine Independence Day organized by our Philippine Mission led by the then Labor Attache Jalilo Dela Torre and my friend way back in Jeddah, and at that time the Consul in Israel Norman Garibay (now posted as Consul in Australia); and the Filipino Community.
The show cast by the Filipino community themselves was directed by famous stage Director Behn Cervantes. The show
106th Phil. Independence Day in Israel
featured significant historical events in Philippine history through drama emphasizing Philippine wear through an anthologized fashion show and dramatize foreign influences on the behavior of Filipinos.
A mixture of Character
Filipinos, actually were a mixture of character, Allan Geoghegan in his speech titled “Who is the Filipino” at the 10th Annual Fil-Am Gala in Columbia SC says “This could explain some of the CHINITO or Chinese look of some Filipinos today. The Filipino character is a little bit of all these cultures mixed together: “Filipinos are Malay or BAYANIHAN in family, Spanish in love’ Chinese in business, and American in ambition.” Due to the Philippines long association with Spain, Filipinos are emotional and passionate about life in a way that seems more LATIN than Asian, and a common trait that distinguishes them all is FILIPINO HOSPITALITY.
106th Phil. Independence Day in Israel
I agree with him that foreign influences contributed a lot in Filipinos way of life but I still do believed that true character, customs and traditions we have Filipinos, were originally acquired from the genuine blood of our ancestors who were already in our motherland prior to the Spanish era.
In my Facebook I created a group called “PILIPINO AKO saan man sa MUNDO” to remind every Filipinos that wherever we are in this part of the world, “Filipinos always a Filipino” in values, thoughts, words and in deeds. Our Customs and Traditions were intact and always with us no matter what foreign country we may be. In short we can’t hide nor deny our true identity and our Filipino selves.
Visit (login using your email addy) ”PILIPINO AKO saan man sa Mundo” and surf the dazzling beautiful Philippine sceneries and Tourist Spot attractions in our beloved country (photo courtesy of Noreen B.).
Sa lahat ng mga Pilipino saan man dako sa mundo MABUHAY KA! AT MALIGAYANG PAGBATI! sa Ika Isang Daan at Siyam na Anibersayo ng ating KALAYAAN.
[...] the addition of the ninth ray should have been done a long time ago. In my previous entry titled “Pilipino Ako Saan man sa Mundo” (A glimpse of freedom), I said that “that true character, customs and traditions we have Filipinos, were originally [...]