Table Talk By: Mike S. Apostol Are the Philippines really independent? Yesterday as the Philippine Nation commemorated her 115 years of Independence from Spain after over 300 years of Spanish colonial rule it goes back to our memories the many stories of Spanish Catholic friars who ruled the Philippines with iron hands with the blessings of the Spanish Monarchy. Thousands of prime lands were taken over by Spanish friars for their mission and other purposes and the natives who owned those lands were driven away or enslaved for their plantations and constructions of cathedrals and mission schools. Mission schools were for Spaniards and their children in the Philippines and except for the Filipino “illustrados” who gained the friendship of their colonial masters were allowed to study in this mission schools administered by Spanish friars. The rest of the population, tribesmen and natives, who were only named Filipinos after Spain, named the “Islas de ladrones” into Philippines after King Philip II the Spanish Monarch who funded the expedition of a disgruntled Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan at the insistence of Queen Isabela, King Philip’s wife, which led to the discovery of the Philippines. For three hundred years, Spanish education was only for the fortunate “Illustrados” many of them sons and daughters of Spaniards and even friars from Filipina natives. This and many other reasons saw the uprising of the “hoi poloi Indios”, brave Filipinos, many with Spanish and Chinese roots and formed a clandestine organization, the “Kataastaasan Kagalanggalang Katipunan” (KKK). It started the revolt for Independence against Spain until the Spaniards surrendered the country to United States of America when the “Spanish Armada” was defeated by America’s Navy commanded by Admiral Dewey in the battle of Manila Bay that was started by the Americans in the Latin America or South America known as the “Spanish-American” war after a Spanish Armada was deliberately bomb in peace time allegedly by Americans. *** For over 50 years the American colonial government ruled the Philippines and introduced American Education and Protestant religion. The big difference was, all Filipinos were allowed to go to school and even force Filipino Children to learn by sending American teachers throughout the islands. Still some Filipinos even with the leniency of the American colonial masters wanted independence and engaged the American soldiers in many gun battles like the infamous “battle of Tirad Pass” that killed revolutionary General Gregorio Del Pilar. The Americans gave the Philippines its Independence in July 4, 1946. Until now visibly Philippines is not totally independent as a nation and a people, from two colonial masters who gave us both our independence. *** Have we achieved total independence? Compare our country to other nations that were under American Rule like Japan. Look at Japanese people and their government, although they were razed to the ground by Americans during the war and the war brought more damage to Japan in almost anything more than the Philippines but today their total independence can be seen not only in their government but their people. They don’t rely on America on almost anything unlike the Philippines we cannot even protect our sovereignty. Filipinos working abroad are abused and tormented and our government is helpless to come to their rescue if a diplomatic approach and solution fails. We always rely on American support internationally and domestically. Prime lands taken from the natives during Spain’s colonial rule remain in the hands of Spaniards whose religion can dictate our government. Malaysia and India, two nations formerly under British colonial rule, are not relying on the graces of their former colonial masters. Perhaps total Independence for the Philippines is elusive until such time all our government officials, rich families and clans will begin to love the Philippines and not make it a “milking cow” or until such time all foreigners in the Philippines will begin to respect our laws our people our tradition and be afraid of our authorities, only then can we say that we are independent. *** Scoop: Many Filipinos hate foreigners but they love foreign products and food. Many officials from government and private institutions are corrupt but goes to church and attends mass and sometimes pray and shed crocodile tears. Some pure Filipinos who were lucky to be wealthy despised their poor neighbors like a “Spanish aristocrat”. Foreign influence is embedded in our bloods, Independence is being yourself and not influenced. Agree or disagree. ***
Posted on: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 01:12:47 +0000
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