Genuine independence

June 12, 2012 marked the 114th year of the independence of this country. On the same day in 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo raised the Philippine flag at Kawit, Cavite symbolizing the independence of the Filipinos from the rule and control of the overstaying Spaniards.

It was a short-lived independence though. Both Spain and America ignored that Cavite flag-raising and the declaration of independence by the Filipinos. America replaced Spain as the next colonizer of this country. As a result, the Filipinos carried the colonial mentality reinforced by the colonizers through subjugation, religion, and education. In the process, many Filipinos forgot and were deprived of their genuine and proud self-reliant roots, their beautiful culture, and their own rich resources.

The colonizers left with the assurance that the Filipino leaders left behind would continue their policy of economic and political dependency. The Philippine flag may have been raised again some time after the war, this time to declare independence from America. Both flag-raising ceremonies, in 1898 and in 1946, however, were just that- ceremonies, with real independence still elusive all throughout the hearts, minds, and souls of every Filipino throughout this country.

What does real independence mean? Independence celebrates freedom, KALAYAAN.

How many of our people really realize the true essence of this beautiful concept, of freedom, of independence? And can we really say that we and our country are truly free and independent?

An independent country is a self-reliant country producing enough to meet the basic needs of one’s people. Relying on the united effort and industry of the people, production is based on what one’s own people need and not on what is profitable to trade with the outside world.

 Independent people pursue what they need to be fully human personally and as a community, as a nation, to produce their own food from their rich environment, to have their own music, to make their beautiful attire, and even their unique tattoos, to learn how to joyfully live and pass the knowledge and wisdom on to the next generation

The welfare of the people all throughout the land is priority over profits or trade. Hence, the economy is geared and centered on managing the needs of all households within the country first and foremost. Governance is also guided by service and commitment to the people. It is involves the participatory engagement of all, rulers and ruled alike.

The Filipinos can look back to the practices of our self-reliant and proud ancestors. Every independence celebration, we need to be reminded about how rich our culture was back before the colonial period and how proud our ancestors were to have provided for all, with every member of the community contributing their share to ensure sustainable lives both for people and the environment. And seeing our past, hopefully, we realize the meaning of freedom from our ancestors who showed us how to be themselves, to be part of their community and their environment, and the heavens and the universe, to be free from basic wants

A new animated version of LUPANG HINIRANG, the Philippine National Anthem can be downloaded from YouTube. Gratefully, this 2012 animated version starts with images of our proud ancestors during the baranganic period. The animated version carries the viewer through the various struggles, political and economic, that our people had to wage then and now. The animated LUPANG HINIRANG version shows Filipinos as a whole community, as music lovers, as freedom fighters, as soldiers, as farmers, as a family. It optimistically involves the young, males and females, together with the adults and the elderly. The beautiful, resource-rich country is also clearly shown in the background. The last scene of the animated version shows much hope with the sun shining brightly and the smiling face of a Filipino baby.

The animated version is a beautiful gift to celebrate this year’s Independence Day. Like this animated gift for 2012 independence, there should be much more that need to be done so that all Filipinos understand the meaning and essence of independence and will work hard together to truly bring real freedom and kalayaan back among our people and all throughout our country.

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