Today is the 111th anniversary of the Philippine Declaration of Independence. On June 12, 1898, in Kawit, Cavite, General Emilio Aguinaldo, a key figure in the revolutionary struggle, declared the sovereignty of the Philippine Islands and its independence from imperial Spain. The declaration occurred in Aguinaldo's ancestral home where for the first time the Philippine flag (shown above) was unfurled and the national anthem then called Marcha Filipina Magdalo (later renamed Marcha Filipina Nacional and now more popularly known as Lupang Hinirang) was played.
Today's commemoration of the nation's freedom from oppressive rule seems fitting in the heels of the massive rally held two days ago at the heart of the Makati Central Business District. On Wednesday, thousands of Filipinos trooped to Ayalay Avenue to protest the passage in Congress of House Resolution 1109 (HR 1109) which permits the lower chamber to convene itself as a Constituent Assembly (ConAss) that can make amendments to the Constitution. ConAss is just one of the many ways the present administration is using to extend the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo which has been wracked by massive corruption.
I along with two other girls from STRAP, Sass and Phoejay Amparo, went to the rally (see pic below). Some of the girls were indisposed due to work while others were not in the country at that time, so only the three of us could go. There will be other massive protest actions against ConAss and the ills of the Arroyo administration though and the other STRAP girls have already expressed their desire to join those.
I hope more people will also show up in the upcoming rallies as the one held two days ago was just the beginning of a series of rallies until Arroyo delivers her State of the Nation Address in July. Moreover, I hope this day reminds all Filipinos of the need to fight against power that is abusive and corrupted which was also what our founding fathers fought against 111 years ago.
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