Thoughts on Independence Day

Posted on June 9, 2008
Filed Under Celebration, LIFE, Peace amd Governance, Thoughts | Viewed 519 times

BA is kinda worried. Many times in the past few years, the holidays have been moved to either the nearest Friday or Monday so as to give workers a longer weekend. He said, now the young ones will be confused—time will come when they will no longer appreciate what the national holidays are all about. Like, when really is Independence Day, or what does Independence Day stand for. Something to do with our culture, yes. I came to realize that Filipinos, in general, do not take culture as seriously as other countries do.

I myself was guilty of not knowing my culture, as written in an article that I reposted in May last year, called Sexy Mon Bared.

Most Culturally Shocking Secret. I promoted the Mega Mall as a Philippine cultural attraction. During one of my trips in India (Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh), a 12-year old boy asked me “What cultural places do you have in the Philippines?” Caught unaware, I said, “Oh, we have the Mega Mall” (on second thoughts, I thought of saying Cultural Center of the Philippines). I explained that Mega Mall was a huge mall, something like one of the biggest malls in the world. And what, he asked, was a mall? It’s a shopping center, I told him, where you find everything you need, find all the kinds of food you want, even Indian food, play computer games in the arcade (I thought all 12-year olds were arcade fanatics), and go ice skating. “And what do you have?”, I asked. He started rattling off the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Pink City of Jaipur, the forts, and many others. He even told a few stories rich in culture, and of prominent people in their history. I was fascinated with the way a boy his age could talk of his country’s culture, while I could not even name one. Every time I think about it, I cringe in shame. Until now, I am yet to find an answer.

Since then, I would every now and then search the Internet to get bits and pieces about my culture, visit museums, learn of the past and our country’s history to the very present. I realized that in order to understand our culture, we have to go back in time. Why has our state of government become like this—had it not been for how our leaders have ruled our country, and had it not been for how us, the citizens have just allowed our leaders to do so, we will not be in this sorry state.

Sad, how our heroes of long ago have fought hard for our freedom from the Spaniards, Japanese and Americans; how our recent heroes like Ninoy Aquino, Evelio Javier and the many unnamed heroes have given up their lives for their crusades. Now, we the ordinary citizens seem to be helpless, seem to be still in bondage, suffering, from one crisis to another.

I can say that we can only be free and liberated when our leaders have the welfare of the citizens foremost in their minds, when our government is totally free of corruption, when the Filipinos up to the grassroot level benefit from our government, when every Filipino is given the chance for a meaningful livelihood with roofs on their heads, when ordinary parents like me are able to serve enough food on the table, send the kids to school, enjoy medical benefits, and carry on with our lives feeling secure. It’s that simple, but with the current state our government is in, it is complicated.

Still, I look forward, with hope, when the real meaning of Independence Day finally dawns on us all Filipinos in June each year, be it on the 12th, 10th, 9th, or any day proclaimed by our leaders.

Oh, I am being idealistic—I dream, I hope. I am proud to be Filipino. How about you?

Comments

7 Responses to “Thoughts on Independence Day”

Kyels on June 9th, 2008 1:18 pm

Instilling patriotism sure is hard and it’s the same when it comes to understanding our own cultures. Most of the youngsters here don’t care about their cultures, traditions and religions anymore. Whatever that is free and easy for them; they’ll choose that. It’s really sad to see this happening and I always have this question in my head—- what will happen to the newer generation? Will our cultures and traditions stay forever and practiced by the new generations?

I don’t know but yet I hope that it will come true; my dreams for this whole issue. Hoping isn’t wrong b/c it only gives you strength to push through what you think can happen in the future.

[:
Rach (Heart of Rachel) on June 9th, 2008 5:34 pm

Great photos especially the last one. This is a great post.

As much as I enjoy long weekends, I still prefer that significant holidays be celebrated on the day itself.

I hope someday Filipinos will have the chance to taste the real meaning of freedom.
raqgold on June 9th, 2008 6:21 pm

oh i am a proud pinoy! my girls would want to go back to the philippines and stay there as they wanted to go to the beaches, they have been telling people about what they saw in anilao ano pa kaya if we go to boracay, palawan, etc. and my husband is a proud pinoy din daw, he cant get enough of the underwater treasures in anilao, everybody who wants to listen (kahit na those who dont want) gets an earful about our adventures this 2008

but this is really crazy, moving holidays for convenience, ano ba yun?
ba on June 9th, 2008 9:12 pm

Pauline was asking me a few seconds ago when independence day was. She totally got lost in the moved holidays. :p

Anyways. Field trip tayo?
Ester on June 10th, 2008 1:46 am

I remember the most and first striking Philippine History fact I learned when I was 8. The first Philippine President had had our supposed to be first President Bonifacio assassinated, he was cheated by political wills and corruption. Thus the Philippines was born. We have been that way ever since. Good men died so we can have our corrupt leaders drink from our cup.

So shall I be proud? I guess I need to be proud, for the sake of those who had and still believed of the Philippines that was meant to be.
annamanila on June 15th, 2008 5:47 am

Still proudly Pinoy, Dine. There’s still a lot of the country and of our countrymen to be proud of.
vk on June 18th, 2008 1:28 am

Yes, i am very proud a Pinay…..
happy to call up “Pinay ka?”....
pinay culture, pinay traditions,pinay actions,
pinay smile, pinay gesture, pinay way of life…
pinay foods…..

Proud to be Pinay…....proud of