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Thursday, June 12, 2003
Editorial: Our rededication day
THURSDAY is the 105th anniversary of the declaration of independence. It was a day when the illustrados of the Philippines, at the ending of the 18th century, declared their independence from Spain.
That declaration was made with American forces stationed just outside the city of Manila then occupied by forces of the Spanish Regime. Then self-proclaimed President Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence from Spain, with the mistaken belief that the Americans, who never promised him anything, would back him up in his conceived struggle for an independent republic.
The Americans, hinted of help but the help they brought in, soldiers hurriedly dispatched to the Philippines, were poised to strike at the fledging republic.
Thus, the declaration of Aguinaldo of independence on that fateful day in Cawit, Cavite 105 years ago was short-lived.
Instead of using all the resources at his command, to put up a republic, Aguinaldo ended up fighting for his life and his army - against the Americans. In the end after a five-year Filipino - American War, mistakenly labeled by the Americans as an Insurrection, Aguinaldo ended up a captive of Fulton, betrayed by his own men.
Aguinaldo's declaration remained a declaration until on July 4, 1946, the United States of America granted Independence by way of a proclamation of President Harry S. Truman. The Truman Declaration read by US High Commissioner Paul V. Mcnutt withdrew American sovereignty over the Philippines and recognized the country's independence-at last.
Some 15 years later in the 1960s then President Diosdado Macapagal moved the Philippine Independence Day celebration from July 4 to June 12.
We have his daughter, now President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with us Thursday as guest of the 105th Declaration of Independence Celebration.
We also have with us the great grandsons of American soldiers who waged war against our forefathers over a century ago.
Let us draw some meanings from the events of decades ago to what we will witness Thursday.
(June 12, 2003 issue)
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