12/06/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | More than independence
This year marks the 128th anniversary of the Philippinesโ independenceโcommemorating Filipinosโ freedom after more than three centuries of Spanish colonial rule. Through endurance, Filipinos waged resistanceโmarking one of Asiaโs earliest national revolutions in 1896. And on June 12, 1898, independence from Spain was declared by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, who then became the countryโs first president.
As we celebrate the countryโs freedom, we are reminded of the sacrifices our ancestors endured, the battles weathered, and the stories lived through. The freedom they fought so hard to attainโhas it really been fulfilled? While the nation is no longer under colonial rule, its progress remains limited by systemic issues.
Freedom exists in the sense that we have acquired our own identityโyet we cannot escape from tyranny. Filipinos continue to suffocate under the politicians who have promised to govern our country with honesty. Foreign powers no longer dictate the countryโs affairs. However, many citizens continue to face inequality and poor justiceโ never truly guaranteeing a sense of freedom.
The greatest threat to Filipinosโ own freedom is themselves. The tolerance of unscrupulous actions by corrupt officials continues to hold back the countryโs growth. The mishandling of public funds, disorganized planning, and the deprivation of resources for education and healthcareโthese pressing issues only tear down the wings Filipinos are meant to soar with.
In a country filled with such goal-oriented and highly skilled workers, the limitations within the country cause Filipinos to seek freedom elsewhereโironically, in foreign countries. The places our ancestors longed to be free from is the same place we run to due to the constrained opportunities in the countryโso when have we ever truly exercised our right to freedom?
Independence Day, more than just a historical commemorationโit should serve as a call to every Filipino, both leaders and citizens, to uphold integrity in all aspects, protect democratic institutions, and hold accountable those who perpetuate the crippling state of the country. The Philippines is still worth believing in, still worth representing, so long as Filipinos stand their ground, fight against injustice, and rise with true independenceโfree from manipulation.
One hundred twenty-eight years after the declaration of independence, the Philippines stands as a sovereign nation. However, true independence cannot simply be measured by yearly ceremoniesโbut by the state of its people, where no Filipino is ever restricted. Until such challenges are overcome, Filipinos should not run away from these issues, rather face them knowing that hope is never lost, and the freedom inherited must be fully realized.
๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฌ : Kelly Adlaon
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ : Eva Nora Reyes
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