“Bayang magiliw, Perlas ng Silanganan”, lines in our national anthem that sings for love and comfort from our homeland. “Alab ng puso, Sa dibdib mo’y buhay” the undying fire of victory as the Philippine flag raised its independence against colonizers will forever remain in the Filipino hearts.
As an individual that is currently living in the 21st Century where everything in this world had progressed, be it in materials, resources, transportations, infrastructures, communications and even the laws and ethical standards have all been updated to the terms that would satisfy human needs and demands. In my elementary years, history class never caught my interest but as a young citizen of the society, I also wondered if, what could have been our state today if our ancestors did not make any action towards attaining independence from colonizers. Could the Philippines become the Philippines as it is today? Could we, the Filipino people will still be called Filipinos? Will we remain a country or colonizers would have had made us their state or province and by that, we are the province of slaves that provides lucrative spices for the world? What if the Filipinos did not have the courage to fight for our own identity and eventually just let the colonizers rule our government? Or maybe the other way around? What if the system could have change? There are a lot of people who brought great difference to the world. Namely, Abraham Lincoln, one of the most influential presidents in America as he overcome large number of setbacks. Lincoln is made famous because of his Gettysburg address that inspired a nation with his noble words that helped to bring about the abolition of slavery. Benjamin Franklin, the great polymath and promoter of American ideals at home and for America. He was a man of great dynamism and good character. Mikhail Gorbachev, the man of great courage, tenacity and strength of character who gave up the absolute power of Soviet communism and moved to democracy, respecting human rights. Gorbachev was the one who enabled the berlin Wall to come down giving freedom to eastern Europe. William Wilberforce, the man who fought for ending the slave trade and made slavery appear unacceptable. Nelson Mandela, who campaigned for justice and freedom. Albert Einstein, a champion of human rights that campaigns for more peaceful world and Martin Luther King Jr., the one who led the Non-Violent Civil Rights movement in 1960s. If we did nothing and waited for these men to fight for us, could we be experiencing a more luxurious freedom than ever? I bet not. Filipinos have suffered hundreds of years in the hands of the colonizers. From all the cries, pain, abuse, unjust ruling, slavery, and deaths that had been a normal scenario way back then was truly reasonable to revolt and waiting would cost millions of graves.
We don’t need foreign help to be able to raise our own flag. The Philippines had Jose Rizal, the man behind Noli Me Tangere and El Fili Busterismo. His writings inspired a nation including Andres Bonifacio who led the Kataastaasang, Kagalang-galangang, Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK) movement against the colonizers.
I may not be born on that era but the fact that the blood of our ancestors who fought for our independence runs inside me, thus my stand remains of what my countrymen had fought for. “Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya sa pagkadalisay at pagkadakila gaya ng pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa? Alin pag-ibig pa? Wala na nga, wala.” I definitely agree with Bonifacio, my love for my homeland is priceless. Nowhere in this world could replace the land of my birthplace. The teachings of the Sons of the People remind us that every Filipino must live the principles that was taught to all the katipuneros as they attained independence. First, a life that is not dedicated to a great and sacred cause is like a tree without a shade, or a poisonous weed. If the Philippines did not fight for independence then it is only one way of neglecting the first principle which entails that our worth as Filipinos will only be defined if we will able to stand on our own, not dependent to any dictatorial government but as an independent country since every single Filipino’s then were only dedicated towards attaining freedom. Second, a good deed lacks virtue if it springs from a desire for personal profit and not from a sincere desire to do good. No one would be truly happy if he betrays his countrymen. This principle emphasizes that everything must be done in accordance to what is right but with the heart and humbleness. Third, true charity resides in acts of compassion, in love for one’s fellow men, and in making true reason the measure of every move, deed, and word. As a Filipino, our kindness towards one another is one of the things that I am truly proud of. If ever our country did not fight for our own identity, thus this characteristic of ours would have died along time ago. Maybe our kind of thinking could have been already contaminated with the liberated beings that are taking in control. Fourth, be their skin dark or pale, all men are equal. This is the highlight of the principles of the Sons of the people. We are all God’s Children and we are all the same. Not color, gender or even status could define how the world should treat us. And this is why we should continue to cherish this victory of independence for we are all smiling, ear to ear, holding on to our hospitable characteristics, known for our resilience and adaptable attitude towards every challenge in life are all thanks to our heroes, named and unnamed civilians. These are just a few principles among the thirteen teachings but the greatest among all was the lesson that our fallen heroes have taught us is to fight for what is right and fight with the person who is at the right side. Never leave your comrades. We came from one nation, we will fight as one.
However, issues of today have been really a hard ache to every Filipino Citizen due to the outbreak of the noble corona virus that started on china. It sucks how our government today is being so considerate to other country but fails to protect the citizens of the nation that was fought by blood by our ancestors. I think it’s a complete act of hypocrisy how our present leaders would talk about how to make progress and brig change to the society where in fact they are only making the simple situation complicated. Why can’t this present government protect the Filipino people when they all have the power to do so? Why are they so hungry of other country’s attention if we could stand on our own? (But I’ll just leave it here.) People of this country were also at fault for voting leaders that does not deserved to be one anyway. Again, we don’t need foreign help to be able to raise our own flag.
Let’s continue to fight for the independence that was rewarded to us!
Special thanks to @Ashma for motivating me to do more and I'm also glad to join "Get Sponsored !!" community
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Handa Awit! Very nice and informative, keep posting!