Independence Day

RAther than “marching on”, as it is often perceived, written or spoken about, I , like to think of time as a continuum, flowing smoothly from history in the past to the present and into the future.

This comes to mind as our country celebrates today the 111th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence, and the official hoisting of our flag at Kawit, Cavite (although Mayor Manny Maliksi of Imus, Cavite, says that contrary to what most people know, it was in Imus, not in Kawit) on June 12, 1898. So the National Historical Institute as decided to make the town of Imus’ Wagayway Festival as one of the center- piece events today in the 11th anniversary celebration of Philippine Independence.

If you will notice, all over the country, offices, agencies and instrumentalities of government, business establishments, schools and private homes have been displaying the Philippine Flag since last May 28th through today, and hopefully throughout the year as enjoined by Republic Act 8491. This is to teach every Filipino to respect and love the national flag, the symbol of freedom of the country from its colonizers, and for the sacrifices of both recognized and unrecognized heroes.

The flag was originally designed by General Emilio Aguinaldo in Hongkong as it looks today, and was then sewed by Mrs. Marcela de Agoncillo with her daughter Lorenza and Josefina, a niece of Dr. Jose Rizal. Made of silk, it had a white triangle at the left, with a sunburst of eight rays at the center, a five-pointed star at each angle of the triangle, an upper stripe of dark blue and a lower stripe of red. The white triangle stood for peace, truth and justice; while the three stars stood for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The sunburst of eight rays from the sun represented the first eight provinces that took up arms against Spain: Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Manila, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas.

The Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, if I remember rightly, disallows the decorative reproduction and use of the essential elements of the flag, the red and blue stripes and the white triangle with the sun and stars, on public decorations and displays, in clothing, uniforms and costumes, and other articles, products and such, of the red and blue stripes and the white triangle with the sun and stars.

Closely associated with our national flag as our national emblem, is our Philippine National Anthem entitled Lupang Hinirang, also colloquially known as Bayang Magiliw (“Beloved Country” or “Chosen Land” or “Beloved Land”) from the first words of the lyrics to the anthem. Its music was composed in 1898 by Julian Felipe with lyrics originally in Spanish adapted from he poem “Filipinas” written by Jose Palma in 1899.

If you remember, Martin Nievera caused quite a controversy over his “version” of the Anthem when he sang it to open the Paquiao-Hatton fight in Las Vegas, with feeling, true, but he varied the tempo and the melody at the last word, instead of in the way it should be sung as a sign of respect in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe. It should be sung with fervor “in marching tempo or the time signature 2/4,” all in accordance with the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.

This may seem very “elementary.” But actually, didn’t we learn, or should not have, learned it in the elementary grades?

Philippine history, long before we finally saw the dawn of independence have given rise to so many heroes, most of from the fire and ashes of conflict against tyranny and injustice, suffering ignominy and short human memories, but many still remembered in our historical records for us to peruse.

Now, let us move from the past, fast forward to a few of our modern heroes, heroes not from war, but from peaceful, significantly fruitful accomplishments. After Manny Paquiao from the boxing ring, and Brillante Mendoza from the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and a few Filipinos who graduated with honors from US universities, whom I already mentioned last week, six RP students who won in a Texas science tilt for their different innovative projects in front of an international jury at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, reported today in print media as I conclude writing this in mid-week. While on the local front, two relatively mature Cebu professionals in separate fields, who copped the top two places in the recent Licensure Examination for Teachers. Kudos to you all!

Tomorrow, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on radio dyLA's Women's Kapihan which I host our guest, Dr. Madrileña dela Cerna, will speak on Making Women Visible in History. This is to bring to the fore outstanding Cebuano Trailblazers at Significant Times in Cebu History. Do join us. Details on this and more next week. Till then may God continue to bless us all!