Emilio Aguinaldo and Independence Day

There cannot be any celebration of Independence Day on June 12, 1898 without honoring Emilio Aguinaldo. It was he who put together the formal elements of nationhood for the Philippines from writing a proclamation of independence to the making of a flag.

If we celebrate June 12, 1898 as our Independence Day then we must honor Emilio Aguinaldo for his efforts to organize the institutions that follow a revolution. When the new colonizers came baying at the door he moved to outmaneuver them by formally declaring its independence. That was the reason for June 12.

 But OD Corpus in his book Saga and Triumph writes that the declaration of independence read out in Kawit that day was not as he and his fellow freedom fighters wanted it to be. It was flawed. Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista who had been assigned to write the independence proclamation was pressed for time. He was asked by Aguinaldo to write a draft on June 10 for June 12. In his haste, he committed “Gen. Aguinaldo and his countrymen to an uncertain future by writing the US role of protector into the independence proclamation.”

This was a mistake and should not have been in the proclamation of independence. No wonder Aguinaldo abruptly left the ceremonies. Corpus adds that “the ceremonies were simple, there were no speeches and the disagreement on how to tackle the Americans dampened what should have been a joyous celebration of a historical event.”

The misunderstanding on what he was told by Americans or what he was made to believe by Admiral Dewey was not the central issue, although some history books written by Filipinos sometimes give undue importance to it. We look to June 12 simply as a day set aside to celebrate the Philippine victory of its war for independence against Spain. That still holds true.

We should be aware of the flaw in the proclamation of independence. Nevertheless we can celebrate today for two other statements made during that Kawit event. The first is that “the Filipino nation begins on this day to have a life of its own.”

The second affirms that “the iniquitous measures employed by Spain to suppress the flowering of the tree of liberty in our land only caused it to flourish more and more, until, the last drop having been drained from the cup of our afflictions ­— the revolution began.”

“To the fighting men who were in attendance in Kawit and those in the field who later on were sent out copies of the proclamation, the familiar and repeated magic words “libertad” and independence” were shining justifications of their sacrifices in the national struggle. These parts of the proclamation touched the Filipinos,” continues Corpuz.

It is time that we pay greater attention to Emilio Aguinaldo’s life and the role he played in shaping our nation. It may interest budding historians that in The Philippine Insurrection against the United States by John R. M. Taylor the documents that he compiled give a good portrayal of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and his role in the history of our nation building that have not been written about properly.

We are now just beginning to retrace our steps to discover our authentic history. There is a palpable desire to find out for our selves what really happened. The story of June 12, 1898 and Emilio Aguinaldo is one of them.

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With the postponement of the ARMM elections, we can expect even more bitterness from our Muslim kababayans. Remember the furor by the opposition then if there should a transitory period because of constitutional reform? An extension of term like the appointment of OICs instead of election has no place in a democracy, the alleged lovers of democracy cried. But this is what is happening now. Why? Is it because there is a double standard, one for the rest of the country and another for the Muslims? If they do not get equal treatment in this republic why should they want to keep themselves in it? It has only added fuel to accusations that imperial Manila, like the foreign colonizers before, decides what is good for them.

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That puts us back to square one. How many know that both Muslims and non-Muslims fought side by side against colonial masters at one time. There is a powerful argument for reviving that historical partnership.

Jamal Abbas, a Muslim intellectual, once wrote that he does not believe we can achieve peace unless we work at it through our search for identity. “Bangsamoro can only be achieved if both Christians and Muslims rediscover their commonality when they fought colonialism.”

Filipinos’ quests for Identity and Peace should be pursued together, for only a clear and comprehensive understanding of the Christian Filipinos’ quest for identity and the Moros’ desire to reclaim their sovereign Identity separate from the rest of the Filipinos can there be true peace in the land. And only a thorough understanding of history by all parties can bring about the needed change,” he writes.

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MISCELLANY: I notice that the celebrations for Rizal’s 150th anniversary is going mainstream. It used to be that Rizal’s anniversary celebration was treated more as a cultural event. But I received an invitation from the Development Academy of the Philippines which has organized a Parangal kay Gat Jose P. Rizal, Bayaning Environmental Planner on June 17, 2011, 2 to 5 p.m. This is a novel approach about paying tribute to Rizal as a development planner, manager and environmentalist. It connects our national hero to contemporary concerns.

According to Gabby Lopez, the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners will award him the title of Bayaning Environmental Planner.

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Also on line is the event being prepared by the young descendants from the Rizal family. I noticed again that this is a departure from the usual staid celebrations in the past. Although the affair will be held in Fort Santiago on June 19, it will reflect enjoyment for the young. It will include an open air picnic with art, music, pocket performance! As Lizza Bayot, a Rizal relative, calls it a “unique celebration of Lolo Jose’s 150th birth anniversary. This is for the young who will be attracted to the merrymaking that is equally a part of a birthday celebration even if it is to celebrate Jose Rizal’s birthday. The event is being organized by My Rizal 150.