Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

    Roughly 500 years ago, a foreign nation, namely the Spanish, made landfall in the town of Cebu. Many natives fought and spilt blood for the sake of their land. The natives were eventually pushed back, and the Spanish were victorious, they then proceeded to claim the land as part of their nation. Relations formed, and blood was dispersed and spread all around the country. The Philippines was given to the newly acquired territory in honor of King Philip II of Spain. Most of the coastal and lowland territories from Luzon to northern Mindanao were under Spanish authority by the end of the 16th century, and this lasted for about 300 years.

  That is, until the 19th century, when populist nationalism began to arise. Jose Rizal, a writer who wrote "El Filibusterismo" (The Filibusterer) and "Noli Me Tangere" (Touch me Not,) contributed to the uprising's progress . These books caused indignation, and nationalism spread like wildfire across the Philippines. In 1892, Jose Rizal founded Liga Filipina, a reformist movement. As a result, Rizal was imprisoned and sent to Dapitan, Mindanao. In parallel to this, Andres Bonifacio created the Katipunan, a more radical organization. A revolution began in August 1896, and Jose Rizal was hung on December 30, 1896, despite his opposition to the movement. On the other hand, his execution only added to the fire.Spain's aversion to reforming its colonial rule became clear.

Andres Bonifacio, one of the most well-known KKK founders. He formed the utrevolionary organization (Katipunan), which has been protecting our country and people's homes for decades. In addition, he fought foreign invaders. By August 1896, when the Spaniards found it, membership had grown to an estimated 100,000. Bonifacio immediately called for armed resistance. Life used to be difficult because of past struggles, but that is no longer the case. In March 1897, the revolution was taken over by Emilio Aguinaldo, a young commander who had Bonifacio murdered for supposed sedition. Aguinaldo was unable to defeat the Spanish forces, who were aided by Filipino mercenaries, militarily. Aguinaldo's revolutionary force was eventually driven southeast of Manila into the highlands. The declaration or speech of former President Emilio Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite, announced the day of independence, implying that the conflict is over and Filipinos may live happily ever after.

When the war between Spain and the United States broke out in 1898, Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines almost quickly. He restarted the revolt, this time against the United States, which had taken control of the Philippines after the Spanish defeat. On June 12, Filipino revolutionaries took advantage of the circumstances and attacked Manila, proclaiming independence for the Philippines. The Americans gained control of the country when Aguinaldo was captured in 1902.

On December 10, 1941, Japan launched an invasion on the Philippines, capturing Manila. The Japanese had seized complete control of the Philippines. Everything went to hell. In October 1944, American troops returned to the Philippines and recaptured Manila. The Philippines gained independence on July 4, 1946. After the country's independence, Manuel Roxas became its first president. The Philippines gained independence on July 4, the same day as the United States, but Filipinos consider June 12 to be their true independence day.

One of the most significant events in Philippine history is the proclamation of independence. For hundreds of years, the country was colonized by several nations, and eventually attaining the independence they desired after all the losses and sacrifices is a major accomplishment. May we not lose sight of the holiday's historical importance as we celebrate it. Our warriors put their lives on the line, therefore let us remember their sacrifices. Let us also demonstrate our love for our nation, and last but not least, let us raise understanding of Filipino history and culture. For the Philippines, independence is the most important event in its history.

Sources:

https://www.usphsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/1898-june-12-proclamation-of-philippine-independence-in-kawit-cavite-e1591718668828.jpg

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_in_the_Philippines#:~:text=The%20period%20of%20American%20colonialization,of%20Philippine%20independence%20in%201946.

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https://nhcp.gov.ph/jose-rizal-and-the-revolution/