President Bongbong Marcos Ignores Ninoy Aquino Day

Senator Ninoy Aquino was Ferdiand Marcos Sr.'s main political rival. The rivalry was so heated that when Marcos declared martial law he had him arrested and held on "trumped up charges of murder and subversion." Eight years later in 1980 he had a heart attack while in prison and was eventually allowed to fly to the USA for emergency surgery.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninoy_Aquino

Upon his return to the Philippines on August, 21, 1983 Ninoy Aquino was promptly assassinated by still unknown gunmen. The obvious culprit is Marcos, his involvement has never been proven,  but there are others who say it was the Liberal party who carried out the murder in a bid to make Marcos look bad. 

https://twitter.com/iamwhatiam300/status/1514040121200607233

https://twitter.com/r_dranreb007/status/1561157407845548032

It is an absolute lie that there has never been an investigation into the assassination. 

Although many, including the Aquino family, maintain that Marcos ordered Aquino's assassination, this was never definitively proven. An official government investigation ordered by Marcos shortly after the assassination led to murder charges against 25 military personnel and one civilian, all of whom were acquitted by the Sandiganbayan (special court). After Marcos was ousted, another government investigation under President Corazon Aquino's administration led to a retrial of 16 military personnel, all of whom were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Sandiganbayan. The Supreme Court affirmed the decision and rejected later motions by the convicted soldiers for a retrial. One of the convicts was subsequently pardoned, three have died in prison, and the remainder had their sentences commuted at various times; the last convicts were released from prison in 2009.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Ninoy_Aquino

It's no surprise that this Tweeter has no idea what he is talking about. 16 soldiers were convicted and sentenced to life in prison. The obvious question is "Whose orders were they following?" They claimed it was Cory's cousin and Marcos crony Danding Cojuango. That allegation has never been proven but if true it ties directly back to Marcos since Danding was one of the "Rolex 12."

It was not until 2004 that a day commemorating Aquino's death was signed into law. 

The holiday was created by Republic Act 9256, which was signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on February 25, 2004, twenty-one years after his death and eighteen years after the People Power Revolution, and was sponsored by Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Jose de Venecia. It requires an EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC) to hold activities in observance the day and shall be funded from the Budget of the Office of the President and from private donations.

The holiday was included in President Arroyo's program of "holiday economics", adjusting the observance of the holiday to the nearest Monday in order to boost the tourism industry with long weekends. In 2010, it was moved back to its original date by Aquino's only son, President Benigno Aquino III.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninoy_Aquino_Day

Every year this holiday is observed by the public and the government in rites of one kind or another and the President offers a commemorative comment for the occasion. In 2020 Duterte motivated the nation to emulate the courage and patriotism of Aquino.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1112987

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday expressed hope that the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.’s life would inspire Filipinos to live with “courage and patriotism.”

 

Duterte made the statement as he joined the nation in commemorating Aquino's 37th death anniversary.

In his message, Duterte honored Aquino’s life, work and impact on governance that “have uplifted the lives of many, especially the oppressed and marginalized.

Duterte said Filipinos can also be their own heroes by emulating Aquino’s “acts of discipline, goodwill and social responsibility,” especially now that the country is grappling with the crisis driven by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

“As this important occasion is remembered during this time that we are facing a global public health crisis, may we emulate Ninoy's courage and patriotism so we may all be heroes through acts of discipline, goodwill and social responsibility,” he said.

According to Duterte Ninoy Aquino was courageous, a patriot, disciplined, full of goodwill and social responsibility, and his life's work has "uplifted the lives of many, especially the oppressed and marginalized." That is a far cry from all the historically illiterate morons who go around on social media screaming HASHTAG NINOY NOT A HERO!

This year the PNP joined in the fray but they went even further by red-tagging him.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/21/not-a-hero-2-pnp-maritime-units-red-tag-ninoy-aquino-on-death-anniversary/

On Sunday, August 21, the country commemorated the 39th death anniversary of the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., also known as the Ninoy Aquino Day, but two maritime units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) chose to besmirch the reputation of the late democracy icon’s name on social media.

In a now deleted post, a Twitter account which says it represents the Quezon Maritime Police Station of the PNP’s Maritime Group (MG) posted a photo of combatants holding guns with red paint on their faces, imitating the looks of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

The PNP leadership was quick to issue a statement, saying an investigation was launched to determine possible violations of the Quezon Maritime Police Station and Batangas Maritime Police Station.

“The PNP does not engage in name-calling that can malign any person’s reputation. We value respect for human dignity,” said Police Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba, chief of PNP public information office (PIO).

“The posts had been taken down and are now being investigated to determine those responsible for these,” he stated.

“If anyone in the organization is found accountable, appropriate disciplinary actions will be imposed,” he concluded.

The PNP has imposed a social media policy among its personnel to serve as guidelines for their appropriate behavior and conduct online. However, various police units continue to violate them in recent years, using social media to link groups and personalities to communist groups.

The PNP is ridiculous. No one will be "held accountable" for these posts. They do this kind of thing all the time. Just imagine calling Aquino not a hero and a communist enemy of the state while Duterte said quite the opposite. Is Duterte now an anomy of the state? He is he a communist supporter? In the twisted logic of Lorraine Badoy, the NTF-ELCAC, and the PNP the answer is yes. 

But what about Marcos? This is his first Ninoy Aquino Day as President of the Philippines. What did he have to say about Aquino?

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/08/21/2204130/government-agencies-mum-ninoy-aquino-day-official-holiday

Most official government social media accounts were silent Sunday morning amid muted commemoration of Ninoy Aquino Day, marking the opposition figure's assasination at the Manila International Airport in 1983.

There was no commemorative statement from the Palace as of Sunday noon. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines, which had marked August 21 with social media posts in 2020 and in 2021, was, on Sunday morning, promoting a webinar on the Spanish-era Filipino Propaganda Movement. The NHCP eventually reposted a tribute to Aquino by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts early Sunday afternoon.

The Philippine Information Agency, the government's official public information arm, was meanwhile tweeting about the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism — a United Nations day of remembrance established in 2017 that the agency only began tweeting about on Sunday.

The Senate, which posted a tweet last year remembering its former member as a "symbol of the Filipino’s fight for freedom and democracy" also had nothing to say about him on Sunday.

He had absolutely nothing to say. And why should he have anything to say about his father's sworn enemy? Why should Marcos exhort the nation to emulate a man his father tortured and whose death ultimately led to his family's exile to Hawaii? Has the feud between the Marcos and Aquino families even been resolved?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/651878/bongbong-calls-for-end-of-feud-between-aquino-and-marcos-families

It is high time to put an end to the decades-old   feud between the Aquino and Marcos families, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Thursday.

Marcos issued the statement when asked over radio DWIZ about the possibility of the two families reconciling.

(That’s something that would be good for the country. We all know that this feud continues up to now. This prevents us from uniting the country. We have to get past it…put it behind us. There are so many things we need to do.)

(I mean, for the Marcos family, this political feud is already over. It’s not personal. It was only my father and Ninoy Aquino who fought in the ‘60s and ‘70s so we should get past it already and stop making an issue out of it. We won’t gain anything from continuing to revive the Aquino-Marcos feud for no reason. We’ll get nothing out of that.)

It would seem that if this feud really is over then Bongbong would have issued some kind of statement regarding Ninoy Aquino Day. 

Perhaps there is a less political reason as to why Marcos declined to issue a statement.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/22/marcos-family-friends-surprise-first-lady-liza-on-her-63rd-birthday/

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos (LAM) got probably one of the biggest surprises of her life after her husband and sons, along with their family and friends, threw her a surprise birthday party as she turned 63 on August 21, Sunday.

In a video uploaded to President Marcos’ YouTube and Facebook pages, the First Lady was visibly shocked when the dark room she had just entered suddenly lit up, and cheers of “Happy Birthday!” greeted her.

Meanwhile, the day did not end without President Marcos coming to the stage and giving a short message for his wife’s special day.

“My beloved wife, perhaps words have already been said as to how valuable she is as a person and how remarkable a person she really is,” he started.

“Sometimes it’s really hard to believe that she did me the favor of marrying me,” he said.

The President proceeded to sing Andrew Gold’s “Never Let Her Slip Away.”

The First Lady’s birthday coincided with a holiday, Ninoy Aquino Day, commemorating the assassination of the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. Aquino was a staunch critic of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. Unlike previous administrations, Malacañang did not release a message for this year’s commemoration.

Maybe Bongbong simply forgot about Ninoy Aquino Day because he was too busy planning for and celebrating his wife's birthday. Of course that would mean he neglected his duty as President which is to recognize and regulate official holidays. It may not be an official duty as mandated by law to a issue a commemorative statement on each holiday but that certainly is the custom. 

Despite the silence this year the Palace has issued guidelines for next years Ninoy Aquino Day.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1181996

August 21 of every year must also be declared as national non-working holiday to commemorate the death anniversary of former Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr., according to the proclamation.

That is nothing more than a description of the holiday. But who knows? Perhaps next year Marcos and/or Duterte will release a commemorative statement marking Ninoy Aquino Day.

The Deleterious Effects of Celebrating the Lie of June 12th as Independence Day

June 12th has come and gone and with it the celebration of fake Philippine Independence Day. I have written about this before and so have others but perhaps one might come away thinking, so what? Who cares if the day is celebrated on June 12th or July 4th or perhaps both? Well, this article from June 12th, 2021 shows that celebrating a historical lie leads to a wrong understanding of history.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1143419

Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) chief-of-staff, Gen. Cirilito Sobejana on Friday called on Filipinos to remember all the heroes who put their lives on the line for the country's independence from colonizers.

"(We remember this day not only because we attain our freedom from the invaders but for the reason for this victory --- our heroes who have sacrificed their lives for the love of country. Their heroism and bravery in fighting in various forms be it in principle, wisdom, words and works, are the reasons why the Filipinos are enjoying their freedom)," Sobejana said in his message, ahead of the commemoration of the country's 123rd Independence Day on Saturday.

Sobejana also assured the public that this freedom will be further strengthened by the efforts of the nation's soldiers and defenders.

"(This is why I am asking all members of the Armed Forces to continue with their efforts to safeguard the nation's freedom which have been fought for our ancestors so that the independence being enjoyed by today's generation which will be experienced by the next generation. Things may change and the nation may experience a lot of adversity in the coming days, but we remain committed to fighting for a free, peaceful, and progressive Philippines)," he added.

All of that nonsense is an outright lie and the only reason AFP Chief-of-Staff Sobejana is repeating it is because, like all Filipinos, he has been exposed to the lie of June 12th being Independence Day year after year since 1962.

The fact is the Philippines did not attain its freedom because of military victories by the forces of Aguinaldo and his men. The First Republic was never recognized by any foreign government and eventually succumbed to American forces. It was not until 1946 that the Philippines attained independence and that was due to a plebiscite on the issue in 1934. 

In 1962, because the American Senate denied a payment of $70 million to the Philippines, President Macapagal threw a fit and changed the date of independence from July 4th to June 12th. This change was made permanent in 1964. Ever since then the Philippines has celebrated June 12th as Independence Day. But note what Macapagal had to say about the First Republic.

It is noteworthy that no one among the half-dozen great heroes of our history, Rizal, Aguinaldo, Bonifacio, Lapu-Lapu, Abad Santos and Quezon, has played a role in the Republic that we administer today. This fact emphasizes the responsibility which devolves upon us to whom they bequeathed the fruits of their heroic labors to fashion this Republic as an instrument for the welfare and happiness of our people.

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2018/06/june-12th-as-independence-day-is-lie.html

If "no one among the half-dozen great heroes of our history" had anything to do with the current Republic then who did? The people did. It was Manuel Quezon and others who lobbied the American government for independence. It was decided that Filipinos should vote on the matter. If they voted "yes" then the Americans would transition authority to Filipinos over a span of ten years. That is the essence of the Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934.

Sec. 4 ...If a majority of the votes cast shall be for the constitution, such vote shall be deemed an expression of the will of the people of the Philippine Islands in favor of Philippine independence, and the Governor-General shall, within thirty days after receipt of the certification from the Philippine Legislature, issue a proclamation for the election of officers of the government of the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands provided for in the constitution.

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2019/07/a-brief-and-true-history-of-philippines.html 

Philippine independence remains a manifestation of the will of the people. To celebrate June 12th as Independence Day is to forget that fact and to bury it in history. And that plebiscite is very important because it is not the first time that the will of the people in regards to who would rule them was held. The first such plebiscite was held in 1599 when the inhabitants of these islands voluntarily voted to be submitted to the rule of Spain. To call the Spaniards "invaders" is completely wrong. 

It can be said with historical accuracy that Spain's legitimate sovereignty over the Philippines began with a popular referendum in 1599 and ended with a popular revolution in 1898. 

Philip II and the "Philippine Referendum" of 1599

Here is just one voice from those who voluntarily submitted to the Spanish crown.

“We answer that we wish the king of España to be our king and sovereign, for he has sent Castilians to us, who are freeing us from the tyranny and domination of our chiefs, as well as fathers who aid us against the same Castilians and protect us from them”

Philippine Islands, vol 23, pg. 253

This man says the king of Spain freed them "from the tyranny and domination of our chiefs!" So much for being unwanted invaders. Before the arrival of the Spanish these islands were not even united. Each island was its own dominion.

Later on there was the Spanish Constitution of 1812 which was ratified in Spain with Filipino delegates in attendance. 

In fact, the constitutional process experienced in Cádiz, and the later ratification of the Constitution of 1812, meant for the Philippines and other parts of the empire the birth of the public sphere in the Hispanic world. It ushered in the transformation of the overseas territories into provinces with parliamentary representation, and the theoretical right to participate in political life with civil and political equality of Spaniards in both hemispheres. All of these ideals were greatly desired and the urge to truly put them into practice would continue to drive the political demands of the Philippines throughout the nineteenth century.

Thus, in the first decades of the nineteenth century, following the participation of Reyes in the Cortes de Cádiz, in the Philippines a process was commenced that would take shape over the course of the entire century and prove vitally important in the forging of an independent Philippine nation. As Nick Joaquin (2005) has argued, these initial political struggles undertaken at the beginning of the nineteenth century can be considered important antecedents to the Propaganda Movement founded by José Rizal and those other notable ilustrados who inspired the Revolution of 1896.

https://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/165907/3/philippines_cortes_cadiz.pdf

This constitution leads directly to the revolution of 1896 as well as the plebiscite of 1934 and the current Philippine Republic which was born on July 4th, 1946. Contrary to what the AFP is saying the Philippines has a proud historical tradition of Filipinos expressing their political will by voting rather than by through force of arms. Celebrating Independence Day on June 12th obscures all of those events and keeps the people ignorant of their history.

A Brief and True History of the Philippines' Road to Independence

Ever since President Diosdao Macapagal changed Philippine Independence Day from July 4th to June 12th because of outrage over the United States' failure to pay the Philippines a $73 million debt it owed the entire nation has been celebrating a lie and has forgotten its true history. As the story goes Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence on June 12th, 1898 and the nation has been independent ever since by virtue of that fact.

It is true that Aguinaldo declared independence on June 12th 1898 but that independence was never recognised by any nation nor was it ever realised by the Philippines. Later during the Philippine-American war Aguinaldo, President of the First Republic, was taken captive and swore an oath of fidelity to the USA thus ending any notion that the Philippines was independent. June 12th, 1898 was most certainly not the day the Philippines became an independent nation.

Flag flown by Emilio Aguinaldo on June 12th, 1898

Let us look briefly at the Philippines' road to independence. To keep this post orderly I will only look at a few key events: Aguinaldo's 1898 declaration of independence, the Philippine Organic Act of 1902, the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916, the Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934, and  the Treaty of Manila of 1946. Many interesting facts of history will necessarily be skipped over but I hope that you the reader will be motivated to take the time to research and read them for yourself.

1. Aguinaldo's 1898 declaration of independence

Independence was proclaimed by Emilio Aguinaldo on June 12th, 1898.

And having as witness to the rectitude of our intentions the Supreme Judge of the Universe, and under the protection of the Powerful and Humanitarian Nation, the United States of America, we do hereby proclaim and declare solemnly in the name and by authority of the people of these Philippine Islands, 

That they are and have the right to be free and independent; that they have ceased to have any allegiance to the Crown of Spain; that all political ties between them are and should be completely severed and annulled; and that, like other free and independent States, they enjoy the full power to make War and Peace, conclude commercial treaties, enter into alliances, regulate commerce, and do all other acts and things which an Independent State has a right to do, 

And imbued with firm confidence in Divine Providence, we hereby mutually bind ourselves to support this Declaration with our lives, our fortunes, and with our most sacred possession, our Honor.

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Philippine_Declaration_of_Independence

Oddly enough Aguinaldo recognised the Philippines as being both independent and under the protection of the United States. It should also be noted that in this document Aguinaldo is referred to as "our famous dictator" and the Philippines as a dictatorship. It's as if dictatorial government is part of the DNA of the Philippines.

BEFORE ME, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, War Counsellor and Special Delegate designated to proclaim and solemnize this Declaration of Independence by the Dictatorial Government of the Philippines, pursuant to, and by virtue of, a Decree issued by the Egregious Dictator Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy... 

We recognize, approve, and ratify, with all the orders emanating from the same, the Dictatorship established by Don Emilio Aguinaldo whom we revere as the Supreme Head of this Nation, which today begins to have a life of its own, in the conviction that he has been the instrument chosen by God... 

Moreover, we confer upon our famous Dictator Don Emilio Aguinaldo all the powers necessary to enable him to discharge the duties of Government, including the prerogatives of granting pardon and amnesty...

Ninety-eight people were signatories to this declaration. One of them was a United States army officer, Col. L.M. Johnson. The presence of this lone American solider is significant because Aguinaldo wanted the presence of the Americans at the event. He even invited Admiral Dewey, the man who promised him the US would recognise the Philippines' independence, but he did not attend nor did he report this event to Washington.

As everyone knows this declaration of independence did not fulfil its promise because the United States took full control of the Philippines with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Shortly after the Philippine-American war broke out which resulted in Emilio Aguinaldo's capture and his swearing an oath of fidelity to the United States. If it was ever alive the First Republic was now dead.

2. The Philippine Organic Act of 1902

Though the US had full control of the Philippines such control was never meant to be permanent. The goal of US policy according to President Theodore Roosevelt was to make Filipinos capable of self-government.

In the Philippines our problem is larger. They are very rich tropical islands, inhabited by many varying tribes, representing widely different stages of progress toward civilization. Our earnest effort is to help these people upward along the stony and difficult path that leads to self-government. We hope to make our administration of the islands honorable to our Nation by making it of the highest benefit to the Filipinos themselves; and as an earnest of what we intend to do, we point to what we have done. Already a greater measure of material prosperity and of governmental honesty and efficiency has been attained in the Philippines than ever before in their history.  

It is no light task for a nation to achieve the temperamental qualities without which the institutions of free government are but an empty mockery. Our people are now successfully governing themselves, because for more than a thousand years they have been slowly fitting themselves, sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciously, toward this end. What has taken us thirty generations to achieve, we cannot expect to have another race accomplish out of hand, especially when large portions of that race start very far behind the point which our ancestors had reached even thirty generations ago. In dealing with the Philippine people we must show both patience and strength, forbearance and steadfast resolution. Our aim is high. We do not desire to do for the islanders merely what has elsewhere been done for tropic peoples by even the best foreign governments. We hope to do for them what has never before been done for any people of the tropics—to make them fit for self-government after the fashion of the really free nations.

https://www.infoplease.com/homework-help/us-documents/state-union-address-theodore-roosevelt-december-3-1901

"The temperamental qualities without which the institutions of free government are but an empty mockery." That sentence, that analysis, that truth is the key to understanding why Philippine government, as much as it appears to be like that of the West, is so riddled with corruption and so different from anything in the West. Filipinos lack the temperamental qualities conducive to free government. We see this in the corruption that is endemic to Philippine government at every level.

Only seven months after this speech the Philippine Organic Act of 1902 was passed on July 1, 1902. This law created a bicameral Filipino legislature. As soon as the insurrection ended a census was to be taken. Two years after the census a general election was to be had for delegates to the lower House known as the Philippine Assembly while the upper house, the Philippine Commission, had its members appointed.

Section 7. That two years after the completion and publication of the census, in case such condition of general and complete peace with recognition of the authority of the United States shall have continued in the territory of said Islands not inhabited by Moros or other non-Christian tribes and such facts shall have been certified to the President by the Philippine Commission, the President upon being satisfied thereof shall direct Commission to call, and the Commission shall call, a general election for the choice of delegates to a popular assembly of the people of said territory in the Philippine Islands, which shall be known as the Philippine Assembly. After said Assembly shall have convened and organised, all the legislative power heretofore conferred on the Philippine Commission in all that part of said Islands not inhabited by Moros or other non-Christian tribes shall be vested in a Legislature consisting of two Houses - the Philippine Commission and the Philippine Assembly. 

https://thecorpusjuris.com/constitutions/philippine-bill-of-1902.php

In addition to the creation of the Philippine Assembly two Resident Commissioners representing the Philippines in the US Congress were to be chosen. This office of Resident Commissioner lasted until 1946. While there is a lot more happening in this law we must move to the next stop on the road to independence. What is important to know is that this bill was the first step towards autonomous Philippine government.


3. The Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916

Also known as the Jones Law, the Philippine Autonomy Act was passed into law in August 1916. This law superseded the Organic Act of 1902 and allowed for a fully elected bicameral Congress.

The law begins thusly:

WHEREAS it was never the intention of the people of the United States in the incipiency of the war with Spain to make it a war of conquest or for territorial aggrandisement; and 

WHEREAS it is, as it has always been, the purpose of the people of the United States to withdraw their sovereignty over the Philippine Islands and to recognise their independence as soon as a stable government can be established therein; and 

WHEREAS for the speedy accomplishment of such purpose it is desirable to place in the hands of the people of the Philippines as large a control of their domestic affairs as can be given them without, in the meantime, impairing the exercise of the rights of sovereignty by the people of the United States, in order that, by the use and exercise of popular franchise and governmental powers, they may be the better prepared to fully assume the responsibilities and enjoy all the privileges of complete independence: Therefore...

http://legisworks.org/sal/39/stats/STATUTE-39-Pg545.pdf

The intent to eventually withdraw American sovereignty from the Philippines and recognise the Philippines as an independent nation was now explicitly enshrined in law. The law goes on to state:

Section 12. That general legislative powers in the Philippines, except as herein otherwise provided, shall be vested in a legislature which shall consist of two Houses, one the Senate and the other the House of Representatives, and the two Houses shall be designated “The Philippine Legislature”...

Manuel Quezon who was a Resident Commissioner to the United States helped author this bill  writing several drafts before it was finally ratified and signed into law. The Jones Law was in effect until 1934 when the the Tydings-McDuffie Act, successfully lobbied for by Manuel Quezon, was passed.


4. The Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934

The Tydings-McDuffie act is a Unites States federal law which created the Commonwealth of the Philippines and  provided a final pathway for the Philippines' independence. Between 1918 and 1934 there were yearly "independence missions" from the Philippines to the US. The hope was that increased political pressure on the US government would lead to full independence.

One such mission lead by Sergio Osmeña and Manuel Roxas led to the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act of 1932. Though ratified by Congress the President vetoed the bill. Manuel Quezon was also not a proponent of this bill. In 1934 Quezon led an independence mission to the US and the end result was the passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934.

This law provided for a constitution to be written which was to be approved by the people through a plebiscite. If the constitution was approved the United States would take that as the will of the people and a ten-year transition period to full independence would begin.

Sec. 4 ...If a majority of the votes cast shall be for the constitution, such vote shall be deemed an expression of the will of the people of the Philippine Islands in favor of Philippine independence, and the Governor-General shall, within thirty days after receipt of the certification from the Philippine Legislature, issue a proclamation for the election of officers of the government of the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands provided for in the constitution.

http://www.chanrobles.com/tydingsmcduffieact.htm

One interesting provision of this law is the section on immigration which limited the number of Filipinos allowed into the US to 50 per year. They were also not allowed to become naturalised citizens.

Sec. 8. (a) (1) ...For such purposes the Philippine Islands shall be considered as a separate country and shall have for each fiscal year a quota of fifty.

This provision was later overruled by the Luce-Celler Act of 1946 which increased the quota to 100. That act was overturned by the Hart-Celler Act of 1965 which abolished the quota system thereby completely transforming American immigration policy and subsequently altering American demographics and culture by allowing anyone from anywhere entrance into the United States. Whole enclaves of Filipinos have settled in cities across the US as a result of this law.

What is important to glean from the Tydings-McDuffie Act is that it allowed Filipinos to choose independence themselves. A vote for the constitution was to be "deemed an expression of the will of the people of the Philippine Islands in favor of Philippine independence." Independence was never granted to the Philippines. It was the goal from the beginning of the US' acquisition of the islands and when Filipinos were finally given a chance to vote on the matter the US respected the outcome of that vote.

The resultant 1935 constitution ends with these words in Article 18:

Section. 1. The government established by this Constitution shall be known as the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Upon the final and complete withdrawal of the sovereignty of the United States and the proclamation of Philippine independence, the Commonwealth of the Philippines shall thenceforth be known as the Republic of the Philippines.

http://www.chanrobles.com/1935constitutionofthephilippines.htm

This constitution written and approved by Filipinos states categorically that the Philippines was not an independent nation at the time of its writing. Independence did not come until 11 years later in 1946 with the signing of the Treaty of Manila.


5. The Treaty of Manila of 1946

Originally independence was to be recognised in 1945 but World War 2 put a damper on those plans. It was on July 4th, 1946 that the Treaty of Manila was signed.

The United States of America agrees to withdraw, and surrender, and does withdraw and surrender, all right of possession, supervision, jurisdiction, control or sovereignty existing and exercised by the United States of America in and over the territory and the people of the Philippine Islands, except the use of such bases, necessary appurtenances to such bases, and the right incident thereto, as the United States of America, by agreement with the Republic of the Philippines, may deem necessary to retain for the mutual protection of the Republic of the Philippines and of the United States of America. The United states of America further agrees to recognize, and does hereby recognize, the independence of the Republic of the Philippines as a separate self-governing nation and to acknowledge, and does acknowledge, the authority and control over the same of the Government instituted by the people thereof, under the constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. 

http://www.chanrobles.com/rpustreatyofgeneralrelations.htm

Even though this treaty was signed on July 4th it was not ratified by the Philippines until September 30th and it was not signed by US President Truman until August 14th.  The treaty did not come into force until October 22nd. Perhaps then the Philippines true independence day is October 22nd, 1946.

As you can read above the US relinquished all control of the Philippines except for necessary military bases to protect the Philippines and the United States. The issue of American military bases would come to a head in 1991 when all US military bases were closed. This withdrawal does not mean the US military has left the Philippines entirely. They have not. Continued US military presence and political influence has led some to believe that the Philippines is not independent but only a puppet of the US. However that is another story for another time.

Conclusion

The Philippines has not been independent for 121 years. The fact of the Philippines subjugation to the United States is ensconced in both United States law and the Philippines 1935 constitution. To deny this history is to deny the history of the Philippines. It is to silence the voice of the people who ratified the 1935 constitution and which the US recognised as "an expression of the will of the people of the Philippine Islands in favor of Philippine independence." It is to deny a place in history to Manuel Roxas, Manuel Quezon, and Sergio Osmeña all three of whom worked tirelessly to make the Philippines an independent nation. All three of whom are now largely forgotten.

Today July 4th is celebrated as Philippine-American Friendship Day. It is also known as Philippine Republic Day. On a now deleted government page about this day the facts related above are spelled out quite clearly.

On July 4, 1946, the United States formally recognized the independence of the Republic of the Philippines. This was the culmination of the process that began in 1916, when the Jones Law pledged the eventual recognition of Philippine independence, and the Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1933, which provided for a ten-year transitional period to prepare for independence. The independence of the Philippines was marked by Manuel Roxas retaking his oath as President of the Philippines, eliminating the pledge of allegiance to the United States required prior to independence. Independence thereafter was celebrated on July 4^th of every year until 1962.  

Thereafter, the Congress of the Philippines passed Republic Act No. 4166 in 1964, formally designating June 12 of every year as the date of Philippine independence. The date commemorates the anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, because the date remains the foundation date for the modern, independent Republic of the Philippines and of our independent nationhood, as recognized by the world community. From 1964 until the 1984, Philippine Republic Day was celebrated as a national holiday. 

The origin of Philippine–American Friendship Day dates to 1955, when President Ramon Magsaysay, by virtue of Proclamation No. 212, s. 1955, established the observance of “Philippine American Day.” The following year, by virtue of Proclamation No. 363, s. 1956, the celebration became a yearly event. 

Sometime during the Marcos administration, Philippine–American Day was renamed Philippine–American Friendship Day and moved to July 4, overshadowing the observance of the date as Philippine Republic Day. Since the Third Republic and the 1935 Constitution were discarded by Martial Law, it was impolitic to remind the public of the old republic.  This is why, when President Marcos issued Presidential Proclamation No. 2346 s. 1984, reference was made only to Philippine–American Friendship Day, which was relegated to a working holiday. 

During the administration of President Corazon C. Aquino, the practice of celebrating Philippine–American Friendship Day and Philippine Republic Day as a non-working holiday was formally abolished. The Administrative Code of 1987 specified a list of non-working holidays that did not include July 4. 

In 1996, President Fidel V. Ramos would once again commemorate the anniversary of Republic Day through Proclamation No. 811, s. 1996, not with a holiday but with public celebrations to commemorate 50 years of independence. On June 12, however, the country observes the anniversary of the proclamation of the independence that was lost after the defeat of the First Republic, and restored in 1946.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150426134834/https://www.gov.ph/republic-day/

After moving Independence Day to June 12th President Macapagal declared that July 4th would be celebrated as Philippine Republic Day. This was celebrated as a national holiday until 1984. In 1996 President Ramos observed July 4th to commemorate 50 years of independence 

WHEREAS, July 4, 1996 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Philippine-American Friendship Day which ushered the beginning of Philippine political independence from the American colonial rule;

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1996/06/17/proclamation-no-811-s-1996-2/

What more proof is needed that June 12th, 1898 does not mark the beginning of Philippine Independence? A Presidential Proclamation from 1996 declares to the entire nation that July 4th, 1946 "ushered the beginning of Philippine political independence from the American colonial rule."

To end allow me to relate a story. I was asking some people if they knew who Manuel Roxas, Serge Osmeña, and Manuel Quezon are. A young man listening in on the conversation began telling us which peso bills their faces are on. Other than that he knew nothing about the accomplishments of those three men nor did the person I was speaking with know about them. Such is the state of ignorance which Filipinos have of their nation's history.

Pure ignorance!

Resurrection Sunrise Service Without a Resurrection Sermon

Can you imagine attending an Easter Sunday service, especially one at sunrise, and not hearing a sermon about the resurrection? I can hear you scoffing. "Why that's preposterous. An Easter Sunday service that is not devoted totally to the resurrection?  You must be joking!"

Sadly this is not a joke and is exactly what happened yesterday morning at the sunrise service I attended.

Do I need to remind my readers that Easter Sunday, Resurrection Sunday, is the holiest and most joyful day in all of Christendom? That the resurrection is the one fact by which Christianity stands or falls? Listen to the Apostle Paul:

I Corinthians 15:12: Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 

I Corinthians 15:13: But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 

I Corinthians 15:14: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 

I Corinthians 15:15: Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 

I Corinthians 15:16: For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 

I Corinthians 15:17: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Yes the truth of Christianity stands or falls by the doctrine of the resurrection which is why every single branch of the Christian church both East and West celebrates this day with much festive devotion. The whole world, including unbelievers, knows that Easter is all about the resurrection of Christ. So what happened at the service I attended where no resurrection sermon was given?

I asked the pastor afterwards why he gave no traditional resurrection sermon taking the end of the Gospels or 1 Corinthians 15 as his text and he said he did it on purpose. After all he was in the midst of a series on the biblical teaching of the Shepherd and he saw how it kind of related so he continued his series.

I am reminded of Dr. Gene Scott who was a missionary to the Philippines with the Assemblies of God during the 60's. He preached many sermon series but no matter what on Easter he preached the resurrection because it is the most important doctrine in all of Christianity. Personally it was also a doctrine he struggled with during his university years and he saw it as his pastoral duty to lay out all the proofs of the resurrection in order to convince all hearers of its truth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Scott

Sitting through this pastor's sermon gradually realising that he was not going to be talking at all about the resurrection was very disappointing and rather distressing. I came to hear about Christ being glorified, Christ trampling down death and the devil by the power of his resurrection, but all I heard was an ethical sermon about myself and how I should live. It was a complete waste of my time and of everyone else's. Why did we all drag ourselves out of bed at so early an hour to gather at sunrise except to hear the words proclaimed: "He is not here for he is risen," and listen to a sermon about the resurrection? Instead all we got was a regular ol' sermon about Christian ethics. What a gyp.

It's not that no mention of the resurrection was made at all. Of course there are always peripheral references to this main doctrine in every sermon, even this one. The pastor did make sure to tell us that Christ is now enthroned in heaven and the gist of the sermon was how we are to live in light of the resurrection with Christ as our Great Shepherd who is leading us. After the sermon there was even a special duet and the song was about the resurrection.  But it was really awful. Probably one of the worst songs about Jesus I have ever heard because the chorus is all about  a beatific vision of sorts with both Mary Magdalene and Jesus gazing intently at each other. It is sung from the view point of Mary Magdalene when Christ first appears to her.  All Mary needs is one look from the the Lord and lover of her soul and her life is now complete. Here is the chorus:

I've just seen Jesus

I tell you he's alive

I've just seen Jesus

Our precious Lord alive

And I knew, he really saw me too

As if till now, I'd never lived

All that I'd done before

Won't matter anymore

I've just seen Jesus

And I'll never be the same again

Imagine my surprise to learn at this very moment when looking up the lyrics that this song, I've Just Seen Jesus, was written by legendary Gospel singer/songwriter Bill Gaither, won a Grammy award in 1986 for best Gospel performance by a duo or group, choir or chorus, and the female half is sung by legendary Gospel singer Sandi Patty. This song's pedigree does not make it any less awful.

This whole incident really makes me wonder what is the problem with Philippine Christianity. Protestant missionaries have been visiting this country for decades and the Catholics have been here for centuries. Have they not taught the people anything? Where did this pastor learn that it is ok to not celebrate Easter with a resurrection message? For that matter where did Filipino Protestants learn their order of worship? Only one man, the minister, should ever be in the pulpit but at every church I have attended they have several people speaking at various times.

Far be it from me to appear to be gazing down from an ivory tower upon these poor souls who cannot understand a proper order of worship or deeper doctrines like theosis. Perish the thought. There are plenty of able theologians in the Philippines. There are plenty of Filipinos who read old books by the Fathers and the Reformers and long for a religion that connects them more fully to Christ. But I really can't help take note there is something amiss with Christianity in this nation which likely has to do with Pentecostalism of varying degrees infecting every single denomination as well as the song and dance culture which is native to these islands. I wish I could put my finger more exactly on it.

From Christmas Greetings to Happy Valentine's Day

When it comes to lazy political banners it's a hard race to the bottom but it seems Congressman Monico and his son Councillor Kalaw are the champions in this game. I already wrote about their lazy Christmas banner from last year but now they have taken things a step further upping the ante for Philippine politicians everywhere.

Unlike Jason Villarosa who printed out a blank white tarp with Happy Valentines writ large on it Congressman Monico and his son Kalaw printed out a banner matching the top half of their Christmas banner with the phrase, correctly spelled, Happy Valentine's Day. They literally only replaced the text and kept all the trimmings to match the old banner.  And it seems they decided to only refurbish one of them because just 100 yards away is another of their Christmas Greetings signs.

Why they chose to not repurpose this banner I cannot say but at least one of these banners has gotten a new lease on life and it appears neither of these tarps will be coming down anytime soon.

Happy (Holidays) Valentines

Politicians are lazy. Nowhere is this laziness more laid bare in full view than election time. Rather than come up with a well thought out platform too many politicians rely on tricks and gimmicks to secure the vote of the people. In the Philippines there is really only one gimmick and that is to plaster your face everywhere and on everything especially on large banners and tarps wishing the people a happy festival whatever that festival happens to be.

Despite Christmas being over for almost two months many politician's holiday banners remain in place. One plucky candidate for office has taken it upon himself to recycle his Christmas banner. Take a look at Jason Villarosa.

Rather than properly dispose of his Happy Holidays tarp he has decided to rebrand it into a Happy Valentines tarp. He literally printed out a banner with the phrase Happy Valentines and pasted it over the words Happy Holidays and left everything else the same. Look up close.

Nothing says Happy Valentine's day like wreaths and bells. This guy's face oozes a smugness which  pairs quite well with this apathetic and insincere banner. You can even see the phrase Happy Holidays phrase bleeding through the phrase Happy Valentines.

This is absolutely the laziest stunt I have seen a politician engage in. He didn't even spell Valentine's right! He forgot the apostrophe. Ostensibly he did this to all his signs but I only saw the one above and the one below. 

Happy Holidays Valentines everyone!

Free Picture Taking Inside Coffin for Undas

What do you do when you live in a society where life is cheap and you are surrounded by death? You make light of it of course. Turn it into a joke. Like this:

This coffin photo-op is all a part of the Undas celebration. Keep in mind that when you and your family members finally die you and they are still family. In the Philippines Family Is Forever!

99 Days Until Christmas!

It's that time of the year again.  Time to countdown to Christmas.

The Greatest Season on Earth!

This year's inspiration draws from the circus which brings to mind a very famous quote from P.T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman on Earth:

"There's a sucker born every minute."

And if you believe he said that then you are just another sucker because he never did say it.