A Day to Remember

 

              It is a public holiday and it is the most special holiday in the Philippines. It is a day off for the general population of the Philippines, schools and sometimes businesses. One of the most significant day in the Philippines, June 12 and it is Independence day. This day marks the nations independence from the Spanish colonization, June 12, 1898. Filipino celebrates it every year in June 12.

            The annual June 12 observance of Philippine’s Independence Day came into effect after past President Diosdado Macapagal signed the Republic Act No. 4166 regarding this matter on August 4, 1964.  This Act legalized the holiday, which is based on the Declaration of Independence on June 12, 1898 by General Emilio Aguinaldo and Filipino revolutionary forces from the Spanish colonization.  The Philippines’ flag was raised and its national anthem was played for the first time in 1898.  However, liberty was short-lived because Spain and the United States did not recognize the declaration. The 1898 Treaty of Paris ended the war between Spain and the United States. Spain surrendered the entire archipelago comprising the Philippines to the United States.  The Philippines started a revolt against the United States in 1899 and achieved national sovereignty on July 4, 1946, through the Treaty of Manila.  Independence Day was officially observed on July 4 until the Republic Act No. 4166, which set out to move the holiday to June 12, was approved on August 4, 1964. It is good that Filipinos still celebrates Independence Day and is really shows how we preserved our culture and history in our own land.

               Saturday, June 12, 2021, is Philippines Independence Day, or as locals call it, “Araw ng Kasarinlan” (“Day of Freedom”). This annual national holiday honors Philippine independence from Spain in 1898. In this year 2021, people will most likely celebrate Independence day in their own houses because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. This year, people will enjoy more Pinoy dishes with their family and friends. Fireworks and patriotic celebrations happen across the world on June 12, but some Filipinos will choose raising their flags instead of fireworks.

REFERENCES:

Image 1- Retrieved on June 28, 2021 from https://www.panaynews.net/what-people-say-independence-day/

Image 2- Retrieved on June 28, 2021 from https://www.google.com/doodles/philippine-independence-day-2017