Independence day is a significant event that is annually commemorated on the 12th of June, in the Philippines. It marks the country's independence or freedom from the Spanish rule on June 12, 1898. Centuries ago, the Philippines was under the Spanish colony and named after King Philip II. In 1521, the island was claimed for Spain by Ferdinand Magellan but Lapu-Lapu who was one of the chiefs of Mactan Island in the Visayas refused. He and his men defeated Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan, an overwhelming and decisive victory on April 1521.
The Spaniards got hold of the Philippines during the expedition led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1565 where the build the walled city of Intramuros in 1571 which later renamed Manila Another expedition led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1565 where Spanish rule was established. It brought prosperity to the Philippines and their rule was uneventful until British colonizes Manila in 1762. The city was handed back in when the “Treaty of Paris” was signed in 1763. Way back in the 19th century, nationalism stirred with the help of Dr. Jose Rizal, who wrote the sensational novels “El Filibusterismo” (The Filibusterer), and “Noli Me Tangere” (Touch me Not). He later Jose Rizal founded Liga Filipina, which called for reform rather than revolution and the reason for Rizal’s exile and later on executed in December 30, 1896 when the revolution started following the Katipunan which Andres Bonifacio founded back then.
In the succeeding years in 1898, a war between Spain and U.S started in which the Americans defeated Spanish fleet. With this, Filipino revolutionaries headed by Emilio Aguinaldo took an opportunity and declared Philippine independence on June 12, 1898 but American rule took over when Aguinaldo was captured in 1902, made the Philippines a semi-independent in 1935 and promised that the Philippines will become completely independent in 1945. Japan invaded the Philippines in 1941 and ruled the country until American troops were back in 1944 and recaptured Manila. The Philippines became independent on the 4th of July 1946 and Manuel Roxas became the first president of the newly independent nation.
The
facts simply show how Filipinos gained independence and was able to achieve
freedom among different colonizers from the past. Thus, every 12th
of June is being celebrated in remembrance of our national heroes. It
symbolizes nationalism, autonomy where vast cultures and traditions of the
Filipino people is being showcased. Being an independent nation only proves
that our country, the Philippines is a home of heroes and leaders who
sacrificed a lot for our nation to become great again.
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