JEDDAH, 21 June 2003 — Pride, excitement, and happiness were just some of the many sentiments shared by many Filipinos around the world. On June 12th, many gathered to mark of the 105th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine independence from Spain.
Filipino revolutionaries led by General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed their independence from Spanish rule on June 12, 1898 in what was supposed to be the first democratic republic in Asia and Africa.
The republic, however, became stillborn when the United States, which sent forces to help the Filipinos fight the Spaniards, turned against its allies and took over as colonizer. Washington later granted independence to the Philippines on July 4, 1946. Since the early ‘60s, however, Filipinos started marking June 12 as the birth of their independent nation.
On Philippine Independence Day, the Filipino people remember and honor national heroes who died fighting for their freedom. The momentous holiday is held to keep the culture alive and bring the spirit of the people together.
In the Kingdom, Filipinos celebrate their independence day with a series of activities lasting up to a month.
In Jeddah, in particular, two singing contests held on Thursday and yesterday at the Philippine Consulate were all part of the celebrations. Last week, the activities included cultural dance shows, singing contests, volleyball tournaments, and tasty traditional dishes. “It makes me so happy and proud to see the Filipino community get together like this”, said Angelito Dulay, a worker at the Coca-Cola Company in Jeddah for over 10 yrs.
Students from the International Philippine School of Jeddah (IPSJ) also had much to say about this occasion. They had pride in their history, and didn’t feel hesitant to show it. As one student said, “Being Filipino means so much to all of us.”
Celebrating Independence Day with family and friends is an opportunity for the Filipino people to teach their children about their rich history and culture, and pass it along for generations to come. As Filipinos leave their homes in the Philippines and travel around the world, they bring their culture with them, and welcome people to learn their traditions, a trait that many Filipinos are so well noted and admired for.