Bayang magiliw, perlas ng silanganan. Alab ng Puso, sa dagat mo’y buhay
The Philippines is among the most beautiful countries in the world. Its waters, its mountains, its people make it a treasure to all that call it “home”.
For something so beautiful, it is also plagued with oppression and tyranny.
Its history is drenched with the blood of its people that were once enslaved by foreign powers.
It’s been 119 years since the flag of the Philippines was first waved in Kawit, Cavite, signaling its sovereignty and independence from its conquerors – a move that, sadly, did not succeed in earning international recognition. Later, the Americans granted us independence on July 4, 1946, through the Treaty of Manila.
It was only during the late Diosdado Macapagal’s term as Philippine president that the 12th of June was duly recognized as the Philippines’ Independence Day.

Lupang hinirang, duyan ka ng magiting. Sa manlulupig, di ka pasisiil
During the Spanish era, during the time of Bonifacio and Rizal, the Filipinos, who were supposed to be the masters of their land, were enslaved and robbed of their land, homes, and even their identities.
Those who submitted to the power of the conquerors and accepted their excessive brainwashing that Filipinos would never amount to anything other than “indios,” a word with a derogatory meaning, often used by the Spaniards when referencing Filipinos.
While there were many who were submissive to the Spaniards, there were those who were aware of the oppression and, though few, they did what they could. They didn’t back down, even to the death.

Sa dagat at bundok sa simoy at sa langit mong bughaw, may dilag ang tula at awit sa paglayang minamahal. Ang kislap ng watawat mo’y tagumpany na nagniningning. Ang bituin at araw niya’y kailanpama’y di magdidilim
Though we have been passed into the hands of one conqueror to another and experienced massive losses of soldiers and people, even when the upright have died at the hands of their fellow Filipinos (even when the very same people our heroes of old died for have become our present day tyrants), this nation still struggles to remain standing.
This nation and the few noble enough to put the needs of the nation above their own do what they can to prevent the Philippines from bending a knee.
We have been through worse and we have seen darker days, but we have always fought for the light.
It is only fitting that we have stars and the sun on our flag for we are a nation that will never remain in the dark, let alone agree to be thrown into it.

Lupa ng araw ng luwalhati’t pagsinta, buhay ay langit sa piling mo. Aming ligaya nang pag may mangaapi ang mamatay ng dahil sa’yo
Life in our own motherland is always the best.
I don’t know why, as I sit on my swivel chair in this air-conditioned office in a foreign land, my heart swells with emotion.
Things are not well in my beloved Philippines. Our soldiers are fighting a battle where many will not come out alive. Our leaders confuse us, the gullible believe whoever says the funniest and most sarcastic excuse.
Our journalists and our storytellers are being attacked and reduced to nothing more than rumormongers.
In these days, when we are bombarded with fake news and it is hard to sift the heroes from the thieves, let us not get comfortable where we are.
Our beloved Philippines is truly worth dying for, but may our battles not be against our people./WDJ