111th INDEPENDENCE DAY of the PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC: A Reminder for us FILIPINOS.

“It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinions; it is easy in solitude to live after your own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude”.
Its been One Hundred Eleven years that we have been lavishing our own INDEPENDENCE as a NATION, for One Hundred Eleven years ago that our fathers brought forth on this archipelago a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that this nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate. . .we cannot consecrate. . . we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. Let us feel and understand the real essence of this celebration. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. Let us be proud of what we have right now and value it for we will never experience what our forefathers have been into before.

Also it is for us the living rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they fought for have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us and that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people. . .by the people. . .for the people. . . shall not perish from this earth.

A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. Let us be aware and be vigilant enough to secure this freedom and independence we enjoy. Amidst the celebration we are in doubt from aggression from the people in power. We try to defy reality but we cannot deny the fact that we are still in bondage from Poverty, from violence, from unemployment, from lack of education, from corruption and a lot more.

Let us evaluate our selves of what we share in our nations progress and independence. Let us join hands to secure this INDEPENDENCE our DEMOCRACY and we will not tolerate those people who will try to destroy it and use their power for their own sake.

To all Filipinos everywhere in the world... HAPPY 111th INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

FREEDOM: Its Just like an OXYGEN that GIVES LIFE and WATER that QUENCHES.

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die." This is in accordance to DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, but for you what is FREEDOM? The state of being free? Exemption from the power and control of another? FREEDOM is" LIBERTY and INDEPENDENCE?

In our present time we are fortunate to live as FREEMEN as they say. If we recollect our own HISTORY, In every NATION'S HISTORY we could see suffering, bondage, injustice, violence, remorse, agony and a lot more. Every NATION, every COUNTRY have it's own GLORIOUS PAST for FREEDOM. As to the PHILIPPINES that has been COLONIZED by SPAIN for more than 300 YEARS, UNDER by AMERICANS, HOSTAGE by the JAPANESE, what we are now today? EVERYTHING in the PAST is HISTORY for now but what we are TODAY? FILIPINOS are FREE! ARE WE? During my GRADE SCHOOL I was able to have this SPEECH memorized which until now is very clear to my consciousness. VERY VIVID that embarked to my HEART. A piece from RAUL MANGLAPUS. Please read and understand:

Land of Bondage, Land of the Free

By: Raul Manglapus

The tao does not come here tonight to be judged -- but to judge! Hear then his accusation and his sentiments:

I indict the Spanish encomendero for inventing taxes impossible to pay!

I indict the usurer for saddling me with debts impossible to bear!

I indict the irresponsible radical leaders who undermine with insidious eloquence the confidence of my kind in our government!

I indict the haciendero for seizing my lands with subtle trickery and reducing me to peonage!

I indict him for sacrificing the honest efforts of an honest government on the altar of his illimitable greed!

You accuse me of IGNORANCE. But I am IGNORANT because my master finds it profitable to keep me ignorant. Free me from bondage, and I shall prove you false!You accuse me of INDOLENCE. But I am INDOLENT not because I have no will, but because I have no hope.Why should I labor if the fruits of my labor go to extinguish and inextinguishable debt! Free me from bondage, and I will prove you false! GIVE ME LAND. LAND TO OWN. Land unbeholden to any tyrant. LAND THAT WILL BE FREE. Give me land for I am starving. Give me land that my children will not die.Sell it to me. Sell it to me at a fair price as one free man sells to another. And not as a usurer sells to a slave.

I AM POOR. But I will pay it! I will work and work until I fall with weariness for my privilege and my right to be free!

But if you will not grant me this last request. This ultimate demand, then build a wall around your house... build it high!... build it strong!... place a sentry on every parapet... for I who have been silent these three hundred years, will come in the night when you are feasting, with my cry and my bolo at your door...And may God have mercy on your soul!

Though this was intended to the conquerors the colonizers, this might be applicable to our present times. I believed we are still oppressed and tortured. We are still fighting for that light. We are still searching for our own IDENTITY for our OWN SELF as FILIPINOS. We may be lucky enough to have this so called DEMOCRACY, but let us be vigilant still, be intelligent enough for there is no one who can help our selves but us FILIPINOS.

LET US BE PROUD of our SELVES, of being a FILIPINO. LET US UNITE for one COMMON GOAL and for the COMMON GOOD OF ALL. I CAN STILL SEE HOPE...