Some Things Just Aren't Right.

IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE IT?

Did you know that the flag of the United States of America is in the 100-Peso bill of the Philippines?  Check it out:

Declaration of Philippine Independence
from the United States of America in 1946.

The Philippines launched its new banknotes last year featuring a set of totally different designs.  Its predecessor notes however, are still in circulation just like this 100-Peso bill of which its obverse depicts the Declaration of Independence of the Philippines from the United States of America in 1946.  The flag of America is shown being hoisted down while the Philippine flag is being raised.

THE ARROVO MISTAKE.

A collector's item.

Since we are on this specific 100-Peso bill (roughly 2.50 USD), notice the name of the former president of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in this bill.  It is ERRONEOUSLY SPELLED.  Her name is misspelled to ARROVO instead of ARROYO.  From its day of release and the subsequent immediate recall in 2006, the series automatically became a collector's item.  The value of  the bill jumped to more than 10 times its monetary value.

The name should be ARROYO and not ARROVO.

REPRESENTATIONS.

Another Proclamation of Independence is depicted in some of the defunct as well as commemorative Philippine banknotes.  Below is a defunct 5-Pesos bill depicting the 1898 Proclamation of Independence from Spain.

Defunct 5-Peso bill showing the
Proclamation of Independence from Spain in 1898.

A commemorative 100,000-Peso bill was printed in 1998.  It commemorated  the 100th year independence of  the Philippines from Spain.  This collector's item banknote is known as the Guiness Book of World Records' largest banknote in the world being almost equivalent to the size of a legal bond paper.

This picture is from the awesome site philmoney.blogspot.com.

This independence of the Philippines from Spain was proclaimed by the revolutionary government in June of 1898.  Spain however, in June of 1898 still claimed sovereignty over the Philippine Islands since Spain at that time still held the walled City of Intramuros and most of Manila, and passed on the rule to the United States of America only in the Treaty of Paris in December of 1898.  The Philippines celebrates Independence Day on July 4 from 1946 up to 1964.  The president of the Philippines in 1964 changed the Independence Day from July 4 to June 12.  The reasons for which are debatable.  This has been the topic of my previous post:

How Much is Your Country?… and the Value of Independence

of which in my humble opinion, the Independence Day should have been rightfully celebrated on July 4.  Of course this earned some opposing comments.  My friend Oliver who resides in the United State has a different point of view.  I wish to share with you my conversation with Oliver on the controversial topic.  Check it out.

THE CONVERSATION:

Oliver:

Indeed, July 4th, 1946 is our day of independence from the US, however...

When we won the Revolution against Spain and declared independence on June 12, 1898, that's when America came in and stole it from us. That was the reason for the Filipino-American war that we eventually lost.

Therefore, historically, June 12 is our rightfully earned independence day. We deserve the independence from America, but we did not really earn it, it was just handed. We had been 'independent' in the first place when they arrived and supposedly helped fight off the Spaniards.

Mabubay ang Pilipinas! Happy Independence Day!

Lifestylecheck101:

For me, June 12 is rightfully the Proclamation of Independence from Spain. July 4th should have been the rightful "complete" independence of the Philippines.

Aguinaldo even led in one of the revolts against America in the Philippine-American War in 1899. How can you say you are independent if you are still fighting the rulers of that time? June 12 is celebrated as FLAG DAY from 1946 to 1964. Independence Day is July 4 since 1946 to 1964. Why it was changed is an issue... Nowadays people never talk about this and somehow even forgotten how it came about...

Thanks Oliver for your comment but there are some errors in your notion. First, it's not that "we won" the revolution against Spain. It was the Americans "and" the Filipinos who won over Spain in 1898. In fact, in 1897, there was the PACT of BIAK NA BATO which is a truce between Filipino revolutionaries and Spain. The leaders of the revolution accepted exile out of the Philippines among other things (like huge sums of money). Don't you remember? Aguinaldo accepted voluntary exile to Hong Kong in 1897. The Americans brought back Aguinaldo in 1898 from Hong Kong to rally support from the FIlipinos.

The Americans won over the Spaniards in the Battle of Manila Bay in May 1898. Most of the Islands were controlled by the US and Filipino forces except for the City of Intramuros. June 12, 1898 Aguinaldo proclaimed independence from Spain. Although, Spain is "still" in control of Manila. See, that's why Aguinaldo proclaimed independence in Cavite and not in Manila. Aguinaldo invited Americans but was snubbed. On August 12, 1898 a cease-fire has been signed between the US and Spain but on August 13, 1898 the US forces took over the walled City of Intramuros and later on the whole City of Manila. Then the Treaty of Paris is signed on December 1898 with Spain ceding the Philippines to America.

Oliver, where's true independence here? See, that's the reason why Filipinos revolted against America. It was from that time Filipinos were not allowed to enter the captured city of Manila by the Americans.

Oliver:

That is why June 12 seems to be the more appropriate date, in honor of all the martyrs and heroes that fought for our independence. July 4 is more like a 'gift' that should have been ours in the first place because we earned it in 1898.

Lifestylecheck101:

I completely disagree. The Philippine-American War has been more bloody and we lost. There were more Filipinos who fought on that war. Then we went on with diplomatic means.

It's not a "gift" Oliver. We earned it. From the Spanish oppresion, to the Philippine-American war, to World War II. How can you say it's a gift? We rightfully earned it!

Oliver:

In the early years, because of American influence, Filipinos tend to see the July 4 event as more celebratory, but as more and more scholars study Philippine history, I believe they will recognize more the significance of June 12. July 4 to me is only when we regained our independence. Of course, even historians can't agree on this.

Lifstylecheck101:

The significance of June 12 to me is FLAG DAY and the proclamation of Independence form Spain. July 4 should be the correct Independence Day as the Philippines is RULED BY FILIPINOS. What could be more significant than that?

Even Apolinario Mabini does not see June 12 as such. Try reading his biography. Oliver, I'd like to post our conversation in my blog. I hope you don't mind. It's a healthy exchange of ideas and I appreciate this.

Oliver:

No problem. Thanks for the intelligent discussion.

Lifestylecheck101:

Thanks Oliver. How I wish I could study more of the controversies surrounding Aguinaldo, Mabini, and Bonifacio and the heroes of the FIlipino-American war like Mabini who was "forced" to take the oath of allegiance to America in 1903, roughly 3 months before he died. SAD!!! But that would be for another time... God bless, Oliver.

Oliver:

Same to you. Me too, I have some nagging questions about Bonifacio vs Aguinaldo.

Lifestylecheck101:

hahaha... you bet. There's really a big controversy between their clans... and I am inkling to speculate on the lobbying made in 1964 when I.D. is changed from july 4 to june 12... I have to check family and political affiliations in 1964... hahaha, here I go again... these are not officially in the history books, and you have to find them in research and docus... :-(

How Much Is Your Country?... and the Value of Independence?

HOW MUCH IS YOUR COUNTRY?

defunct Philippine 5-peso bill depicting
the proclamation of independence from Spain in 1898

Mine was worth 20 Million US Dollars  -  the year was 1898, in the Treaty of Paris, Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States of America for 20 Million Dollars.

We should always remember our history in order to clearly see where we are headed.  3 Stars and the Sun - that's the Philippine national flag, one important reminder of the battles our ancestors have fought .

Aside from the shouting fans, the most familiar thing you'll see in Manny Pacquiao's sold-out fights are the Philippine flags waving about.  When one Filipino waves that little flag, I wonder what he thinks about...

FIGHT OF  THE YEAR.

8-division world champion Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao is set to face undefeated Timothy "Dessert Storm" Bradley Jr. in the Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena ring tomorrow, June 10 (Philippine time).  Will the younger and more aggressive junior welterweight titleholder snatch the welterweight belt from the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world?  We will find out soon enough.

SIGNIFICANT FIGHTS IN THE PAST.

Aside from Manny Pacquiao's much talked about fight, there is also one important celebration in the Philippines.  The Philippines will celebrate it's 114th Independence Day on June 12.  Here's a bit of controversy.  When I was a kid and with all of the stories I have been told by my dear grandfather, I thought that the real INDEPENDENCE DAY of the Philippines was in July 4 of 1946 when the Americans, after World War II,  granted its territory, the Philippine islands, its independence.  Whaaat???  First, let me just say that my lolo (grandfather) is some sort of an expert witness… well, he lived in those times and apparently a "first hand" eyewitness.  Let me expound on the topic.

Why don't we create a timeline so we can understand this controversy better:

Philippine-American War, 1899

1521 to 1898

• 377 long years of oppressive Spanish regime;
• in 1896, Filipino martyr, Jose Rizal, who wanted reforms from the Spanish government, was put to death through a firing squad.  This led to the increase in the number of bloody uprisings against Spain notably by the revolution led by hero Andres Bonifacio;

1898

• in the Battle of Manila Bay, in the Spanish-American War, the Americans defeated the Spanish squadrons that led to the occupation of the Philippines by the Americans;
• June 12, 1898, the first time the flag of the Philippines was waved in Kawit, Cavite, at the home of General Emilio Aguinaldo, one of the revolutionary leaders;
• on December 10, 1898, the Treaty of Paris was signed.  Spain sold the Philippines to the United States of America for 20 Million Dollars.

1899 to 1946

• 47 years of American regime;
• 1899 - 1902, the period of Philippine-American War, where Filipinos revolted against American Rule;
• 1935 - commonwealth government established in the Philippines, the first step in relinquishing the Philippines back to the Filipinos;
• 1941-1945
• the gruesome World War II;
• 4 years Japanese occupation of the Philippines.  It ended a year after General Douglas McArthur returned to the Philippines.  The Americans recovered the Philippines from the Japanese;
• In 1946, the Treaty of Manila was signed, granting the Philippines complete independence from the United States of America.

WHEN'S THE REAL INDEPENDENCE?

Now you make the analysis.  For me, the June 12, 1898 should have been the proclamation of independence from Spain.  The Philippine at that time isn't at all independent since the United States of America succeeded Spain in controlling the islands.   In my opinion, the July 4, 1946 is the true independence day since it was only at that time that the Philippines is ruled by Filipinos.

June 12 is Flag Day and July 4 is Independence Day.  Why former President Diosdado Macapagal changed this in 1964, designating June 12 as the Philippine Independence Day is something that would remain a question and a controversy for a long time.

If  my memory serves me right, during the dictatorship regime of President Ferdinand Marcos, like a ping-pong ball, July 4 was designated Independence Day but was returned back to June 12.  July 4 then became Philippine-American Friendship Day.  This is a real controversy but has died down over the years.

The thing is, we declare certain significant dates because of the history behind it.  July 4, 1946 is more meaningful and more appropriate as Independence Day because it signifies true independence and takes into consideration the heroism of Filipinos - the blood, sweat, and tears in all of those battles, from the Spanish-time revolts, to the Spanish-American War, to the Philippine-American War, and up to the Word War II.  July 4, 1946 for me is the culmination of the Filipino people's cry for independence form the Spanish, American, and Japanese regimes.  

In any case, I am proud of the flag that will be waving tomorrow, June 10, 2012, in Manny Pacquiao's bout in the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and everywhere here in the Philippines on June 12, 2012.  I also hope that the flag will be waved by all Filipinos scattered all around the world.  MABUHAY!