“History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves and our common humanity so that we can better face the future.” -Robert Penn Warren
We focus so much on today, but we forget that to face our future, we must celebrate our history and learn from the past. The month of August is rich in history for the Filipinos, and there are things that we should commemorate and be thankful for. Our history molded us into what we are today. It made the things that we are experiencing in the present possible.
So let us take a ride down the memory lane and look back at the things that happened in August.
The Cry of Pugad Lawin
On August 26, 1896, the Katipuneros, along with their leader, Andres Bonifacio, rose against the Spaniards. They tore their cedula, which they believed to be a sign of the slavery of the Filipinos. The tearing of that piece of paper that charges tax to the Philippine citizens marked the Filipinos’ severance from the Spaniards.
We must celebrate this event and reflect from it each year, because if no one took that first step, will we ever be free from the Spaniards? Therefore, even from our homes, let us express our pride for those people who chose bravery over cowardness, for without them, it is possible that we won’t experience the same freedom that we have today.
The Assassination of the Spanish Premiere Who Killed Dr. Jose Rizal
Who doesn’t know of Dr. Jose Rizal? He is the National Hero of the Philippines, famous for battling the Spaniards with the tip of his pen and not by the blade of the sword. He was executed on December 30, 1986, at the Bagumbayan by a firing squad because he was seen as the biggest Spanish Colony’s threat. It is true, for his works sparked nationalism in many Filipino hearts, leading them to take a stand and defend our country.
On August 8, 1897, the Spanish Premiere, Señor Canovas del Castillo, who ordered the death of Dr. Jose Rizal, was assassinated to avenge his execution. Up to this day, we celebrate the justice for the death of the person who bravely fought the Spaniard head-on with his literary works.
The Remains of Dr. Jose Rizal is Home
The remains of Dr. Jose Rizal were brought home from Paco Cemetery to his house on Estraude Streer in Binondo, Manila, on August 17, 1898.
After the execution of Dr. Jose Rizal in Bagumbayan, he was buried in the Paco Cemetery in an unmarked grave. His family was deeply saddened and angered because they could not properly mourn our national hero’s death.
Narcissa, his sister, searched every grave possible just to find his remains. She found a freshly covered gate with guards posted there. With the assumption that it was his brother’s grave, she gave a gift to the caretaker to mark it with “RPJ,” which is the reverse of the initials of Dr. Jose Rizal. She did this so they could easily identify the grave and someday take him back home.
To commemorate this history, let us light a candle for Dr. Jose Rizal, and express our gratitude that he was able to go back home to his family even after what he suffered in the hands of the Spaniards.
The Battle of Manila
On August 13, 1898, Americans, with the help of Admiral Dewey, led the battle that took place in the Manila Bay. According to stories, everything that happened during that day was planned – from the first gunshot to when the shooting would cease. This means that the Americans were sure that Spain would surrender the Philippines to them.
Our fellow Filipinos battled with them in this one step towards the freedom of our country. This is why we should light a candle for them in our homes to commemorate their bravery in facing death to free our country. Let us thank them for without them for our lives might not just be the same.
Iglesia Filipina Independiente
The Iglesia Filipina Independiente of the Philippine Independent Church was established on August 3, 1902. Isabelo de Los Reyes proclaimed the news.
The church is also known as the Aglipayan church with Father Gregorio Aglipay as its Supreme Bishop. Gregorio and de Los Reyes are political activists, and they have become role models for the church’s present members. Today, they advocate for nationalism, anti-imperialism, democracy, and opposing extrajudicial killings.
The establishment of this church should be commemorated in our own homes even if we are not a member. This is because this church is a mark of the start of our independence, for we had been under the control of Spanish priests for a very long time.
The Jones Law
The Jones Law of the Philippine Autonomy Act was approved on August 29,1916. This was an organic act passed by the United States Congress, letting the Filipinos have their own Philippine legislature.
On August 29, 1916, the law took effect, and the United States declared that they are granting independence to the Philippines. Through this law, our country had its first-ever, fully elected body. This is the start of the Filipinos’ leadership, the day that we are granted our freedom, which is why we should celebrate this during August for History Month.
The Mutual Defense Treaty
The Mutual Defense Treaty between the Republic of The Philippines and the United States was signed on August 30, 1951, in Washington, D.C. by President Elpidio Quirino and President Harry Truman. In this treaty, our country agreed with these terms:
“Separately and jointly by self-help and mutual aid,” to “maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack” and to recognize that “an armed attack in the Pacific area on either the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety” and further agreed that each “would act to meet the common danger in accordance with its constitutional processes.”
The treaty took effect on August 27, 1952, and we should celebrate this alliance even in the comfort of our homes. This treaty had protected us back when we were just starting as an independent country and for several years after that.
The Rizal Act
The Republic Act 1452, or more popularly known as the Rizal Act, took effect on August 16, 1956. The act aims to include in school curricula Dr. Jose Rizal’s life and works. Senator Claro M. Recto authored this, and he pushed to require private, public, and college schools to teach everything about Dr. Jose Rizal and his works such as Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
They want it to be taught in school so that we will never forget what our National Hero did to save us from the Spaniards’ hands. Furthermore, they want the youth to learn about nationalism so that they would do the same if our freedom will once again be threatened.
Coincidentally, the mother of Dr. Jose Rizal, Teodora Alonsoso, died on the same day. So, on this day during August, let us rekindle Dr. Jose Rizal’s nationalism and pray for his mother’s peace.
The Designation of Independence Day
The Republic Act 4166 or the law that designates June 12 as our Independence Day was signed into law on August 4, 1964, by President Diosdado Macapagal.
After a long time of waiting for our independence and after many lives had been sacrificed just to attain it, we now formally recognize and celebrate our Independence Day every twelfth day of June.
But why June 12? The declaration of the country’s independence took place on June 12, 1898, in Kawit, Cavite. General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed our sovereignty from the Spanish colonialism.
Therefore, every fourth day of August, let us celebrate the day that we finally recognized June 12 as our Independence Day. Let us live the moment and be thankful that we are currently experiencing freedom. Also, let us pray for the lives that we lost in our battle to achieve this freedom.
The Establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
On August 8, 1987, a group with the principal aim to strengthen economic and cultural development and maintain peace in the region was established. The group was then called the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN.
The original five members of this group include Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Later on, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Cambodia also joined, making up the present ten members of the ASEAN.
Why must we celebrate this feat? Well, without the establishment of this group, we cannot strengthen our country. We need economic ties so that we can ensure our financial security. Moreover, the other members of the ASEAN are our close neighbors. The creation of the group assures that we maintain peace with them.
The Establishment of The National Library
Do you believe that knowledge is vital to the survival of the country? If yes, then we should always celebrate the establishment of the National Library. Its creation is proof that the country’s knowledge is growing and developing.
The Museo Biblioteca de Filipinas, or what we know today as the National Library of the Philippines, was established by a royal order of the Spanish Government on August 12, 1887. It was officially opened to the public on October 24, 1891, at the Casa de la Moneda in Intramuros.
Today, it houses the works of Jose Rizal and many more famous books. We refer to it as our “bank of knowledge.” This is why every twelfth of August, must celebrate and aspire for the continuous development in our knowledge.
The Assasination of Ninoy Aquino
After many countries colonized us and killed our kind, we would never think that we would suffer the same fate in the hands of our fellow Filipino. When Ferdinand Marcos announced Martial Law, people were brutally and unjustly murdered. Our freedom was once again taken from us.
However, Ninoy Aquino faced him; he talked about his unjust works, and his bravery sparked the nationalism in the Filipinos’ hearts. He opened our eyes so that we could see the injustices happening around us during the Marcos’ regime.
On August 21, 1983, Ninoy Aquino was assassinated. His death empowered his wife to lead a revolution to end the iron fist of Ferdinand Maros. This is why we should light a candle for him in our house and say a little prayer so that he may rest in peace. After enduring all that Marcos had done, peace is what he truly deserves.
A History to Rekindle
We should always celebrate history even in our own simple ways. We should rekindle whatever happened in the past; bad or good, happy, or sad. All those things molded us into who we are today.
Those events happened so that we could learn from it, so we could not make the same mistakes that our ancestors did. Those happenings took place so that we could live the life that we are living in today. Lives were taken so that we could enjoy ours in the present. This is the main reason why we have to commemorate history, even just inside our house.
Our history makes us thankful that we live in the present.
