Independence when there is no freedom

The Philippines is celebrating today its 122nd  Independence day. 

Today we remember how our forefathers claimed their freedom from the Spaniards who enslaved them for almost 333 years. Thanks to our national hero Jose Rizal, who sparked the hearts of the Filipinos through his provoking novels. This eventually inspired a revolution which then gave birth to our first republic in 1889. 

Today, due to the Covid 19 pandemic, we are locked at our homes and we have no freedom to move. As a result, we are deprived to work and earn a living. We are deprived to travel, to gather, and to celebrate. Our lives have so many restrictions.This was the same experience of our forefathers when their freedom was taken away from them by the Spaniards. Good thing this Covid 19 is only temporary. Once the vaccine is commercially available, our lives will soon return to normal and our freedom will be restored. Imagine if this quarantine is permanent, people will became restless, agitated and probably lose their hopes for a brighter future. 

This Covid 19 probably taught us to value our freedom and independence. Now, we already knew how difficult it is to live in a quarantined world that has so many restrictions and too many controls. Let us be grateful that the Philippines is one of the most democratic countries in this planet. Though our freedom and democracy are currently being challenged by this Covid 19 pandemic and the current Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 bill that is currently pending in congress. Let us not allow the Covid 19 to stop us from enjoying the beauty of the outdoors and let us not allow social distancing affects our relationships with family, friends, and loved ones. And finally, let us not allow the pending Anti-Terrorism bill to control our lives, suppress our freedom and restrict our democracy. Otherwise we will be needing another Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, and Emilio Aguinaldo to restore our freedom.       

Just this morning, I saw the independence message of our beloved vice-president Leni Robredo. It is worth the watch. Below is the video and the transcript of her speech. 

Ngayong taon, ipinagdiriwang natin ang ating kalayaan sa harap ng pandemya. May irony ito: Pinagninilayan natin ang konseptong ito, at ginugunita ang lahat ng dinaanan ng ating lahi para makamit ito, habang puwersadong manatili sa ating mga tahanan upang pangalagaan ang ating kalusugan.

Pagkakataon siguro itong balikan ang tunay na diwa ng kalayaan. Ano nga ba ang ibig sabihin nito? Kalayaan ba itong gawin ang kahit na anong gusto? Kalayaan ba itong maging makasarili? O may iba bang antas ng pag-unawa sa kalayaan?

Sa mga nakikita natin sa mundo ngayon—sa harap ng pandemya, ng mga banta sa karapatan at kalayaan, sa pag-alab ng mga damdamin laban sa paniniil at pagbalewala sa dignidad ng indibiduwal o lahi—siguro nagiging malinaw na rin sa mas nakararami: Magkakarugtong ang kalayaan ng lahat. Walang kalayaan ang isa kung walang kalayaan ang lahat—dahil ang sistemang sisiguro nito ay gagana lamang kung lahat ay ituturing nang patas at makatao: Patas ang dignidad, patas ang mga karapatan, pare-parehong may kalayaan.

Samakatuwid: Tumatawid sa sarili ang diwa ng kalayaan. Laging papalabas ang kilos nito. Ang tunay na kalayaan ay kalayaan para sa kapwa. At sa mga pagkakataong may banta sa kalayaan ng isa, kailangang lahat tayo pumalag, dahil ang tunay na binabantaan ay ang kalayaan ng lahat.

Ito nga siguro ang mensahe ko ngayong Araw ng Kalayaan sa panahon ng pandemya. Kung gusto natin ng pansariling kalayaan mula sa sakit at panganib, kailangang siguruhin ito para sa lahat—dahil kung hindi, magkakahawahan lang tayo. Kung gusto natin ng pansariling kalayaan para umunlad o umangat sa buhay, kailangang gawing patas ang buong sistema—dahil dumadaloy ang enerhiyang ekonomiko sa lahat: Mula sa daily-wage earner na empleyado, hanggang sa nagbebenta ng gulay sa kanto, hanggang sa pinakamalalaking negosyo; mula laylayan hanggang sentro. Kung gusto natin ng pansariling kalayaan para maghayag ng saloobin, kailangan ding siguruhin ito para sa lahat—dahil ang mga istrukturang panlipunang maaaring sumiil sa kalayaan ng iba ay maaari ring ituon para siilin ka.

Sa tingin ko, ito mismo ang naghimok sa mga bayani nating ipaglaban ang kalayaan noong panahong kolonya tayo ng mga Kastila. Alalahanin natin na ang mga kaisipang naglunsad ng rebolusyon ay nagbukal sa mga kaisipan ng Enlightenment: Patas na karapatan, dignidad, at kalayaan ng indibiduwal na maabot ang kanilang adhikain. Patuloy sana nating pagsikapang isadiwa ang mga kaisipang ito.

Sa susunod na taon, marahil mas malaya na tayong makapagtitipon para ipagdiwang ang Araw ng Kalayaan. Marahil, muli, matitingala na natin ang bandila habang katabi ang isa’t isa. Umaasa ako na sa panahong iyon ay hindi mababaon sa limot ang mga aral ng pandemyang ito. Na hindi tayo babalik lamang sa nakasanayan, na hindi “back to normal” ang magiging pundasyon ng ating pamumuhay. Bagkus, susulong tayo sa isang bagong mundo nang buong-loob at bukas-palad na tumutugon sa panawagan ng kalayaan, karapatan, at dignidad, para sa lahat. Haharap tayo sa bagong bukas nang kinikilala ang malalim at di-maisasantabing pagkakabigkis natin bilang Pilipino.

Maligayang Araw ng Kalayaan sa lahat. Mabuhay ang duyan ng magigiting. Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino.

[Second President's Message of Independence Day]

This year we celebrate our freedom in front of pandemic. This has irony: We've conquered this concept, and observe everything our race has passed to achieve it, while we're forced to stay in our homes to preserve our health.

Maybe it's a chance to get back to the true spirit of freedom. What is the meaning of this? Is it freedom to do whatever you want? Is it freedom to be selfish? Or is there another level of understanding of freedom?

To those we see in the world today-in front of pandemic, threats to rights and freedom, to blaspheme feelings against tyranny and ignoring the dignity of individual or race-maybe becoming clear to the more majority: There will be a continuation The freedom of all. There is no freedom without liberty at all-because the system ensures it will work only if everything is considered fair and humane: Dignity is fair, rights are fair, both with freedom.

Therefore: The spirit of freedom crosses itself. This moves are always showing. True freedom is freedom for others. And to those times when there is a threat to one's freedom, we should all resist, because the real threat is everyone's freedom.

This is probably my message for Independence Day during pandemic. If we want personal freedom from disease and danger, we need to assure it for all-because otherwise we'll just be contagious. If we want personal freedom to grow or to rise in life, the whole system must be fair-because economic energy flows to everyone: From daily-wage earner employees, to vegetable corner, to the biggest business; From hem to center. If we want personal freedom to express thoughts, we must also assure it for everyone-because social structures that can occupy other s' freedom can also be focused on to keep you.

I think this right here made our heroes fight for freedom when we were in Spanish colonies. Let's remember that the thought of launching a revolution has opened the thoughts of Enlightenment: Fair rights, dignity, and freedom of the individual to reach their aspiration. May we continue to work hard to disguise these thoughts.

Next year, we might be more free to celebrate Independence Day. Perhaps, once again, we can look at the flag while next to each other. I hope that at that time the teachings of this pandemic will not be buried in oblivion. That we will never go back to what we used to do, that not ′′ back to normal ′′ will be the foundation of our lives. Instead, we'll promote to a new world wholeheartedly and unfortunate responding to the plea of freedom, rights, and dignity, for all. We will face a new tomorrow that recognizes our deep and unexplainable girding as a Filipino.

Happy Independence Day to all. Long live the hammock of the valiant. Long live the Filipino people