Celebrating 116 years of Philippine independence

Note:  This photo-essay appeared in slightly different version in the 20-26 June 2014 issue of the weekly FilAm Star, "the newspaper for Filipinos in mainstream America."  The author/blogger is the special news/photo correspondent of the paper in the Philippines.

There were no grand fireworks to watch on the Twelfth of June in the home country unlike in the US of A where ‘Filipinos in mainstream America’ wait for the pyrotechnics to burst and brighten the skies on the night of the Fourth of July.

There was no parade at the Luneta either just like in the old days.  The last one we remember watching was that of the centennial celebration in 1998.

Like in the past, government agencies set up booths at the Burnham Green of the Rizal Park to show their flagship projects and community services (Mga Pampamahalaang Programa at Serbisyo).  The Department of Health, for example, provided free medical, dental and optical services.  Tree seedlings and packets of vegetable seeds were distributed at the Dept. of Agriculture booth. 

The booths of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were a big hit because it allowed visitors to carry high-powered weapons on display (without bullets, of course!).  Many had their selfies with real soldiers with camouflage paints on their faces. Marching bands from various military services like the Philippine Air Force also provided entertainment at the Luneta Grandstand, and silent drills by units from the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Marines awed spectators there too.

For those who stayed up to the early evening, they could have enjoyed for free the 30-minute “Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal: Light and Sound Presentation”, which dramatizes the national hero’s final hours using eight sculptural clusters. This presentation is the collective work of National Artists Leandro Locsin, Lamberto Avellana, Lucio San Pedro and Rolando Tinio.  The holiday crowd could also have enjoyed listening to various musical artists in the Harana sa Rizal Park at different performance areas around the park.

The Metro and Light Railway Transits provided free rides 7 to 9 in the morning and 5-7 in the evening for people who wanted to enjoy their holiday in various places in Metro Manila.  The Pasig River Ferry Service also offered free cruises from 6 AM to 6 PM between its operating terminals: Plaza Mexico, PUP, Guadalupe and Pinagbuhatan.

These were some of the events in this year’s 116^th commemoration of the proclamation of Philippine Independence, which carried the theme “Pagsunod sa Yapak ng mga Dakilang Pilipino, Tungo sa Malawakan at Permanenteng Pagbabago.”

Early in the day at eight o’clock in the morning, flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies were held simultaneously in seven historical sites all over the country led by high government officials:  Plaza Quince Martires in Naga City; Rizal National Monument at the Luneta, General Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite; Mausoleo delos Veteranos dela Revolucion at the Manila North Cemetery; Barasoain Church Historical Landmark in Malolos, Bulacan; Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine in San Juan City; Bonifacio National Monument in Caloocan City and Pamintuan Mansion in Angeles City.

These rites were replicated in every town and city in the archipelago.  In my hometown San Narciso in Zambales, for example, the flag rite in front of the municipal building was followed by the laying of floral wreaths at the monuments of  Jose Rizal, Ramon Magsaysay, the Doce Martires (12 members of the town principalia who were executed in April 1898) and the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor.

President Benigno Aquino III, guest of honor at Plaza Quince Martires rites, extolled the heroism of the fifteen Bicolano martyrs who were suspected of involvement in the Katipunan.  Eleven of them were executed in Bagumbayan in January 1897 barely a week after the martyrdom of Jose Rizal, while four died in exile.

According to reports, some students from the Ateneo de Naga heckled Aquino while he was talking about the pork barrel scam.  “Patalsikin ang Pork Barrel King! Walang pagbabago sa Pilipinas!,’ were apparently heard from the students who deemed that the president failed to fulfil his promise of ending corruption and bringing change to the country.  One of them, Emmanuel Pio Mijares, was arrested.

Aquino challenged Filipino voters to“[c]hoose candidates who fight for the interests of the each and every citizen in the face of any challenge. We do not need a leader who can read a script, dance well or sing well.”  Obviously, he was referring to Sen. Bong Revilla whose privilege speech included a song number.

At the Rizal National Monument, Vice President Jejomar Binay reportedly called for a “timeout” from politics, reminding Filipinos to remember the patriotism and bravery of those who fought for our independence. 

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno also touched on the pork barrel scam cases when she spokeat the General Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine.  According to reports, she assured that there will be no shortcuts in resolving these cases, and that the judiciary will always be guided by the Constitution and the Rules of Court in their resolution.

At the Barasoain Church, where the first Philippine Republic was inaugurated on 23 September 1898, the guest of honor was MMDA Sec. Francis Tolentino.  He reportedly emphasized the importance of Malolos Constitution, and also spoke of the threats to our rightful ownership of some islands in the West Philippine Sea.

Senate President Franklin Drilon led the Independence Day rites at the historic Pinaglabanan Shrine, a memorial to the first battle of the Katipunan that started on 29 August 1898.  According to reports, he appealed to the people to keep their faith in their democratic institutions despite the pork barrel scam controversies.

We witnessed the commemoration program at the Bonifacio National Monument.  It was the Caloocan City Mayor who delivered the keynote speech. Theatrical, dance and musical presentations were performed by government employees and public school teachers.

It is presumed that similar flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies were conducted at the Pamintuan Mansion and the Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion.

 For historical appreciation, Aguinaldo moved the seat of the government from Kawit, Cavite to Pampanga during the war against the Americans. He waved the Philippine flag from the second-floor balcony of the Pamintuan Mansion on 12 June 1899, the first anniversary of Philippine independence.  On the other hand, the Mausoleo was built by the Veteranos de la Revolucion headed by Aguinaldo and inaugurated on 30 May 1920 as a pantheon of the heroes of the revolution against Spain. 

The noise of the 116^th anniversary celebration of our independence came from the rallies not only in Metro  Manila but also in some cities in the country, a continuing reverberation of the Million People March to Scrap Pork Barrel on 26 August last year.

The festive colors came from the protest streamers and banners, and from the props such as masks and papier mache pigs of various configurations like the big one with a crown.

One reporter observed that “[a] funny thing happened to marchers protesting against the pork barrel in all forms. Their target turned out to be President Aquino.”  This is evident in the ‘Pork Barrel King’ title given to him.

We were at the Kartilya ng Katipunan Shrine (or Bonifacio Shrine) near the Manila City Hall for the 6.12.14 Protest Against Corruption in the afternoon.  This was put together by 6.12.14 Protest Coalition of various organizations comprising the Scrap Pork Network, Kilusang KonTRAPOrk, and Freedom from Debt Coalition.  Hashtags used for social media communications were #OUCHPinoy, #ScrapPork and #JailALL.

Various sectoral representatives were given the chance to denounce the plunder of government funds through the PDAF or the popular pork barrel.  There was a collective call for the Aquino administration to prosecute the people behind the pork barrel scam, those linked to the controversies including the allies of the president.  “All those involved should be prosecuted and not just a few,” Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo emphasized.

Entertainment numbers were provided by popular singers like veteran activist Heber Bartolome and Jograd de la Torre with their nationalistic and protest songs, and rocker Eli Buendia of Eraserheads fame.

At Liwasang Bonifacio, a “Rally for Accountability” was led by the #Abolishpork Movement. This was joined by militant, civil and religious groups like the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC),  Artista Kontra Korapsyon (AKSYON), University of the Philippines (UP) Faculty versus Pork, Youth ACT Now!, Babae Laban sa Katiwalian (BABALA), and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN). 

Reports in the social media showed that this was preceded by a march to the US Embassy in Manila and a program at Kalaw Avenue where some protesters dressed up like Katipuneros and Katipuneras and carried make-believe bolos and rifles.

Later in the afternoon, the protesters marched to Mendiola with torches.

Present at both the Kartilya and Liwasang Bonifacio rallies was Mae Paner, more popularly known as Juana Change, who had porky faces adorning the front of her kimona and all around the hem of her saya.

The cheer up chants were variations on the theme of accountability.  At the Kartilya Shrine:  Sumagot, Managot, Kundi Lagot! Ouch PiNoy!  At Liwasang Bonifacio-Mendiola:  “Lahat ng Sangkot, Dapat Managot”

Tourist-ing at the Manila North Cemetery before Undas

Undas is the Pinoy term for All Saints’ Day, 1^st of November, a national holiday, when families visit their dearly departed in public cemeteries, private memorial parks, and, of late, columbaries where they say prayers, light candles, adorn graves and tombs with flowers, and have a picnic, this one a matter of convenience or a borrowed Chinese custom. 

In Manila and other cities, people who hate traffic jams around burial grounds make their visits on the eve of undas or Halloween, when pranksters spook every one with ghoulish costumes to remind of ghosts and supernatural elements that prowl in the night, or on the day after, the All Souls’ Day, the religiously correct undas because in the Roman Catholic liturgy, this is the “Commemoration of All Faithful Departed.”  In Latin American countries, All Souls’ is their Day for the Dead, a national holiday.

Flower & candle stalls before the entrance to the Manila North Cemetery

October 28, elections day was traffic-light, so we decided to visit the Manila North Cemetery, one of the oldest and biggest cemeteries in Manila. In comparison, undas traffic here is super-heavy, and we’re speaking of hordes of visitors to a burial ground of 54 hectares.  It was an afternoon visit, so it was quite hurried, there was not much time to tarry, and the light was getting insufficient for the camera.

We returned on the 29th and 30th, but early enough in the afternoon and we had time to read inscriptions and take photographs of interesting places, people and things.  Motor vehicles were still allowed to get, tricycles were ferrying visitors who do not like to walk under the shady trees.

This was our first time visit to Manila North as tourist; we've come here before for the funeral of a friend.  We relied on residents here for directions and locations of gravesites of interest. They know the place like the face of their palms. They are caretakers of mausoleums, homes to their families throughout the year except on undas, when they store their household goods (some have washing machines too) in a temporary shelter and take leave for the visiting owners. 

We went visiting tombs of historical, political and popular figures.
 

The memorial to the 24 Boy Scouts.

 The memorial monument to the 24 boy scouts who died in a plane crash in 1963 on their way to Marathon, Greece for the 11th World Jamboree is found at the entrance, before the gate.  We met a priest who said he was to have been part of the delegation but he got sick.  He pointed out who among them were his classmates and friends after offering prayers and blessing the site. 

Presidents Sergio Osmena, Manuel Roxas, Ramon Magsaysay and Diosdado Macapagal are buried here, but we missed Macapagal's gravesite.  

Magsaysay's tomb has a Philippine flag representation and a wall inscribed with one of his quotable statements. “The president should set the example of a big heart, an honest mind, sound instincts, the virtue of healthy impatience and an abiding love for the common man,” he continues to implore from his grave.   Visitors today may want to check if the incumbent executive comes up to these measures.

In memoriam: Ramon Magsaysay.

Statesman Claro M. Recto's tomb also has a background wall containing his words, which are more philosophical:  ‘I am like the old man who plants a tree in his yard knowing that he may not sit in its shade.  I shall be content if future generations shall repeat with Tasio the philospher in the Noli Me Tangere: “No todos dormian en la noche de nuestros abuelos”[Not everybody slept in the  night of our forefathers].’ 

In memoriam:  Claro M. Recto.

The tomb of Gatpuno Antonio Villegas has also a background wall that contains his prayer.  The nearby tombs of two other mayors, and that of Arsenic or Arsenio Lacson, which is in another site, do not have statement walls.
 

Prayer of Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas.

Heroes are entombed in the Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolution (Mausoleum of the Veterans of the Revolution), which we found very colorful amidst several Philippine flags draped from poles on both sides. This was designed by Arcadio Arellano, and built by the Manila city government and Asociacion de los Veteranos de la Revolucion in 1915. The remains of several veterans of the 1896 revolution and of the Philippine-American war are entombed here like those of Comandante Tomas Arguelles, Gen.  Pio del Pilar and Gen. Mariano Noriel.

Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolution

One would not miss the Bautista-Nakpil gravesite with an beautifully sculptured obelisk.  This is where the remains of Gregoria de Jesus (d. 1943) and her husband Julio Nakpil (d. 1960), heroes of the revolution, were buried. She was the widow of Gat Andres Bonifacio, and he was a Katipunan military commander and well-known musician-composer. 

This is where Gregoria de Jesus and her husband Julio Nakpil were buried.

 Heroes too were the first American teachers in the Philippines, collectively called Thomasites, who were at the forefront of the public school system that the Americans introduced upon the departure of the Spanish colonial masters.

In memoriam:  the first American teachers in the Philippines.

The American Teachers’ Memorial was erected in 1918 in “memory of the American school teachers whose mortal remains lie beneath this hallowed ground known as the American little teachers plot and those others who rest in unknown and unmarked graves in various parts of the country, as a token of the Filipino people’s esteem of their dedications and self-sacrifices.  The first group of American teachers numbering about 48 arrived in the Philippines on board the SS Sheridan in July 1901. The succeeding 540 educators arrived on August 21, 1901 on SS Thomas leaving behind their homes and family and worked tirelessly for the education of the Filipino people and the improvement of the educational system in the country.”

In memoriam: Francis Burton Harrison

Harrison Street and Harrison Plaza may just be place names to many Filipinos today.  They do not know that these are memorials to Francis Burton Harrison, the American Governor General of the Philippines from March 1913 to September 1921.  He was known to be pro-Filipino, an advocate of Philippine independence.

He willed to be buried in the Philippines. Hence, when he died in 1957, his remains were brought back to the Philippines; he was buried at Manila North Cemetery.

In memoriam: Pancho Villa

The name Francisco V. Guilledo does not ring a bell to Filipinos, but Pancho Villa certainly sounds like a knock-out bell.

His grave lies along Main Street of Manila North.  It cannot be missed because it features his bust, ‘Pancho Villa’ clearly etched below it, and behind is an angel figure holding a belt proclaiming he is the world flyweight champion.  He was the first Filipino boxer to gain that title. 

The historical marker tells us that he was 24 when he died on 14 July 1925.  He started as a handyman in the stable of Francisco Villa, and he first won in a boxing match in 1918 at the age of 17. He gained world fame in December 1921, and was champion from 1922 to 1925. Ring Magazine added his name to the Hall of Fame in 1961.

The Poe mausoleum may be far from the cemetery gate, at the last loop from Main Street, but one can walk for the exercise rather than take a tricycle ride. 

In Memoriam: Fernando Poe, Jr.

This is where popular movie actor Fernando Poe, Jr, better known as FPJ and Da King, is entombed.

In the Pinoy’s recent memory of Philippine politics, he was cheated in the presidential elections of 2004.   If it was an appeasement, Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo granted him posthumously the National Artist of the Philippines for Film award in May 2006.  It was confirmed by Pres. Benigno Aquino III and the family received it in July 2012.

To Filipinos who will visit his resting place on undas, Ronald Allan Kelley Poe or FPJ will always be the King of Filipino Movies.  To them, as inscribed on his tomb, he will always be alive in their hearts and memories (lagi ka sa aming puso at alaala).

That’s the same spirit that makes the Filipino spend a day with their faithful departed: a loving memory.  Happy Halloween, everyone!