KALAYAAN!

 

          Independence Day a national holiday in the Philippines, and it is the most important holiday in the country. It is a day off for the general public, schools, and companies in the Philippines. Independence Day, June 12th, is one of the most important days in the Philippines. June 12, 1898, is the anniversary of the country's independence from Spanish domination. Every year on June 12th, the Filipinos celebrate it.

          Every year, we celebrate our independence; however, it was never a huge thing for me because I was uninterested in this day; the only advantage I had on Independence Day was that there was no school, so I could spend the day at home playing my gadgets. But now I understand why this day is so important to celebrate. The sacrifices that people have to make in order for us to have our independence today are significant. We take for granted the freedom they so desperately desired today and every day, as if all the atrocities they had done never happened. We did not have to go through what they did in order for us to be free today, and that is our fault. When we obtain things for free, we tend to take them for granted and not properly care for them, but when we spend our own money, our hard-earned money, we treat it with respect and treasure it sincerely. This is exactly what I mean; even though we were not the ones who fought for independence, we should honor it. After 300 years of Spanish domination, Filipino insurgents led by Emilio Aguinaldo declare independence from Spain during the Spanish-American War. We Have Been Set Free! It is something that should reverberate throughout the Philippines on a daily basis, not only on Independence Day. This day, and the freedom we enjoy, should be treasured; it is a priceless gem that we cannot barter.

          Everywhere you go in the Philippines, you can experience the freedom that our forefathers fought for. A land that was once colonized and made its inhabitants slaves is now a free country, and we should remember that every day, even though we weren't the ones who fought for it, we are the ones who are enjoying it now. We should value and protect the freedom we enjoy.