4th Of July 1946 – I Frank A Hilario Insist, This Is The Historically True Philippine Independence Day!

No, not 12 June 1898. A practitioner of my own concoction, think! Journalism (not simply Maria Ressa’s “Truth Journalism”), I insist:

The 4^th of July 1946 is the True Independence Day of my country the Philippines!

Think! PH President Emilio Aguinaldo’s “Declaration of Philippine Independence” dated 12 June 1896 recognized the presence in the islands of the “benevolent” United States of America. Here are pertinent and largely ignored parts of the story of Philippine Independence.
(image from Getty Images, gettyimages)

About the subject of Philippine Independence, Wikipedia says (en.wikipedia.org):

The outbreak of the Spanish-American War in 1898 brought Commodore George Dewey and the US Asiatic Squadron to Manila Bay, where they defeated the Spanish Asiatic fleet. The Philippine Revolution resumed in earnest, led by General Emilio Aguinaldo who established a revolutionary government. At the height of its military successes against Spain, the revolutionary government proclaimed independence on 12 June 1898.

The purpose of the proclamation, according to Wikipedia, was “to proclaim the sovereignty and independence of the Philippines from the colonial rule of the Spanish Empire.”

“From the colonial rule of the Spanish Empire” – Don’t forget: The Philippine revolution against Spain was in the midst of American military presence in the islands!

How strong was the Filipino rebels’ adherence to democratic ideals even as they welcomed the help of the Americans? Very, very strong. Here is proof:

In August 1916, the Jones Law, more formally known as the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916, was passed, promising independence to the Philippines once Filipinos were able to prove that they could govern themselves. No timetable was set, but once the United States declared war on Germany in World War I, Philippine political leaders offered a division of Filipinos to fight on the side of the United States.

“Offered a vision of Filipinos to fight on the side of the United States” – The brave and benevolent Filipinos!

The Americans were still in the Philippines when Aguinaldo declared Independence – so, the declaration was Independence from Spain and not Independence from the United States! Sheer logic.

Filipinos were given great leeway in running the government at that time, but once the Great War ended, the US government reexamined Philippine conditions and strengthened American control of the insular government. Filipinos sent regular independence missions to Washington to call for concrete steps towards independence, which were rebuffed by the prevailing Republican administrations.

On the 4^th of July 1946, US High Commissioner Paul McNutt signed the Treaty of Manila, establishing the independence of the Republic of the Philippines. Mr McNutt read US President Harry Truman’s “Proclamation of Independence of the Philippines.” Mr Truman withdrew all “rights of possession, supervision, jurisdiction, control or sovereignty” exercised by the US over the territory and people, and recognized the independence of the Philippines.

Personally, I Ilocano writer thank the US of A for bringing the English language to my country. For all its brilliance, English has opened my eyes seeing, and brain thinking, the best – Nobody can take that away from me!@517