Independence and rebellion

Independence and rebellion most often go together. The first is often the product of the other. In today's Independence Day, our thought is on rebels and rebellion.

Some independence is achieved through blood, others through peaceful means. Both have the element of rebellion.

The Americans had theirs by fighting the British and our own first and true independence by fighting the Spaniards. But India through Mahatma Gandhi's peaceful campaign got it as we also did with ours from the Americans. The superpowers knew the desire to be free is basic in colonized peoples.

When Navy Officer Antonio Trillanes IV, a jailed rebel who could not personally campaign, and with no money to pay for media exposure, won a nation-wide balloting as a Senator, he added a medal on the breast of anyone who calls himself a rebel.

This is a wake-up call for government. Unless it seriously addresses what Trillanes complained of, graft and corruption, especially in the military, negligence, dishonesty, injustices, and many more, expect more rebels in the future.

If jailed because they fail, why, they can run for the Senate and win. People love rebels who fight for their cause.

Trillanes rebelled particularly against AFP officials who pocketed hundreds of millions of pesos while the foot soldiers in the battlefields starved. Where's independence when the country is not free from corrupt officials?

***

Our history of 500 years, from Magellan's death in Mactan in 1521 from the hands of a rebel Lapulapu, up to today, is full of stories of rebellion in quest for freedom.

The whole time Spain ruled us, there never was a time that there was no rebellion.

But more prominent during Spanish time were the native priests, treated as second class citizens in their own country.

Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, Jacinto Zamora or GOMBURZA were the people to whom Rizal dedicated his book "El Filibusterismo."

Today's rebel is typified by Jonas Burgos, son of the late Jose "Joe" Burgos, publisher of Malaya and a rebel himself. Must be related to Jose Burgos of GOMBURZA. Jonas was abducted by armed men, his whereabouts still unknown.

***

Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo … all rebels. Rebellion was in their hearts. Without them, we would have all been slaves to strong men who believed in oppression and suppression to maintain power.

Aguinaldo took up arms to avenge the execution of the 13 martyrs of Cavite after whom the town "Trece Martires" was named. They participated in the Cavite Mutiny. That is why the center of every Independence Day celebration is Kawit, Cavite, in the old home of Aguinaldo.

Students who went to Spain to study, breathing the air of freedom there, agitated for reforms and independence. This was how we had our own contribution in Graciano Lopez Jaena.

This was also the time when France still seethed with the fervor of Revolution after they toppled and beheaded French King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette.

As articulated by Rizal, it was painful to enjoy freedom there when their people at home were groaning under the yoke of tyrants.

***

The Americans, like the British later, were good in handling their colonies. There was not much rebellion. They even pacified the Moros. They sent them to study in the U.S. to say, "Yes, Sir."

It was after we became a Republic, that rebellion flourished. Luis Taruc had his Hukbalahap. Later, Jose Maria Sison had his Communist Party of the Philippines, Bernabe Buscayno had his NPA, and many more, like RPA-ABB.

Then there was the MNLF, the MILF, the Abu Sayyaf, and what have you. Some of them are rebels. Others are rebels to the rebels and still others are rebels to the rebels of the rebels.

There's no possibility these can be stopped unless what Antonio Trillanes fought for will be achieved. There is big business in rebellion, both to the rebels and to those rebelled against. That is given. There is money in war.

***

I can't understand how an independent country can celebrate Independence Day when the country is not really free.

What we need is a country that has freedom from hunger, freedom from want, freedom from fear, and freedom from corrupt officials who deprive us the other freedoms.

Wishing all those who are to speak on this Independence Day an enlightenment on what real Independence is.*

back to top