I NEVER really thought I’d be standing in the very balcony where Emilio Aguinaldo stood more than a century ago and waved the Philippine flag and proclaimed to the world, albeit the fact that the foreign community chose to ignore, the independence of Indios from Imperial Spain. But I did stand at the very balcony. That was when I toured the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite last month with my friend Conrad, who lives in the neighboring town of Bacoor.

On the day when we are supposed to celebrate the 110th anniversary of our freedom from more than three centuries under the shackles of Spanish colonial rule, my blood boils even more as to what Righteous Gloria has done! That is, having once again moved the celebration of Independence Day—from June 12 to June 9!

Not surprisingly, this wasn’t the only time Righteous Gloria has done so! She has made the same moronic decision many times before including the previous commemorations of Bonifacio Day, Rizal Day and even the death anniversary of Ninoy Aquino. If memory serves me right, her pioneering act of sheer stupidity can be traced back to 2003 when she changed Independence Day from June 12 to a day after.

But I’m actually awed at her audacity to tarnish one of the few concrete legacies of her father Diosdado. Notwithstanding that Filipino nationalists of the post-American colonial period abhorred many of his administration’s policies, he appeased them by switching the date of independence from Fourth of July to June 12 during his presidential term in the ‘60s.

Still, the burning question is: Why does Righteous Gloria keep on repeating this absurd and irreverent stance? It is nothing more than for the sake practicality and economics. With her cowardly move, she wants to emphasize the indolence of the average Juan dela Cruz by allowing a three-day break! And oh, she supposedly also wants to boost domestic tourism!

However, by moving the celebration of our independence, Righteous Gloria is actually paving the way for modern-day Pinoys, especially the younger generation who breathe the air of Friendster and Myspace, to obliterate from their hearts and minds the significance of our nation’s freedom—on how we became a nation, on how we became a people.

Trite but true, we, as a people, have little sense, if not ignorant, of our own history. Sadly, we are our own wandering Jews—people who have no sense of direction and still longing for our own brand of national identity and not as copycats of our Western colonial masters.

So, we must face a Herculean challenge in this Lilliputian country! We ought to squash the power of that selfish woman at the palace by the river. After all, she chose the virtue of practicality rather than the virtue of remembering the Filipino—who the Filipino was, who the Filipino is, and who the Filipino aspires to be.

In a sense, Independence Day ought to unite us as a people and not to feign in ignorance. It ought to bring a sense of nationhood. Most of all, it ought to bring a sense of Filipino patriotism.

Or do we again just rely on Manny Pacquiao?

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