Today is Republic Day. It is not, however, Philippine-American Friendship Day which ended up abolished in the late 1980s. Today marks 75 years of independence for the Philippines.
On this day 75 years ago the world finally recognised Philippine independence; the transitional Commonwealth of the Philippines became the Republic of the Philippines (officially our third).
In the early 1960s a decision was made to move independence day to June 12, w/ July 4 as Republic Day (for the Republic of India theor great national day is Republic Day). How Philippine-American Friendship Day came and went is told in this briefer too. malacanang.gov.ph/4230-republic-…
I tackled the shift to June 12 and more importantly why, in this essay. quezon.ph/2006/06/12/a-c…
And I tackled the question of other dates: after all most countries do one of two things: commemorate when independence first proclaimed, or when it was finally achieved; uniquely we locate ours in the middle of the process. quezon.ph/2017/08/31/spo…
Personally I’ve come to believe we tend to put appearance above substance which is why August 1896 isn’t even a contender but thats when it began; or why we ditched July 4 less than 20 years after because we were getting depressed over how it turned out. So we fixated on 1898…
which has the benefit of being dramatic but which was short-lived so we can blame others for our misfortune since we have proven incapable in many ways of resolving the harsh problems in our state and society. When the country moved independence day it stopped looking forward and
turned to looking backwards permanently. Ignoring what was most recent and by so doing eliminating cause and effect in preference for blame and effect: we have been looking for supernatural cures and solutions instead pf doing the hard work of being citizens.
The gutted concrete of the war-wrecked University Club and Miramar Apartment buildings served as improvised grandstand for the more daring in the audience. July 4, 1946. #RepublicDay75
Crowd during the Inauguration of Philippine Republic.
(Photo from the US National Archives.) #RepublicDay75
A tinted photograph of the crowd at the Independence Day ceremonies—with the Philippine flag towering above it all. July 4, 1946 #RepublicDay75
Another of those tinted photographs from A Republic is Born, the commemorative volume on Independence Day 1946. All the better to see the red, white, blue, and yellow of the Philippine flag formed during the parade. July 4, 1946 #RepublicDay75
Aerial view of the Independence Ceremonies, Luneta, July 4, 1946. Independence Grandstand built in front of Rizal Monument; the flagpole is known today as the Independence Flagpole.
(Photo courtesy of Dr. Benito Legarda) #RepublicDay75
From a ship-shaped rostrum in Manila's Luneta Park, Paul V. McNutt lowers the American Flag as Pres. Roxas raises the Filipino Flag.
(Photo courtesy of Life Magazine, July 22, 1946, Philippine Republic is Born, Page 19, via John Tewell.) #RepublicDay75
On July 4, 1946, the United States of America formally recognized the independence of the Republic of the Philippines. In ceremonies held in the Independence Grandstand, the rain-drenched American tricolor was lowered, while the soaked Philippine flag was raised. #RepublicDay75
July 4, 1946, the audience's view as the Philippine flag was raised alone at long last. #RepublicDay75
Pathé newsreel of the Independence Ceremony for the Philippines, July 4, 1946.
#RepublicDay75
Contemporary publicity showing scenes of postwar life. #RepublicDay75
Pastedown endpaper of "A Republic is Born," the Official Commemorative Volume on Independence Day, July 4, 1946. #RepublicDay75
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