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Today in history was the first time that the Philippine flag was flown in battle. To be exact, it was May 28, 1898.
Our flag has a very colorful and somewhat dark past.
For one, the original blue color of our banner was not Royal Blue as authorized by the post-war Philippine government, but was the American Navy Blue (the blue color used in the Star-Spangled Banner). It was done so because Aguinaldo was so much inclined to get the support of the United States in our war against Spain (to Mabini’s disgust. Mabini suspected the Americans would not keep their word).
Two, the three stars were not representative symbols of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao as it is meant now, but rather Luzon, Mindanao and the island of Panay.
Third, the vibrant 8-ray sun was a totally inclusive symbol of the 8 Tagalog provinces that fought for our independence. This is somewhat weird when faced with the fact that the entire nation, not just the Tagalogs, were involved in the national fight against Spain and later on, the United States. There was even a suggestion to change the meanings of the 8 rays, or add another ray representing the Moros of the south who also gave their blood for the country. It would indeed be good for us to change the meanings and not be taken by our novelty of old and archaic meanings that promote division in the country.
Amidst all this ambiguity, as a historian, I celebrate the National Flag Day NOT because it was a victorious flag of nationalism (because it was not), NOT because it gives us pride as a race but because it symbolizes our depravity as a nation, and valor in spite of it. We will never overcome this depravity on our own, as it is universal in all the nations of the world. But somehow, the valor that God gave those who came before us, those who fought for the country under this soiled banner even when the leadership was weak and futile, should give us a heart of gratitude. If not for Divine Providence, we would not become a nation.
(Art above: “The Making of the Philippine Flag” by Fernando Amorsolo)
“Listen, we can no longer view colonization as an opinion or an idea to be agreed or disagreed with. Colonization is hate. Clearly, your editorial policy is unfair towards colonized peoples and perpetuates the imbalance of power between Guahan and the United States of America.” —
Craig Santos Perez Hate speech sanctioned? (via curate)
He adds:
People who support colonization are as dangerous to humanity as people who support racism, slavery, poverty, genocide, gender discrimination, homophobia, and other hatreds. Writing which supports colonization is “colonial speech.” Colonial speech is hate speech.
The Spanish and American interregnum in Philippine history has contributed much to our being Filipino. But Colonial Speech is still colonial speech.
There is much talk among Filipino historians today about how Spanish colonization did us more good than bad. They don’t say it out loud but they imply it. I’m one with the professor: “I don’t feel better for it; in fact, I feel disempowered, demeaned, and disrespected.” That also goes with those who say we were better off as Americans.
In this map of the Philippines under the United States printed in the year 1900, “Bajo de Masinloc” or Scarborough Shoal/Panatag Shoal is clearly seen as part of the maritime jurisdiction of the Philippines.
At the time, Qing Dynasty’s territories have been diminished due to the expanding imperialism of European powers in mainland China. If China would appeal to history, what period in the timeline would they choose? Of course the period when they had extensive domain (Yuan dynasty perhaps?)
But then, they have to claim Mongolia, parts of Russia, the whole Korean peninsula, Vietnam, etc. etc. to be consistent. You see how absurd their claims are on Panatag Shoal and Kalayaan Islands?
Bought these two biographies last week. Bonhoeffer and Rizal. Two great men. Pending readings. Makes me grin with excitement. :)
I initially planned for this blog to go personal. But who am I kidding. Lots of people get to read my posts and it is really humbling that many tumblr bloggers, 430 of them now, have gotten used to seeing my useless and sometimes pointed perspectives on their dashboards.
I can’t believe it’s been a year already. I had a blog in blogspot once but I took it down after some drastic changes happened to my life. After I resigned from my first job (yet another milestone), I thought why don’t I start a new one. This blog, truth be told, began out of depression. I would carelessly post anything, reblog something that appealed to me. But time swiftly flies, and along that are some posts that captured my journey out of the ‘bubble’ (a metaphor I overuse to refer to where I was 2 years ago) into the real world. This blog became filled with ooohs and ahhhs amidst dusty books, misty paintings, and oh surprising and shocking truths that set us free from self-flattery and exaggerations. Simple joys. Little by little, my posts have become focused on history and my personal convictions as well.
So here it is. May 17th. The day I decided to blog again. To tumblr friends who have followed this blog, thank you for putting your confidence in me when you gave me those ingenious questions to answer out of curiosity. Thank you for the friends/debaters via private message who I’ve had the chance to agree and disagree with but nevertheless gave me a new way of looking at things. Cheers to future posts, rants, and brash opinions. As God became my anchor in those trying times when I typed away my first post, may He remain the anchor and Truth of this blog.
HAPPY BLOGSARY!!! YEY! Woot. Woot. Woot.
It feels like a birthday.
-Indiong Historyador
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