(Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Makabayan solon ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro says she feels like the Philippines is still very much under the control of more powerful nations that once colonized the country. 

Castro had this to say when asked about her message for Philippine independence Day on Wednesday, June 12. 

"Well, sa totoo lang, pang-ilang Independence Day na natin ito, pero hanggang ngayon ay kahit na directly hindi na tayo hawak ng mga nag-colonize sa atin, like yung Spanish, Spaniards. Yung mga Japanese, at saka yung Americans. Pero nararamdaman pa rin natin, ano, yung pagkontrol nila," she said in a chance interview on Tuesday, June 11. 

(The truth is, we've celebrated how many Independence Days, but up to now, even if we're not directly handled anymore by our former colonizers like the Spaniards, the Japanese, and the Americans, we can still feel their control over us.) 

"Lalong-lalo na doon sa ating ekonomiya, sa defense, at doon sa West Philippine Sea (WPS), at iba pa," noted the House deputy minority leader. 

(Especially when it comes to our economy, on defense, and on the WPS, and others.) 

"Kaya tayong mga Pilipino, talagang dapat natin pag-aralan ang ating kasaysayan, at ipaglaban ang ating tunay na kalayaan," Castro further said.

(That's why we Filipinos must really study our history and fight for true freedom.) 

Wednesday marks the country’s 126th Independence Day celebration.