OFF THE BEATEN PATH

To the youth graduating this year, I cannot recommend strongly enough that they should revisit two crucial and inter-related matters in our history: Proclamation No. 1928 series of 1962, which moved Independence Day from July 4 to June 12; and the ideological journey of the Ilustrados who initially advocated merely for the Philippines to become a Spanish province, only to later demand full independence in the 1880s.
 

Both these things will add much needed context to the Independence Day celebrations, which may otherwise be lost to a younger audience.
 

***

“Laya,” or freedom, is a profound term which is rich with significance, much like the original declaration of our independence on June 12, 1898 was. 

Today, the concept of freedom continues to evolve. The struggle for “laya” extends beyond political autonomy, encompassing the quest for opportunities and progress. Liberation is an ongoing process, constantly reshaping our understanding of our rights. This pursuit of a deeper “laya” finds its voice in the current vision of “Bagong Pilipinas,” the overarching theme of this administration, characterized by principled, accountable, and dependable governance – a vision that can only be reinforced by unified institutions of society. Impelled by the objective to realize the goals and aspirations of every Filipino. It bears remembering that a nation is only as strong as its combined pillars of engaged citizens and effective systems. 

Who, then, is the new Filipino? 

While we recognize that state independence indispensably requires recognition by the international community, identity is something we discover and proclaim just like our forebears defiantly did in 1898. 

The  “Bagong Pilipino,” at the most basic level, is the inheritor of a glorious past, held hostage to the uncertain future, as the great Carlos P. Romulo put it so eloquently. 

Armed with critical thinking skills, this New Filipino exercises greater circumspection on the merits of laws, regulations, and special programs, in the pursuit of noble social objectives. Independent, these ever-learning individuals comprise the public that is its own advocate, never beholden to patronage politics and keenly aware of the highest possible standards that apply to those entrusted with public office. 

We comprise that emerging breed who from that ancient desire to solve our cultural ambiguity by assimilation now yearns to define ourselves and more importantly our destiny, in our own terms. 
We represent the undaunted classes who inherited a legacy of struggle as we combat poverty and injustice taking new shapes in a globalized world. 

We personify the enduring spirit of our ancestors who did not live for their time alone but attempted to ensure intergenerational responsibilities that are ever layered by modernity. The challenges of climate change with all the health implications in between are bound to test us.

Bagong Pilipinas is the totality of our aspirations grounded in reality. It is the sum of our hopes but we are quick to state it is not just another pipe dream. We have seen how our society operates, and the burden to transform it is always ours. Together, we renew and sustain the narrative for that Pilipinas we choose, daily and wholeheartedly.  

The Ilustrados, our educated elite, initially sought a measured approach—incorporation within the Spanish empire. Their vision, however, evolved to realize that true freedom requires more than incremental change, that it demands a complete transformation. As students of history, we stand on their shoulders. Remember, as we build Bagong Pilipinas, that while knowledge is power, only wisdom brings liberty.