On June 12, we will once again raise our flags, sing the national anthem, and recall the valor of our ancestors who wrested freedom from colonizers more than a century ago. And yet, beneath the surface of our annual celebrations lies a haunting question: What are we truly free from today?
We are not at war. We are not being invaded by foreign troops. We are not colonies anymore—not in the traditional sense. But if Independence Day is to remain relevant to every Filipino, we must ask what kind of bondage we still endure. Because let’s be honest: many of the chains that bind us now are self-imposed, systemic, and deeply embedded in our national psyche.
Independence from a Dysfunctional Political System
Let us talk about the glaring dysfunction of our political landscape—a system that thrives not on competence, but on connection and convenience. Our institutions, instead of being bastions of justice and order, often become dens of patronage, nepotism, and manipulation.
We must demand independence from corrupt, inept, and inutile leadership, whose primary concern is not public service but personal enrichment. Leaders who equate public office with privilege rather than responsibility. Politicians whose vision spans only as far as the next election cycle, not the next generation.
Independence from Political Parasites
Too many of our so-called “public servants” see politics as a family business or a stepping stone to amass wealth. These are not leaders. They are opportunists in barong, exploiting the very people they swore to serve. We need independence from politicians whose ambition is power, not protection—from those who exploit our hopes and manipulate our fears.
Independence from Beggar Mentality
We must unlearn the belief that government “help” is a gift and not a duty. The dole-out culture, where people expect aid only during calamities or elections, perpetuates a cycle of dependency and diminishes our dignity as citizens. Real leadership builds capacity, not dependency. Real governance uplifts, it doesn’t pacify with band-aid solutions.
Independence from Popularity Politics
Why do we equate celebrity with capability? Why do we allow actors, influencers, and basketball stars to legislate our futures simply because they are familiar faces? We must break free from the absurd idea that popularity equals leadership. Governance is not a talent contest; it is a sacred trust.
Independence from Corruption and Complicity
Corruption is no longer isolated—it is systemic, entrenched in the barangay, city hall, national agencies, even in schools and churches. But corruption survives not just because of those who practice it, but because of those who tolerate it. Let us also seek independence from our own silence, our own willingness to look away when wrong is being done.
Independence from Apathy and Intellectual Laziness
Many Filipinos have chosen to disengage, to not care. Some think their voices don’t matter; others are too tired to resist. Worse, others mindlessly believe whatever the loudest voice on social media says. Let us seek independence from apathy, from the mob mentality, from the peddlers of fake news, and from influencers who value virality over truth.
We must reclaim our minds. We must nurture critical thinking. Not every viral post is truth. Not every loud voice deserves to be followed. We are a democracy, yes, but democracy is not just about the right to vote—it is about the responsibility to discern, to question, and to hold accountable.
This Independence Day, Let Us Rethink Freedom
True independence is not just freedom from foreign rule—it is freedom from internal decay. It is freedom from the rot in our institutions, the greed in our politics, and the passivity in our citizenship.
So, when we commemorate June 12, let it not just be with parades and speeches. Let it be with personal resolve: to no longer be passive, no longer be silent, no longer be complicit.
Let it be a day when we ask not just what our heroes died for, but what we ourselves are living for. Because freedom is not something we commemorate once a year. It is something we fight for every single day.
Happy Independence Day, Pilipinas. May we finally learn what it means to be truly free.