July 4, 1946

By R Sonny Sampayan-Sampayan, rsampayan@aol.com
July 4, 2011

Several years before my father passed away, he once reminded me that Filipinos used to celebrate July 4th as our independence day. At 12:00 o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday, July 4, 1946, and after 48 years of American sovereignty, The Philippines celebrated her independence from the United States of America.

At the Luneta Park, Manuel L. Roxas took the oath of office and established the Third Republic of The Philippines. President Roxas became its first president. This historic event was witnessed by long-time residence of The Philippines and World War II hero, General Douglas MacArthur, US High Commissioner to The Philippines, Paul V. McNutt, and many other high ranking dignitaries from other countries.

General MacArthur reminded everyone in attendance that, “America praised The Philippines’ Independence as soon as it was possible. America now redeems that praise.” Under the order of President Truman, McNutt also delivers his speech and said, “I am authorized and directed by the President of the United States to proclaim the independent of The Philippines as a separate and self-governing nation” (British Pathe, Ltd, 2010).

After their speeches, they were joined by thousands of Filipinos and Americans to witness the final lowering of the US flag with its 48 stars. Filipinos, for the first time witnessed the unfurling and raising of the Philippine flag to celebrate her independence. A momentarily gust of wind forced the two flags to briefly tangle during the lowering of the Stars and Stripes and the raising of The Philippine flag as if to signal the ultimate hug and the everlasting friendship that exists between our two nations.

After over 377 years of struggle to gain independence from Spain and another 48 years of American sovereignty, Filipinos finally gained its long awaited independence. President Roxas (2010) reminded Filipinos in his inaugural speech and said:

My fellow citizens, there is one thought I want you always to bear in mind. And that is – that you are Filipinos. That The Philippines are your country and the only country God has given you…You must live for it, and die for it—if necessary. Your country is a great country. It has a great past—and a great future…The Philippines of tomorrow will be the country of plenty, of happiness, and of freedom. A Philippines with her head raised in the midst of the West Pacific, mistress of her own destiny, holding in her hand: A republic of virtuous and righteous men and women, the torch of freedom and democracy, all working together for a better world than the one we have at present.

I asked my father, “Why is The Philippines now celebrating her independence on June 12, 1898 when our motherland and her citizens were granted its independence in 1946”? My father could only tell me that President Diosdado Macapagal was ill-informed and wrongly proclaimed June 12, 1898 as The Philippine Independence Day.

Sadly, this meant that our original independence day only lasted 16 years. I asked my father, “How can one man take away what is historically right and change the Philippine Independence Day to 64 years ago?” The declaration of Independence Day is not a time-machine where we can pick and choose any day we like.

In December 1898, Spain turned over The Philippines and two outlying islands to the United States for $20,100,000 million for damages to Spanish properties; therefore, The Philippines was not an independent nation on June 12, 1898 (Trivia-Library.com, 2010).

Where is the glory and the Filipino pride of having our own and original Independence Day? My father could not answer my questions as we watched the July 4th fireworks explode in midair during the clear summer skies from our home in Earlimart, California.

Some twenty seven years later in 1998, I was still hungry for the truth and hungry for facts. Before the advent of the Internet, I found myself spending long nights in the Northside library at Ramstein Air Base in Germany where I was stationed from 1990 to 1998. Two weeks into my hunger for the truth, I came across some books and articles. I discovered an article from Time magazine that was published on Friday, May 25, 1962 (The Philippines: Debt of Honor). The article reads, “…the Philippines changed its independence day to June 12” (Time, Inc., 2011).

Apparently, a bill was pending for a vote in the United States Congress. In 1946, the United States approved a $400 million for war-damage related claims for The Philippines. This amount was not adequate, so an additional $73 million was needed to cover the remaining war damage claims (Time, Inc., 2011).

Over the years, Congress dragged its feet to pay the additional claims. Finally, a $73 million appropriations bill was finally brought to the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote. One Congressman who supported the bill said, “It is a debt of honor.” Other lawmakers thought that this was a debt that the United States could renege (Time, Inc., 2011).

President Kennedy’s administration deemed that this bill as very important and the Speaker of the House, John McCormack was confident that the $73 million appropriations bill would pass that he did not take a head count to make sure that he had enough votes to pass the bill (Time Inc., 2011).

Due to some misunderstandings, the $73 million war damage claim bill was defeated on May 9, 1962 in the United States Congress. Many US lawmakers decided to vote against this bill. According to Time Inc., (2011), one lawmaker said, “it was an economy vote. There aren’t any Philippine votes in our districts.” (para. 4).

The defeat of the $73 million appropriations bill was a major setback for the Kennedy Administration. Nevertheless, President Kennedy promised Macapagal that he would give his stronger support to have the bill reintroduce and pass (Time Inc., 2011).

On May 15, 1962, Macapagal wrote to Kennedy to inform him that the feeling of resentment among the Filipino people and the attitude of the US Congress negate the atmosphere of goodwill and that he was postponing his goodwill trip to Washington DC (John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, n.d.).

Macapagal hinted that he might be willing to change his mind about coming to the United States should the $73 million appropriations bill pass. According to Time Inc, (2011), Macapagal said, “I would be inclined to consider this a restoration of good will.” (para. 6). On May 28, Kennedy wrote back to explain the situation of the $73 million war damage bill and hope for a convenient time.

When Macapagal was a congressman, he admittedly formed the opinion that July 4th was not proper for The Philippine Independence Day. Macapagal noted that this day cause considerable inconvenience but failed to enumerate them. He also formed the opinion that July 4th dwarfed The Philippine Independence Day to the United States and also served to perpetuate unpleasant memories. Macapagal selectively failed to remember that for 377 years, thousands of Filipinos suffered at the hands of the Spaniards as we struggled to gain independence. The Philippines was a Commonwealth of the United States for only 48 years. In addition, Macapagal (n.d.), said:

I felt, too, that July 4 was not inspiring enough for the Filipino youth since it recalled mostly the peaceful independence missions to the United States. The celebration of independence day on June 12, on the other hand, would be a greater inspiration to the youth who would consequently recall the heroes of the revolution against Spain and their acts of sublime heroism and martyrdom. These acts compare favorably with those of the heroes of other nations (para. 5).

Macapagal said, “I knew that this was an opportunity to take action on what been in my mind since entering public life. The specific question was when to make the change.” Macapagal seized the opportunity as a judicious choice to change the Philippine Independence Day. After consulting with his legal adviser, Macapagal sadly proclaimed 64 years later on May 1962 that June 12, 1898 as the Philippine Independence Day. Macapagal’s legal adviser informed him that July 4th is being celebrated as Independence Day but not as specifically designated by law but as an official holiday. As such, Macapagal had the authority to declare official holidays, so he can also declare June 12 as a holiday and hold an independence day on the same day (Macapagal, n.d.). The change of our Independence Day was a political decision and Macapagal’s personal agenda. The change was not based on historical accuracy.

Needless to say, on January 25, 1965 Macapagal spoke to the Filipino people for his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) to proudly enumerate his major accomplishments. On this very important occasion, Macapagal made the pronouncement of his administration’s success of the $73 million War Damage Act and he also reminded Filipinos of The Philippines Independence Day in 1946. Macapagal (n.d.) addressed the United States and The Philippines relationship this way:

Let me recall that it was under our administration that the late Pres. John F. Kennedy signed into law U.S. Public Law 88-94 which amended the Philippine War Damage Act of 1962 and authorized payments of the balance of war damage reparations amounting to $73 million to some 88,000 claimants. (para. 5)

In the same SONA speech, Macapagal said, “it has been almost two decades since we attained independent nationhood…” (para. 7). In this speech, he acknowledged that The Philippine Independence and nationhood occurred in 1946.

My strong belief is that we need to restore the true Philippine Independence Day because that significant day must be preserved and honored when The Philippines and her citizens became a sovereign nation. Our freedom to self-govern from Spain and the United States was not born until July 4th, 1946.

References:

British Pathe Ltd. (2010). Philippine independence. Retrieved from http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=78721

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. (n.d.). New york times chronology (may 1962). Retrieved from http://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Ready-Reference/New-York-Times-Chronology/Browse-by-Date/New-York-Times-Chronology-May-1962.aspx

Macapagal, D. (n.d.). June 12 as independence day. Bibingka. Retrieved from http://www.bibingka.com/phg/documents/whyjun12.htm

Macapagal, D. (n.d.). Diosdado macapagal, fourth state of the nation address, january 25, 1965. Official Gazette. Retrieved from http://www.gov.ph/1965/01/25/diosdado-macapagal-fourth-state-of-the-nation-address-january-25-1965/

Roxas, M. (12 December 2010). President MANUEL LUIS QUEZON: Message to the People of the Philippines | Circa 1920's [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=663otOvJVGU&feature=related

Time Inc. (2011). The Philippines: debt of honor. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,896234,00.html

Trivia-Library.com. (2010). United states history: late 1898 & the rough riders. Retrieved from http://www.trivia-library.com/a/united-states-history-late-1898-and-the-rough-riders.htm

Author’s BIO:

R Sonny Sampayan-Sampayan hails from Binalonan, Pangasinan. He is an executive assistant for a major European bank in New York City. He is a University of Phoenix student, majoring in Public Administration, and expected to graduate in August 2011.

Author’s contact information:

R Sonny Sampayan-Sampayan

rsampayan@aol.com

5812 Queens Blvd., Woodside NY 11377

Mobile phone: (646) 379-4487