Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Freedom/OWT



Today, June 12th, is the Araw ng Kalayaan or Independence Day, celebrated throughout  the Philippines--our 114th independence from Spain's colonial rule.  On this day, in 1898, General Aguinaldo proclaimed the freedom of the Filipino people.  The culmination of the hundreds of armed uprising launched by the Filipinos from 1571 to 1896 to recover their right to be free.



From Lapu-Lapu of Mactan to modern-day heroes, our history is replete with names of men and women who readily gave up their lives for the sake of freedom.

We celebrate Independence Day to remind our people of the blood and sacrifices that nourished our freedom.

But even after we have reclaimed our freedom from Spain, time and again our freedom has been threatened.

"I will never bow my head before any foreign invader, " Rajah Kalipulaku of Mactan declared in 1521.

Gabriela Silang, a 17th century revolutionary led 2,000 Filipinos in battle against the Spanish Army.  She was a heroine, the first Filipina to lead an uprising against a foreign power.

"Freedom or Death!" cried Andres Bonifacio when he launched the Philippine Revolution in 1896.

"The natives of the Philippines," wrote the friar-chronicler Pedro Murillo Velarde, "were fierce defenders of freedom and enemies to subjection."

 Let us protect this precious right.




12 comments:

LifeRamblings said...

the fireworks are amazingly beautiful. Happy Independence Day!

magiceye said...

Happy Araw ng Kalayaan !!

NatureStop said...

Happy Independence Day!and lovely fireworks!!!

Shantana

eileeninmd said...

Happy Independence Day!! The fireworks are beautiful, great shots.

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Beautiful fireworks photos. I hope you had a good day.

Indrani said...

Whoa! I struggle to get such shots.
Happy Independence Day!

Dianne said...

I think these are the most glorious shots of fireworks I have ever seen :)

Black Jack's Carol said...

Happy Independence Day! Wonderful photographs here! Freedom is something I value very highly, and i fervently hope it can be protected in the future without bloodshed.

Leah H. said...

Beautiful fireworks!

Visiting for Our World Tuesday- hope you can stop by:)

http://www.cassandrasminicorner.com/2012/06/my-summer-beauties.html

Jenn said...

Happy Independence Day!!!

CameraCruise said...

Beautiful.
Happy Independence Day.
Mette

Unknown said...

Wow, it looks like you had some photo class:) It's a great privilege to be free! Yo are right -we should never forget!