OpinionsEcon 101Freedom is not free

Freedom is not free

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Freedom isn’t free” is an American idiom, used widely in the US to express gratitude to the military for defending personal freedoms. It expresses gratitude for the service of members of the military, implicitly stating that the freedoms enjoyed by many citizens in many democracies are possible only through the risks taken, and sacrifices made by those in the military, drafted or not. The idiom is often used to convey respect, specifically for those who have given their lives in defense of freedom.

What does freedom mean for the average Filipino citizen?

Freedom is a complex concept, bound to be interpreted depending on the context of the statement or the actual capacity to choose a course of action free from any interference.

From historical records, the celebration of Independence Day was based on the first proclamation on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite (formerly Cavite II El Viejo) when the public reading of the Act of the Proclamation of Independence of the Filipino People by the Filipino revolutionary forces under Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain.

The declaration was never recognized by either the US nor Spain.

Following the end of World War II, the US granted independence to the Philippines on 4 July 1946 via the Treaty of Manila.

July 4 was observed in the Philippines as Independence Day until Aug. 4, 1964 when, upon the advice of historians and the urging of nationalists, President Diosdado Macapagal signed into law Republic Act No. 4166 designating June 12 as the country’s Independence Day.

From a review of historical data, the struggle for true independence after June 12, 1898 continued, and for some, such struggle continued up to the present.

Current events remind Filipinos that the quest for “real freedom, independence and sovereignty” is a work in progress.

The most recent controversy comes from the continuing Chinese reclamations of the Mischief Reefs, etc., and the influx of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

These incidents include skirmishes, harassment, and standoffs, which mainly affect the local fisherfolk.

The recent collision between a Chinese ship and a Filipino vessel (FB Gimver 1) was reported by Filipino fishers near the Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea on the evening of June 9, leaving the scene of the incident, abandoning the 22 Filipino crewmen to the mercy of the elements, and the fishers later rescued by a Vietnamese fishing vessel.

This incident happened despite the much-touted friendly relations between the Duterte administration and China.

Thus, the Filipino fight for “independence and sovereignty” is now being tested. Are Pinoys ready to fight in various forums to assert its independence and sovereignty as a nation? Are Pinoys ready to pay the price to be truly free?

Because indeed, freedom is not free!

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Author’s email: [email protected]

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