June 12, 1898

The country's independence day

June 12, 1898 is one of the most important dates in our country's history and yet, many of us today no longer associate this date with its significance in Asian and world history. It was the first time that a people from the Malay race and from Asia to proclaim their freedom from colonial rule and a definite declaration of independence by its people.

It defined a century where one country to another rose because of what we can appropriately call "The Philippine Revolution." It is a national armed struggle against Spain and which continued even during the American regime.

The Philippine Revolution is a national testament to the power of the Filipino. It recognized our inalienable right to the 7,100 islands located East of the Pacific Ocean. We are the gateway to Asia from the East and today, we must regain that standing in the world community.

The remembrance of June 12, 1898 in its 110th anniversary next year (2008) will bring about the "12 Little Things Campaign" which is a national campaign to live out the 12 Little Things found in the book of Alexander L. Lacson's book the "12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country."