Every year, on June 12, we celebrate Independence Day and the moment our ancestors declared themselves free from foreign rule. We honor the bravery of those who fought, sacrificed, and dreamed of a nation that would govern itself. We remember the flag, the anthem, the heroes, and the long struggle that gave birth to the Republic. However, with all that has been happening with our country, I can’t help but pose this difficult question: Is the Philippines even truly free? Stupid question, you might think, as we have been an independent nation for 128 years now in 2026. Yet what does independence truly mean?  Independence was supposed to mean that the Filipino people would be free to determine their own future, protected by strong institutions,