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, accountable leaders, and a government that genuinely serves the public.
When we look around today, it is difficult not to wonder whether we are living up to that ideal.
With All That Has Been Happening, Are We Even Truly Free?
Over the past few years, the country has witnessed bitter political conflicts, impeachment battles, accusations of misuse of confidential funds, and endless questions about accountability in government. The fact that these issues continue to consume so much public attention reveals a deeper problem: many Filipinos no longer fully trust the institutions that are supposed to protect the public interest.
At the same time, recent investigations into flood-control projects have uncovered allegations of ghost projects, substandard construction, and misuse of public funds. For ordinary citizens who wade through flooded streets every rainy season, these are not abstract issues. They are reminders that corruption is not just about missing money—it can have real consequences for people’s lives, safety, and futures.
Even our political institutions have recently been tested by internal conflicts and procedural disputes. The controversies in the Senate over leadership, rules, and procedure have once again highlighted how important institutions are in a democracy. Rules may seem boring until they are the only thing standing between order and chaos.
An Unfinished Revolution That Still Faces Us Today
So are we independent? Perhaps the answer is yes—but not completely.
We are free from foreign rulers. But many Filipinos remain trapped by poverty, corruption, disinformation, political dynasties, weak institutions, and a culture that too often values personalities over principles.
Real independence is not something won once in 1898 and celebrated forever after. It is something that must be defended by every generation.
A truly independent people are not merely free from foreign control. They are free enough to demand accountability. Free enough to criticize their leaders. Free enough to follow the facts wherever they lead. Free enough to choose country over tribe, principle over personality, and the common good over political convenience.
You can argue that yes, we are free to do all of that. But most of the time, with all the differing opinions online, it feels like everyone is chasing their own version of that freedom.
As we celebrate Independence Day, perhaps the challenge is not simply to honor the heroes who gave us freedom. It is to ask whether we are using that freedom well.
Happy Independence Day, Philippines.
The question now is no longer whether we are free from foreign rule; the question is whether we are building a country worthy of that freedom.
What do you think?
