House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep.-elect Antonio Tinio today commemorated the 127th anniversary of Philippine Independence Day by calling on the Filipino people to continue the struggle for genuine national sovereignty amid ongoing foreign interference in the country’s affairs.
The lawmakers emphasized that while the nation celebrates the declaration of independence on June 12, 1898, the Philippines continues to face threats to its sovereignty from both China’s aggressive incursions in the West Philippine Sea and the United States’ persistent military intervention and political-economic hegemony.
“As we honor the sacrifices of our revolutionary heroes who fought against Spanish colonialism, we must acknowledge the painful truth that our independence remains incomplete. We need to struggle as a nation to attain genuine independence—what we are experiencing now is just nominal and superficial,” Castro declared.
“Habang ipinagdiriwang natin ang ika-127 taon ng ating kalayaan, hindi natin dapat kalimutan na ang tunay na kalayaan ay hindi pa natin nakakamit,” she added.
Tinio pointed out the historical parallel between past and present struggles, noting that the same forces that betrayed Filipino aspirations for independence in 1898 continue to undermine national sovereignty today.
“The United States, which initially promised to support our independence during the Spanish-American War only to colonize us for nearly five decades, continues to treat the Philippines as a strategic asset rather than a sovereign nation. Meanwhile, China’s aggressive actions in our territorial waters represent a new form of expansionism that threatens our maritime sovereignty,” Tinio stated.
“Ang mga dayuhang bansa ay patuloy na gumagamit sa ating bansa para sa kanilang mga interes. Ang China ay sumusulong sa aming karagatan, habang ang Estados Unidos naman ay patuloy na nakikialam sa ating mga usapin bilang bansa. Pareho silang banta sa ating tunay na kalayaan,” he emphasized.
The lawmakers criticized the current administration’s failure to assert genuine independence, pointing to the continued presence of foreign military bases thru the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the country’s economic dependence on foreign powers.
“Our ancestors fought and died for a truly independent Philippines, not one that serves as a playground for competing imperial powers,” Castro said.
“Ang mga bayaning namatay para sa kalayaan ay hindi namatay para sa isang bansang alipin pa rin sa mga dayuhan. Kailangan nating ipagpatuloy ang kanilang laban para sa tunay na kalayaan—kalayaan sa lahat ng uri ng pang-aalipin, maging politikal, ekonomiko, o militar,” Tinio added.
The ACT Teachers representatives called on Filipinos to honor Independence Day by recommitting to the struggle for genuine national liberation and social justice.
“True independence means not just freedom from foreign political control, but also freedom from economic exploitation, military interference, and cultural domination. It means a Philippines that serves its people first, not foreign interests,” Castro concluded.
“Ang tunay na kalayaan ay nangangahulugang ang Pilipinas ay para sa mga Pilipino—hindi para sa mga dayuhang kumpanya, hindi para sa mga foreign military bases, at hindi para sa mga puppet na lider na sumusunod sa mga dayuhan kaysa sa sariling bayan,” Tinio ended. #
