The
Manila Mail in the last issue published a story about the Philippine American
war at the turn of the century. The 14-year-old war which started in 1899 and
ended in 1913 is cited by some historians as akin to the American invasion of Iraq.
Filipinos
at that time suffered from years of Spanish oppression, just as the Iraqis were
oppressed by Sadam Hussein. Thus, when the American and coalition troops
landed, Filipinos and Iraqis welcomed them as their liberators. President
William McKinley said the only reason he ordered the occupation was to make the
Philippines the first
democratic country in Asia. President George
W. Bush said this was also his objective in Iraq.
Filipinos,
like Iraqis, initially welcomed the American presence because it ended the
oppression. But when Filipinos realized that this would probably result in
another harsh foreign rule, they rebelled. With makeshift weapons, the Filipinos
valiantly fought to liberate themselves. When Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was
captured a year after the war started, Filipinos rebels continued the struggle.
As a result of the fighting, atrocities were committed by both sides and
thousands of innocent Filipinos were killed in the process.
It
took 14 years before the nationalistic Filipinos became convinced that the
Americans were sincere in giving them an education and teaching them the
rudiments of democracy. American troops remained in force in the islands to
ensure peace and order.
This,
however, is where the similarity ends. The Iraqis were allowed to form their
own government only three years after the fall of Saddam Hussein. The Filipinos
waited for 35 years before the commonwealth government was established and
another 11 years to regain their independence.
The
Filipinos finally regained the independence that Aguinaldo originally
proclaimed in Kawit, Cavite in 1898 on July 4,
1946 when the US
left.
But
in the South, in Mindanao in particular, the
Americans, like the Spaniards before them, were unsuccessful in completely
subduing the Moros (Muslims).
Like
the Philippines, will it
also take 14 years before Iraq
can become completely independent?
Happy
independence day, Philippines!
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