The Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness

By: Joe Mauricio

 

In the Philippine holiday calendar, no day is more significant than the 12th of June, in which we celebrate the declaration of Independence in Kawit, Cavite in 1898. That Declaration proclaimed to the world our separation from the colonial powers of Spain, and our emergence as a new sovereign nation.

The Declaration stated unequivocally: “We hold this truth to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, that government is instituted among men, deriving their just power from the consent of the Governed.”

Those were the words of the American Founding Fathers, but also apply for the Filipinos. As we approach the new era of the new administration of President Duterte, the words of the American Founding Fathers should be be the guidelines in reforming and governing our beloved homeland. Those few words sum up the divine source of our inalienable rights and our philosophy of government.

Hoping on this year’s independence day celebration that this shining light from Davao City to Malacanang Palace, have the freest, most creative, most productive nation in Asia, if not the world.

During the last eight decades, many in the cultural and political elites have favored American cultural and economic doctrine, now the new Philippine President, of course, with the approval of Congress, is shifting to Federalism to benefit more of the island archipelago.

With this new elite pushing for more government control over every area of the Filipinos’ lives and how we managed to retain so many aspects of our lives and freedoms–still spread worldwide by the ringing words of Kawit, Cavite.

With all the fervor and joy that the Filipino people could muster. We do this to inform the world that we are not interested in the collective utopia that the Aquino administration is now over.

The new nation under Duterte may be a beacon of liberty, hope and freedom for all Filipinos throughout the world.

Happy Independence Day to us all—and the reasons why freedom is worth paying the price for. MABUHAY! Happy 118th Philippine Independence Day!