WHILE THE question “Is the Philippines truly independent?” may be answered simply, a closer look at this line of thinking leads to more questions, namely: What is independence? To what extent does this supposed independence reach in contemporary Filipino society?

In answering the first question, anyone may say that independence equates to autonomy or, in this case, political autonomy. As a capacity for self-determination or self-governance, political autonomy concerns itself not only with countries and the recognition and respect they receive internationally, but also the individual’s right to participate in national, collective self-rule. Therefore, independence does not merely refer to an entity; it encompasses the citizens of the country in relation to all the rights that go with it.

While this interpretation necessarily focuses on a macro view of independence, focusing on the local context would lead to a deeper discourse on independence.

A local perspective necessarily shifts to a more micro focus. Independence does not only apply on a static level of recognition and sovereignty granted to a nation by fellow nations, but it also takes into consideration a state of living that must be continuously upheld for the citizens by the state.

Independence then becomes a dynamic concept that is affected by various factors and potential issues that must be resolved in attaining independence such as social justice, economic development, national integration, and cultural identity. In this sense, principles such as unity with regard to freedom such as freedom of education, speech, and other human rights, and identity in relation to a national culture, become central.

This does not mean that unity and identity are part and parcel of independence. Rather, unity and identity should be secured if a state is truly independent. This is particularly important in a colonized country such as ours, which is still in the process of remedying the scars left behind by our colonizers.

Focusing on the dynamic nature of independence that lies within the citizens of the nation, one aspect is the misaligned vision of the different socioeconomic classes in the Philippines. Looking at the history of our nation, there is a clear gap between the so-called landed elite and the masses. In The Philippines Is Not A Small Country, Medical Anthropologist and Writer Gideon Lasco traces back the lack of unity between Filipino communities to the arrival of Spanish colonizers, criticizing how the presence of a foreign oppressor failed to unite us.

Eventually, a sense of unity did come forth, albeit according to social status. This is clearly seen during the Philippine revolution in the early 1900s. Due to the power afforded to them by Spain, the landed elite focused on maintaining their status quo as the most powerful families in the Philippines while supporting secession from Spain and the US. On the other hand, the rest of the Philippines aimed for the upheaval of the status quo, hoping that revolution meant the end to their struggles.

Unsurprisingly, these vested interests became a source of contention that seem to have been cultivated throughout the past century, continuously existing in Philippine contemporary society through woes of freedom and the violation of human rights.

Another aspect is how we ascribe nowhere near as much value to products of our own culture and history compared to the value we place on Western concepts and ideals. Harking back to Lasco’s criticism that foreign influence or power simply divides the nation, Niel Mulder echoes this in his journal article entitled Filipino Identity: The Haunting Question, wherein he explains: “As a ‘modern’ American-educated nation, academic circles have recognised that the depth of the colonial impact has led to the ‘mis-education of the Filipino’ and a ‘colonial mentality’ that keeps inferiority feelings alive, while fostering the blind acceptance of the superiority of anything emanating from the United States.”

True independence for a nation, therefore, is the political autonomy granted by the recognition of other states, the cognizance to uphold the rights of its citizens, and the ability of its citizens to accept and celebrate their own culture. To this end, the Philippines is not yet truly independent.

While the country enjoys political autonomy on the world stage, issues and conflicts arising from within its own borders as well as the prejudices of its own citizens fail to wholly encapsulate the obscurity of independence.

Raphael C. Dela Cruz is a freshman law student at UP College of Law (BGC). He was the Beyond Loyola Editor of The GUIDON, AY 2020-2021. He may be contacted at 

raphaeldc99@gmail.com or 09178872355.