Should Independence Day be on July 4 instead?

Are you convinced that Philippine Independence was attained on June 12, 1898? Or are you one with the many, including me, who still believe that July 4, 1946 was truly our Independence Day.

- Atty. Josephus B. Jimenez

We used to celebrate July 4 as our Independence Day since 1946, until President Macapagal asked Congress to change it to June 12. On August 4, 1964, Republic Act 4166 changed the July 4 to Philippine Republic Day, letter, the Philippine-American Friendship Day, and proclaimed June 12 as Philippine Independence Day.

Thus, today is supposed to be the 127th anniversary of Philippine Independence if we believe that the Philippines became a sovereign state without any international recognition on June 12, 1898. But if we subscribe to the principle that the Philippines became an independent state only on July 4, 1946, with total international recognition, then we still have to celebrate the 79th anniversary of Philippine Independence on July 4, 2026.

It sounds more nationalistic and even sentimental to continue celebrating Independence Day every June 12 because it would really mean that our country was the first to declare an independent state in the whole of Southeast Asia, ahead of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and Brunei. Of course, Thailand would contest that because it claims that it has never been colonized by any western power. The Thais would argue that they have been independent even before Christ.