Celebrating Filipino spirit and sovereignty

EYES WIDE OPEN

- IRIS GONZALES

Tycoons and businessmen traveled to China last week to join the Philippine embassy in Beijing in celebrating with valiant pride the 127th anniversary of Philippine Independence.

Low-key snack foods taipan Carlos Chan, Salvador "Buddy" Zamora of the Tranzen Group, Suzan Lim of the Solid Group Inc. and Cherry Mobile's Maynard Ngu, who is also the country's special envoy to China, were among Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz's special guests, the embassy said in a statement.

The celebrations were a homecoming of sorts as the embassy hosted the 127th Independence Day reception for the Filipino community in China.

Celebrating Independence Day this year—whether in China or here at home—is especially poignant, given all that's happening in the Philippines, such as the Senate's handling of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.

One can't help but wonder what our heroes would say about how today's lawmakers are interpreting the Constitution and the rule of law they once fought so hard to establish.

But that's a thought I'll save for another day.

As for the celebration in Beijing, the embassy chose to celebrate our history and culture, drawing lessons from the nation's heroes.

"It has been over a century since we gained our independence from more than 300 years of colonial rule under Spain. Our forebears fought hard for our freedom and gave up their lives in the name of nationhood and sovereignty," FlorCruz said.