By Rev. Cesar Taguba
Brothers and sisters, Kakailian, Kababayan,
Let us honor our forefathers who died in the struggle against Spanish, US and Japanese brutal colonial rule with a minute of silence as we raise a clenched fist. AGBIAG PADAYON, MABUHAY ang ating pagdiriwang ng ika-124 na Philippine Independence Day!
We, Igorots of the Cordillera are happy and proud that our ancestors played a significant role in these struggles for independence and freedom. Our inang bayan is formally independent (no foreigner sits in Malacanang Palace). However, we suffer from the plague of neocolonialism where powerful counties and institutions shape our economic, political, social and cultural institutions to serve their interests.
Thus, Philippines is and will remain agrarian, non-industrial. With the subservience /connivance of the ruling class and dynasties our sovereignty is mocked as in the case of the mineral rich West Philippine Sea and military agreements. Neocolonialism is an obstacle to economic emancipation, social and national liberation, which among others, makes outmigration a necessity for survival and instrument for so-called national development.
Millions are not experiencing freedom from want, freedom from fear and freedom from hunger. The crisis of a neocolonial Philippines is getting worst! We, Igorots, indigenous Peoples and Moro people are experiencing the disastrous foreign corporate plunder of resources in our ancestral lands. We resist with our call and struggle for the right to self determination, which is met with state repression.
Mga kababayan/ kakailian, let us draw inspiration from Filipinos abroad who launched the Propaganda Movement that sparked the historic 1896 Revolution. Let us declare our commitment to pursue more vigorously the struggle for genuine national independence and freedom to finish the Unfinished Revolution! Only then can we/our generation remain true and faithful to our revolutionary forefathers and the next generation.
May God, Kabunian, Bathala, Allah empower us for our mission and vision of a truly free, independent and sovereign Philippines.
Mabuhay tayong lahat!
MABIKAs 2022 Statement drafted and delivered by Rev. Cesar Taguba, Member of the MABIKAs Board during the 124th Philippine Independence Day (PID) celebration in The Hague on June 12, 2022.
