On this date, we commemorate the country’s 126th Independence Day which marks the freedom of the Philippines from the Spanish occupation. While we commemorate our freedom, the Philippines confronts affairs that intensify the struggle of the Filipino people to attain genuine sovereignty.

Current threats to Philippine sovereignty evolved as international conflict and tension between countries such as China, which has targeted the country in disputes over territorial claiming of the West Philippine Sea, and the United States with the increase of their military presence and activities in the country, manifested to advance its own geopolitical interests and economic stronghold in Southeast Asia.

From claiming our waters by justifying the legality of the nine-dash line as the basis of ownership, to infiltrating socio-economic activities and infringing national policies, China’s aggressive claim over our territories has led to the massive violation of the people’s rights to satisfy its agenda of becoming an imperialist power. Additionally, the United States’ continuous threat to our sovereignty through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), and massive economic infiltration intensifies the risk of our country being a battleground and perpetuates our victimization to its neoliberal agenda. 

Despite the Philippines being considered a sovereign nation since 1946, we continue to be chained down by imperialist countries with their worldwide exploitations and aggressions in our course of achieving true national freedom. Consequently, this heightens the Filipino people’s marginalization and disenfranchisement which diminishes their ability to claim their rights. The presence of both imperialists hampers true national development and disbars us from realizing a just and equitable society. 

As we remind ourselves of the history of the injustices that our people confronted, Inklusibo amplifies the call for true national sovereignty—where people’s interests are prioritized and no imperialist holds any sting to the country’s development. 

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Photo from Mayday Multimedia