The Fourth of July Is As Significant in the Philippines as It Is In the USA

[Cccgala]

Here is why.

When people hear the Fourth of July, the country USA is immediately thought about right off the bat. The Fourth of July is indeed recognized worldwide as a national holiday in the USA, celebrating the country's formation, founded by thirteen colonies, after its independence from England on July 4, 1776.

Little do everyone know that the United States of America and the Philippines share annual celebrations on one date: July 4th.

Fourth of July in the Philippines

Independence from American colonization

See that image above? That is from the Philippine Presidential Museum and Library. It was taken on July 4, 1946 while the American flag was being brought down and the Philippine Flag was being brought to the top. The aftermath of that flag raising ceremony was our independence from the USA.

Why did they do that? Well, that ceremony represented two of the conditions― independence and recognition thereof― entailed in the Treaty of Manila signed by Ambassador Paul V. McNutt (United States) and President Manuel Roxas (Philippines) also on July 4, 1946.

Filipino-American Friendship Day

July 4th used to be our independence day. At present, the day set for our annual independence celebration is June 12th (our independence from Spanish colonization).

Currently, July 4th is when we celebrate Republic Day and the Filipino-American Friendship Day.

I am honestly not sure why it is referred to as Friendship Day but this excerpt from the article of the Manila Times explains it:

The celebration of Philippine-American Friendship Day is meant to remind us—and Americans—of our two countries’ long-standing friendship. This developed after the forces of the First Philippine Republic were defeated by those of the United States and our archipelago became an American colony."

Advanced Happy Fourth of July to all of us!

[Maxemeister]

LMAO "This developed after the forces of the First Philippine Republic were defeated by those of the United States and our archipelago became an American colony."

"After they killed our friends and conquered our homeland they became very close friends!"

Philippines is one of those Pacific Island-American besties situation

[ClassicRocker]

We took the Philippines from the Spanish in 1898. Then returned it to sovereignty after WW2. There were talks in the works to do it as early as 1916. They were already in the process of putting forth legislation for Filipino independence when the Japanese attacked and we got all distracted by the largest international conflict in human history.

[Curmudgeon]

That said, I wonder if the Philippines would have been better off remaining USA Territory, a la Puerto Rico. Imagine a hypothetical Governor Ferdinand Marcos being indicted on bribery, corruption and graft charges and being put into the Federal clink, as happened to a crooked Puerto Rican governor. Certainly better than Marcos' dictatorship of a dozen years.

[BrownBoyBrownies]

We've been colonized three times. We don't really celebrate 4th of July though, the significant independence we celebrate is June 12 from the Spaniards. Since that was the longest, over 333 years.

[OhioNativeForLife]

Filipinos killed Magellan. Damn those bastards.

[Other_Tommy_Wiseau]

Every time 😂😂😂
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM-igYjn6E4&app=desktop