he declaration of
our independence on June 12, 1898 was a pivotal point in our history. But how
well do we know our history? For example, who originated the name "Filipino"? We
may vaguely think Rizal, Lopez Jaena, Marcelo del Pilar or other known patriots
should be credited for this. But no, the "Filipino" movement rightfully belongs
to the first wave of propagandists before the last two decades of the 18th
century. And Luis Rodriquez Varela should be given the credit as precursor of
the "Filipino" movement.
***
In 1890, Varela published "Proclama Historial," the first
book in which a creole styled himself as a Filipino. Until Varela’s time,
inhabitants of the islands were classified as: the Peninsulares (Spaniards who
came to the islands), the Insulares (Spaniards born in the islands of pure
Spanish ancestry), the Creoles (Spaniards of mixed parentage), and Indios
(natives). At the time, inhabitants of Spain and America called the Creoles in
the islands as "Filipinos" and this was the official reference to them in
official documents. Wanting not to be regarded second-rate Spaniards, the
Creoles of the Philippines simply called themselves "Spaniards," not Filipinos.
But Varela in his book first called himself a Filipino using the name in a
nationalistic spirit.
***
In 1910, Varela was commissioned by the City of Manila to
compose instructions to Ventura de los Reyes, representative of the Philippines
to the Spanish Cortes. Varela’s instructions embodied the plan of reforms
advocated by propagandists of the period. Among these reforms were the opening
of free schools, increased but selective Spanish immigration, and encouraging
marriages between Spanish males and native females. Varela and the first
propagandists he represented wanted to build a race of Filipinos we could
genetically be proud of.
***
The second wave of propagandists was formed by prominent
Creole families–such as the Zobels, De Taveras, Garchitorenas and Regidors–who
carried Varela’s reform campaign. A Creole priest Fr. Pedro Pelaez led the
movement to secularize parishes (assign native priests in parish churches) in
the islands based on Canon law and the decrees of the Council of Trent. Father
Jose Burgos, who inherited the movement from Pelaez who was a victim of the 1863
earthquake, was also a Creole priest.
***
But the Pelaez and Burgos militancy was interpreted as a
separatist move. Fr. Pelaez was branded a rebel; and Fr. Burgos, accused of
instigating the Cavite Mutiny, was to become Rey Indio or a president of a new
government. And we know the Indio King with Frs. Gomez and Zamora were tried and
executed. Gomburza enkindled the work of the propaganda work which shifted from
the Philippines to Spain.
***
Through La Liga Filipina, Rizal attempted to create a civil
society that would advocate reforms against violence and injustice, while giving
civil protection to the populace, and encouraging instruction, agriculture and
commerce. But Rizal’s civic work especially in the provinces was monitored and
reported until he was considered a dangerous man. In time he was exiled to
Dapitan, which led to the founding of the Katipunan.
***
Rizal’s martyrdom sparked the revolution with Emilio
Aguinaldo staging the first victorious siege of Cavite de Viejo. Interestingly,
Aguinaldo unselfishly gave way to Candido Tria Tirona to be the municipal head
of the revolution, asking him to act as the flag lieutenant of the Philippine
army. Aguinaldo’s victories in Cavite inspired the Katipuneros in the other
provinces to join a full-scale rebellion.
***
Aguinaldo’s Magdalo group was organized as a revolutionary
government, while Bonifacio’s Magdiwang organized as a monarchical government
with Bonifacio assuming the title of King (Hari). On hindsight, if Bonifacio ha
prevailed in assuming leadership of the revolution, we would have had a
monarchical government. To reflect, a parliamentary form of government has
sprung from monarchism (accommodating monarchs as in the case of UK), while a
republican government goes farther away from monarchism by adopting a populist
system of electing representatives from sectors and districts.
***
June 12, 1898 was a Sunday and since dawn of that day scores
of Filipino fighters and commanders had been greeted by welcomers from Kawit and
nearby towns. The crowd showed bright faces without frivolity. Their feeling had
an undercurrent of thrill and drama. At nine o’clock General Aguinaldo, a few
advisers and ranking generals of the revolution appeared. They took their seats
at the balcony facing the crowd standing along the street. The local band of
Kawit arrived and took their place in the yard beside Aguinaldo’s house. General
Aguinaldo stood to raise the national tricolor, the flag of heavy silk sewn by
the wives of members of the Hong Kong Junta. The raising of the flag was
accompanied by the playing by the band of the stirring Marcha Filipino under the
baton of Maestro Julian Felipe. At this point, the cheering of the crowd could
not be restrained.
***
When the cheers of Vivas and Mabuhays ebbed, Ambrosio
Rianzares Bautista read the text of the proclamation of independence. The
proclamation was in Spanish but there were recognizable words and phrases such
as "people of these islands Filipinas," "yoke of Spanish domination," cruel acts
of the guardia civil," " abuses of the friars," and of course "nation" ,
"rights", "freedom."
***
The people had heard these words before. A pause and the
people knew the reading was over and the people gave vent to their pent-up joy
and thanks with deafening cheers and clapping. Aguinaldo and 96 representatives
of the people signed the document. The proclamation was the voice of the
Filipino people–of past, present and future. The band struck up the recessional
and the troops broke ranks.
***
What are our chances of getting a piece of the worldwide
medical tourism which is expected to grow to $188 billion by 2013? Not very
much, unless we work on the structural weaknesses in the sector. Now it appears,
this sector is disorganized and lacks cohesiveness. Also, we lack the
accreditation of foreign health insurance firms which have a hold on
institutional clients. Then we need to improve on our poor medical
infrastructure, lack of modern medical equipment, research and information
technology services. All in all, we see we lack the basic things needed before
we can boast of a medical tourism industry.
***
As it is, medical tourism gives the country as regular stream of patients but
these are mainly from expatriate Filipinos who avail of medical care (coronary
by-pass surgery, cosmetic procedures, etc.) at rates 20 to 50 percent cheaper
than those in other countries. Countries like India, Singapore, Thailand,
Malaysia and recently Indonesia are frontrunners in the race for patients’
dollars. Given the migration trend in which we lose our best doctors and nurses,
we may not be able to give medical tourism a boost, but instead, slip under the
huge wave of the lucrative world medical tourism industry.
