Why? Out of love for our families, friends, neighbors, townmates and the Malay race. The original Katipuneros, who were the harbingers of self-determination, took risks in order to fulfill the vision and to protect their comrades and loved ones from the Iberian overlords. The KKK Lakambini, Gregoria de Jesus (Mrs. Andres Bonifacio), relates in her autobiography, "Many times on receiving some warning that the house would be searched by the police (veterana), irrespective of the hour, I would immediately gather all the papers, the arms, and the seal, and order a quiles (carriage) and in it without eating - for this often happened at noon or at eight o'clock at night - I would go driving till midnight along the bay front of Tondo and the streets of Binondo in order to save our countrymen from danger." [Translated and Annotated by Leandro H. Fernandez, Philippine Magazine, June 1930]

Apolinario Mabini, the "Brains of the 1896 Revolution," sanctified nation-building. This was evident in the fourth habilin (reminder) of his "True Decalogue for Filipinos," to wit, "Thou shalt love thy country after God and thy honor and more than thyself: for she is the only Paradise which God has given thee in this life, the only patrimony of thy race, the only inheritance of thy ancestors and the only hope of thy posterity; because of her, thou hast life, love and interests, happiness, honor and God."

Mabini's revolutionary Republic, which was headquartered in Bulacan, represented the Philippine nation. It was introduced to the international community on January 23, 1899 with the reasonable expectation that it would be recognized and respected by all.

That was not to be, for the United States afflicted itself with ambitions of becoming a power in the Pacific and the Philippine Archipelago's strategic location was irresistible to imperialists. Mature America imposed a war of aggression on the infant Malolos Republic, frustrating Philippine nationhood.

In the course of more than 100 years, the US annexed the Kingdom of Hawaii, militarized the thwarted Puerto Rican independence, colonized Guam and embargoed Cuba, but helped fabricate Liberia and South Korea, protected Taiwan, and supported the coming of Timor Leste and Kosovo.

Today, there are about 200 nation-states, both de facto and de jure, and the competition among them is intense.

Nuclear-armed China, an economic powerhouse and wannabe-space-faring nation, has been accused of running an "aggressive and large-scale industrial espionage campaign" against American technology, according to the 2007 annual report of the Congressional US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

The Republic of China (Taiwan), which has 23 diplomatic allies, is still engaged in a deadly rivalry with the People's Republic of China, which is recognized by 171 countries. While Beijing continues to isolate its rival, Taipei has employed "scorched earth diplomacy," then "checkbook diplomacy," and now "flexible diplomacy." This newest gambit is being conducted by the new chief executive in Taipei, President Ma Ying-jeou, who seeks to increase the cost-effectiveness of his diplomatic budget, does not require Taiwan to be at loggerheads with Mainland China in each and every international encounter, and sees no need to perpetuate a vicious cycle. For Ma, the cornerstone of his "flexible diplomacy" is a "certain degree of mutual trust across the Taiwan Strait, which could later be extended to the international arena." [Remarks at the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, August 4, 2008]

The contest among nations has not abated with globalization. On the contrary, it has "contributed to the rise of non-state actors to economic, informational, and even military and diplomatic positions rivaling or exceeding those of states. The decline in state power and influence makes diplomatic interaction more difficult and complex. Globalization has already left several states behind, and more nations will lag in the increasing tempo of globalization. As a result, their populations will both suffer and become more apt to embrace radical ideologies to express their frustration and increase their desire, if not ability, to share in global prosperity." [U.S. Army Field Manual 3-0, February 2008]

America is more than willing and able to keep its status as the planet's sole superpower. It prosecutes a global War on Terror, precipitating regime change in Afghanistan and Iraq. It continues to demonize Castro's Cuba, although Fidel has denounced terrorism. It is antipathetic to Chavez' Venezuela, although it is allied with socialist Spain via NATO.

America's born-again president curries favor with the ruling dynasty of Saudi Arabia, which is the custodian of Mecca and Medina, Islam's two holiest cities. But he rails against Tehran and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

America's schools emphasize civics and use Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel to extol freedom and oppose slavery. Sample: "Is there anything in it glorious and dear for a nation, that is not also glorious and dear for a man? What is freedom to a nation, but freedom to the individuals in it? ... To your fathers, freedom was the right of a nation to be a nation. To him, it is the right of a man to be a man." [Chapter XXXVII: "Liberty," Uncle Tom's Cabin; accessed at http://stowe.thefreelibrary.com/]

But America also deprived the of its national freedom. Its actions in 1907 alone were indicative of its Jekyll/Hyde condition. American colonial authorities banned the Philippine National Flag on September 6 and executed Macario Sakay, Pangulo of the Republika ng Katagalugan, on September 13. In their stead were the Philippine Commission and the Philippine Assembly.

America's wartime president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, recognized on August 12, 1943 the valorous role of the Filipinos. "Here was a nation fit to be respected as equal to any on earth.in the stout heart and national dignity which are the true measure of a people." After the Allies won World War II, however, the US passed the Rescission Act, which deprived the Filipino warriors of recognition and emoluments accruing from their services as armed patriots who defeated the fascist enemies during the Japanese Occupation.