The PhilippineAmerican War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection (18991902),[12] was an armed

conflict between the United States and Filipino revolutionaries. The conflict arose from the struggle of theFirst Philippine Republic to gain independence following annexation by the United States.[13][14] The war was part of a series of conflicts in the Philippine struggle for independence, preceded by the Philippine Revolution and the SpanishAmerican War. Fighting erupted between U.S. and Filipino revolutionary forces on February 4, 1899, and quickly escalated into the 1899 Battle of Manila. On June 2, 1899, the First Philippine Republic officially declared war against the United States.[15] The war officially ended on July 4, 1902.[16] However, members of the Katipunan society continued to battle the American forces. Among them was General Macario Sacay, a veteran Katipunan member who assumed the presidency of the proclaimed Tagalog Republic, formed in 1902 after the capture of President Aguinaldo. Other groups, including the Moro people and Pulahanes, continued hostilities until their defeat at the Battle of Bud Bagsak on June 15, 1913.[10][11] Opposition to the war inspired the founding of the Anti-Imperialist League on June 15, 1898. The war and occupation by the United States would change the cultural landscape of the islands, as the people dealt with an estimated 34,0001,000,000 casualties, disestablishment of the Catholic Church as the Philippine state religion (as the United States allowed freedom of religion), and the introduction of the English language as the primary language of government and most businesses. In 1916, the United States promised some self-government, a limited form of which came in 1935. In 1946, following World War II, the United States gave the territory independence through the Treaty of Manila.

The Struggle for Philippine Independence The Philippines has a rich cultural history which dates back to about one thousand years BC. Chinese, Indian, Malayan, Siamese and Arabian cultures became part of its heritage as immigrants moved to populate the richly trading islands. Written accounts in Chinese about the Mayit (the Chinese historians name for the Philippine Islands) from the 13th and 14th centuries wrote about Philippine products such as gold, pearls, betel nut, edible birds nests, cotton, hemp and yellow wax which were traded for silk, beads, umbrellas, porcelainware, bronze gongs and lead sinkers for fishnets. Because they had organized societies, the Philippine islanders had leaders who formally made treaties with the first Spaniards who visited the islands in 1521. Sacred covenants of friendship between the Filipinos and the Spaniards were made. Unfortunately, the Spaniards did not keep their promise of friendship. The foreigners rowdy conduct and the rape of Cebuano women led to a bloody war. The angry islanders, led by Humabon, Lapu-Lapu and other chieftains, forced the foreigners to a hasty retreat.

Unfortunately, Spain was a world superpower which the Filipinos could not keep out forever. Attracted by gold and spices, Spain eventually conquered and colonized the Philippines. However, the loss of sovereignty did not vanish the Filipino love of liberty and freedom. Through the centuries, men and women, like Diego Silang and his wife Gabriela, organized revolts which fanned the flame of freedom and independence. The Filipinos were not allowed to govern themselves in their own land. They were not allowed to learn the Spanish language lest they understand the rules of government. They were forcibly divided and conquered by fostering hatred among the regions. Filipino soldiers from Cavite were used to quell rebellion in Batangas and those from Batangas were used to quell rebellion in Ilocos. Yet the desire of Filipinos for national unity did not vanish despite great odds. Two public executions, in 1872 of three Filipino priests and in 1896 of an innocent and peace-loving medical doctor, shattered any hope of reform and justice under a colonial government. The intense desire for freedom united the Filipinos together. Peasants, writers, artists, politicians, teachers and church leaders set aside their differences and joined the struggle for independence. Finally, on June 12, 1898, in conclusion of a 300 year war of attrition and underground rebellion, the Philippine flag was raised and The First Philippine Republic was proclaimed. Sovereign at last. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

In my own opinion, I considered Dr. Jose Rizal as a national hero because hes a multifaceted individual both through the mind and manipulative areas, not to mention his inherit character and the love to people, especially to the poor. His sensitivity to the needs of others was overwhelming as evidenced by his sincere services to the people as doctor, engineer, teacher, artist, farmer and the like. He fought through his pen, books and knowledge. He did not fight through guns and swords. With the articles he has written, of which most of the topics discussed were all about slavery and abused, he has touched lives, awakened the people, but also provoked the Spaniards thus sent him to jail. But even then, he was still fighting, not for himself or for his family, but more for his people, for us through his ideas, through poems and other written articles. But whether a national hero or not, he did a very good job for us considering the fact that he had set us all free from slavery and better education. Hes a very good example and an inspiration to us, most specially to students because of his intelligence and boldness. He was not a traitor. He had faced death with boldness. He had proven the saying that goes, A pen is mightier than sword and proven that you can have greatness if Youre putting God first in all of your aspirations.

The death of Fathers Gomes, Burgos, and Zamora marked the dawn of Filipino nationalism. After their death, the propaganda era immediately followed, in the personas ofour propagandists such as Graciano Lopez Jaena, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Jose Rizal, and others. We could see that when the three martyrs have not yet been executed, the struggle for freedom is expressed through uprisings. When the three martyrs were executed out of their innocence, the concept of freedom was then perceived in a larger scale, encompassing all Filipinos. The three martyrs served as an inpiration to the propagandists. In this light, we could see how the death of the GOMBURZA sparked the sleeping spirits of the Filipinos. In relation to the present Philippines, we can see that the Filipinos are moved with innocent deaths. When Ninoy Aquino was assassinated, the Filipinos surprisingly became united to overthrow the regime of Marcos. The fearful Filipinos suddenly acquired courage to stand against the oppression of former president Ferdinan Marcos. We can see that when people try to destabilize the status quo and condemn the unjust acts of the power elite, they fall into a tragic fate, just like what happened to the GOMBURZA. Nevrtheless, the Filipinos, being sympathetic and soft-hearted, are easily carried away by such instances. Hence, tragic events can really spark the hearts and spirits of the Filipinos; and it also serves as a strong motivating force for the Filipinos. Such events unite the Filipinos to achieve a common goal or to fight for a common cause.