EXPLORING Historical Justice: Unveiling Truths Through Memory and Records” was the theme of the 2024 Balkan International Conference of NGOs on History and Peace, and for Plenary 1, Day 7, Monday, 08 July 2024, Zagreb, Croatia, I sent my interpretation of a successful case of reconciliation and cooperation. To wit —
It takes two to tango. Or in the case of the Philippines and Spain, paso doble. In fact, the Philippine national day of Independence Day (June 12) is followed one week later by Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day (June 30). This may trigger a little bit of schizophrenia among Filipinos who on one day justify their nation’s existence by marking the War of Liberation against Spanish Colonialism and then on another day celebrate friendship with those Spaniards, using two events in the Philippine Revolution: the Kawit Proclamation of 12 June 1898 and the Start of the Siege in Baler circa 01 July 1898. On the 22nd iteration of Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day, the Chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (Lisa Guerrero Nakpil) was joined by the Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines (Miguel Utray Delgado) in officially saluting the role Simon Tecson played in securing Filipino victory in Baler in 1899. [https://www.pia.gov.ph/nhcp-leads-22nd-philippine-spanish-friendship-day-celebrations-and-commemoration-of-126th-anniversary-of-the-start-of-the-siege-of-baler/] Many of the commemorative activities took place in Spain, you can also see that professing friendship does not obviate the patriotic tone of the official doings, with the Philippine slogan of Atin ang Baler, Hindi sa Dayuhan (Baler is ours, not the aliens’!)
‘Manila’s latest arrangements with Tokyo and Hanoi may be revealing a convergence to defend the Indo-Pacific commons against the monstrosity of Han chauvinism/hegemonism.’
Recall the former colonizer’s treatment of Jose Rizal who was martyred despite his adherence to the reform process, his love for Hispanic culture and his lack of support for the 1896 Philippine Revolution. The Spanish ecclesiastical and military authorities in the Philippines wanted to punish a well-known Filipino in spectacular fashion and subjected Rizal to a bad trial where the conclusion was foregone: conviction and execution. Rizal’s martyrdom on 30 December 1896 (when the Philippine War of National Liberation was in full swing) immediately became the stuff of myth and two years hence (when independence was already a fact) the first Rizal Day (December 30) was promulgated.
Fast forward to the 21st century, the postmodern Spaniards have honored Rizal in the Spanish capital itself: “His monument in Madrid, a replica of the Luneta monument in Manila, stands proudly at the junction of Avenida de las Islas Filipinas and Calle Santander. Built in 1996, the monument continues to be the venue of commemorations associated with Rizal, such as the Commemoration of the Birth Anniversary of Rizal every June 19 and the Rizal Day Celebration on December 30.” [https://www.philembassymadrid.com/rizal-madrid]
Now, if only the postmodern Japanese would match the Spaniards’ attitude and behavior, then we would see monuments of Filipino World War II guerrillas in Tokyo.
But stranger things are happening. Last 08 July 2024 Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Press Secretary Mariko Kaneko discussed the outcomes of the second 2 Plus 2 meeting with news reporters at Edsa Shangri La The Fort in Taguig City where she also conveyed Tokyo’s recognition that “the dignity and honor of those former comfort women was injured, and to that, the government of Japan has been extending, expressing apologies, and for deep remorse for those actions during the war.” The Kaneko apology referred to the Filipinas (girls, teens, young adults) in the hundreds who were shafted into Japan’s wartime military sexual slavery system. [https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1228806] Prior to the Kaneko apology, Senator Risa Hontiveros reiterated her call for just and meaningful reparations for Filipino comfort women and their families, stressing that time is running out for the Philippine government to seek redress for and recognize the few remaining Malaya Lolas (the NGO of Filipino survivors of sex slavery). Hontiveros (who had also visited Bahay na Pula, which was used by the Japanese Imperial Army to perpetrate sexual violence) had filed Senate Resolution No. 539 after the Philippines was called out by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. [http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2024/0703_hontiveros3.asp]
Eight decades ago, the fascist Japanese perpetrated the Bataan Death March, Lipa Massacre, and Rape of Manila, among other war crimes, yet this July of 2024 the governments of the Philippines (represented by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.) and Japan (represented by Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, accompanied by Defense Minister Kihara Minoru, during their courtesy call with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement “allowing Filipino soldiers to undergo joint combat training with their counterparts in Japan… The defense agreement, which will take effect after ratification by the two countries’ legislatures, is the first pact forged by Japan in Asia.” [https://pco.gov.ph/news_releases/ph-japan-sign-raa-to-boost-defense-cooperation/]
Still in Asia, another case of “Exploring Historical Justice: Unveiling Truths Through Memory and Records.” The Libingan ng mga Bayani also contains a Vietnam Veterans Memorial that commemorates the members of the Philippine contingents/civic action groups sent to Vietnam from 1964 to 1971. The Philcon-V+Philcag-V pylon: “To build and not to destroy, to bring the Vietnamese people happiness and not sorrow, to develop goodwill and not hatred.” This is quite remarkable given that the Vietnam War was an under-investigated period of Philippine history.
Ho Chi Minh once wrote: “We have put forth the following slogans for our struggle: to consolidate peace, achieve national reunification, gain complete independence and popularize democracy throughout the country…we are struggling to carry through these fundamental tasks. At the same time, we cannot ignore that, after the conferences held by the imperialists in Manila and Bangkok, a new situation has arisen in Asia…the U.S.A. has openly intervened in Indo-China’s affairs and has carried out many more maneuvers to torpedo the Geneva Agreement.” [“Leninism And The Liberation Of Oppressed Peoples,” Pravda, April 18, 1955] But he also wrote: “In many countries in the U.S. camp, such as Thailand and the Philippines, there is also an anti-American movement…Therefore the world situation is favorable to us.” [Letter To The Cadres From South Viet Nam Regrouped In The North, June 19, 1956]
Today, the Philippines has welcomed Vietnam’s recognition of Manila’s filing with the United Nations to secure Filipino rights on an extended continental shelf in the South China Sea. Hanoi said it was willing to talk to Manila as it seeks measures that are in line with the interests of both countries. [https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-ready-discuss-with-vietnam-south-china-sea-issues-2024-07-01/]
Manila’s latest arrangements with Tokyo and Hanoi may be revealing a convergence to defend the Indo-Pacific commons against the monstrosity of Han chauvinism/hegemonism.
