"Consequently, Aguinaldo in Malolos, not to mention Kawit, could assume the existence of a nation, could take for granted its total consent to becoming an independent republic, because history as culture had made that imperative. He felt no need to ask if the pagan highlanders of the north or the Muslim tribes of the south were willing to come into this republic, because, by then, he could feel as “fact” the existence of a national community, which, though its components be Christian or Muslim or pagan, already formed a country and people, one and divisible, now and forever: a sovereign union."
— Nick Joaquin, Culture and History.
May tatlong pangalan ang ating bansa: “Filipinas,” “Philippines,” “Pilipinas”. Ibinasbas sa atin ang una ng kolonyalismong Espanyol at siya nating opisyal na pangalan sa loob ng tatlong siglo. Itinatawag naman sa atin ang ikalawa ng imperyalismong Amerikano at opisyal nating pangalan ngayon sa Ingles. Bersiyong Tagalog ng una ang ikatlo at batay sa orihinal na titik ng lumang abakada.
Palagay ko, sintomas ng ating pambansang pagkalito ang pagkakaroon ng tatlong pangalan ng ating bansa. Hindi tayo magkaisa kahit sa pagtawag lamang sa ating sarili. Ang panukala ko, panahon na para magkaroon tayo ng opisyal na pangalan para sa ating bansa’t republika, at tulad ng inumpisahan ng Diyaryong Filipino, dapat tayong kilalanin sa buong mundo bilang “Filipinas.”
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At 7:03 a.m., Rizal was facing Manila Bay when the guns were fired. He veered his body toward his right as he fell dead.
The firing squad was composed of six native Filipino soldiers under the command of the Volunteer Soldiers of Maria Cristina (some references counted eight men).
Descendants of one of the executioners, Adolfo Pastor Quetcuti, narrated how the captain of the guards put only one live bullet in one of the rifles, while placing blanks in the others. This was intended to ease the guilt feelings of those in the firing squad who believed Rizal was innocent.
As an additional measure, another line of peninsular soldiers stood behind them.
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Rizal martyrdom: The making of a national hero
First posted 04:29am (Mla time) Dec 30, 2005
By Emmanuel Encarnacion
Inquirer
