The 113th Commemoration of Independece Day in the Philippines

One of the most significant dates in the Philippine’s history is Independence Day because it marks the nation’s independence from the Spanish rule on June 12, 1898. Filipinos celebrate it annually on June 12.

What do People do?

Independence Day is a day when many people, including government officials, employees, and students, participate in nationwide parades. However, the main highlight is the police and military parade in Manila headed by the country’s incumbent president, followed by a speech and a 21-gun salute. Many Filipinos spend the day in parks and malls. Many Filipino communities in other countries also observe the nation’s Independence Day celebrations.

Public life

The Philippine’s Independence Day is a national holiday so government offices are closed. There are absolutely no classes in all schools. Many business establishments are closed except shopping centers. Public transport such as buses, passenger jeeps, and tricycles still operate but their routes may be limited due to the closure of streets used for parades.

Background

The annual June 12 observance of Philippine’s Independence Day came into effect after past President Diosdado Macapagal signed the Republic Act No. 4166 regarding this matter on August 4, 1964. This Act legalized the holiday, which is based on the Declaration of Independence on June 12, 1898 by General Emilio Aguinaldo and Filipino revolutionary forces from the Spanish colonization. The Philippines’ flag was raised and its national anthem was played for the first time in 1898. However, liberty was short-lived because Spain and the United States did not recognize the declaration.

The 1898 Treaty of Paris ended the war between Spain and the United States. Spain surrendered the entire archipelago comprising the Philippines to the United States. The Philippines started a revolt against the United States in 1899 and achieved national sovereignty on July 4, 1946, through the Treaty of Manila. Independence Day was officially observed on July 4 until the Republic Act No. 4166, which set out to move the holiday to June 12, was approved on August 4, 1964.

Symbols

The Flag of the Republic of the Philippines, representing the country is symbolized by the following:

• Royal blue field – peace, truth, and justice.
• Scarlet red field – patriotism and valor.
• White triangle – equality and brotherhood.
• Three stars on the corners of the triangle – the three main geographical regions of the country namely Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
• The sun at the center of the triangle – has eight rays representing the eight Philippine provinces that started the revolt against Spain.

The flag is seen in various places across towns and cities in the Philippines during the country’s Independence Day. Many cars also sport miniature flags on this day.

SOURCE:

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/philippines/independence-day

CULTURE DIFFERENCES

Each cultures sets its own norms and taboos. Gestures matter because they could portray different meanings for each country. Some practices are a must all because tradition dictates so. Take a peek at how other nationalities make sense of their actions.

• Some Greeks and Italians say NO by tossing their head back and clucking their tongue.

• Puerto Ricans wiggle their nose to roughly mean What's going on?

• Swedish regard it as a branch of etiquette to toast your host, or anyone your senior in rank of age only after they toast you.

• Middle East people consider it an insult to show the soles of your feet while seated facing your host. It's a no-no to place the feet on a desk, table, or chair.

• Germans make a screwing gesture on their head as a strong expression for "You're crazy." Tourists need to be aware because this head movement can get one arrested. Such is often used by drivers to comment on the driving skills of the other motorists.

• The Turkish village Kushoy natives communicate through whistling. This enables them to exchange messages over distances of up to one mile.

• A Hindu father should touch his newborn child with gold. Tradition dictates so because they consider gold as the noblest of metals.

• Englishmen of the sixteenth and seventeenth century believed that no one who lay upon feathers could die in peace. So, when death approached, the removed the pillow from the dying person's head to ease the passing.

• Many Hong Kong people designated blue and white as the color of death, rather than black.

• Russians buy carnation and roses on their first date. This is a prerequisite! They are to be given in odd numbers because flowers given in even numbers are for funerals.

SOURCE:

www.absolutetrivia.com

ERRORS ABOUT TIME MANAGEMENT

Enslaved by our own time or by your own self? Pointers about time management have passed our eras many times, yet how well do we really know it?

Aleck Mackenzie, organizer of time management seminar in 40 countries, lists some familiar mistaken notions about time management.

• Time management is nothing but common sense. Almost all the solutions to time management problems are as simple as the dos and don'ts. What's not simple, however, is the self-discipline that goes with them.

• I work better under pressure. Untrue. Nobody works better under pressure, especially that of time. What really happens is that we do our best out of the remaining time we have. Procrastination deprives us chance for planning that could otherwise yields superior results.

• Learning time management is simply managing one's time. This is the biggest misconception of all. Time cannot be managed. We can only manage ourselves in relation to time. Time is a finite resource. We can't add hours to what is only available. We can only control how to spend some that are at hand. What is gained from time management is not more time, but a better life--productive, stress-free, balanced, and more successful.

Thanks a lot to:

* World Executive's Digest