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True independence and freedom can only be achieved when the majority of the Filipino people are aware and informed. Although we have an official date to celebrate Independence Day, I still believe that the persistent effects of colonization remain, such as colonial mentality and oppressive systems.

- LEGASPI, Katherine

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No, we weren’t truly free from our colonizers. While we were liberated from Spain, our supposed independence was quickly overshadowed by a new form of domination by American imperialism. Through the Treaty of Paris, the U.S. bought the Philippines from Spain, treating our country as property rather than a sovereign nation. This marked the start of economic and political dependence on the U.S., as our economy became both import and export-oriented toward American interests. Policies were shaped to serve foreign powers rather than the Filipino people. So the question still stands; tunay nga bang malaya ang Pilipinas o humaba lang ang tanikala?

Yesha Guzman

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Are we really freed from colonial rule, foreign domination, and oppressive regimes?

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Are we really freed from colonial rule, foreign domination, and oppressive regimes?

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Hazel O. Garces

On June 12, 1898, Aguinaldo declared Independence, but in reality, we were not free because the United States already acquired the Philippines through control in exchange for our 'independence' in the Treaty of Paris. Most Filipinos did not understand that declaring independence was not enough because no self-governance is possible without national unity and recognition from other countries. So, while we declared independence, for all intents and purposes, we exchanged colonization by one power for colonization by another. Even now, one could argue that we are not completely free, as we have foreign control, corruption, and social inequality, etc., in our country.

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No, simply because we're not fully free yet. And yes we gained independence but we're still influence by the foreign countries and by our own corrupt system.

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Even after Independence Day, we’re not completely free from colonial rule, foreign domination, or oppressive systems — just in a different form. While we gained political freedom, many Filipinos failed to realize that true independence also means freedom from poverty, corruption, and mental dependence on foreign influence. Some still look up to other nations as “superior,” or tolerate leaders who abuse power. In short, we celebrate freedom every year, but we often forget to live it in our actions, choices, and mindset.

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Emilio Aguinaldo's declaration of Philippine independence in 1898 was the first step towards becoming a free nation, and, consequently, it was a symbolic victory, the moment when a nation was born that had the courage to imagine itself free. However, the reality of freedom is not only that foreign flags have been taken down; it is that there is now a presence of sovereignty in terms of thought, culture, and economy. The face of colonialism changed again and again after that declaration. The Americans came over with constructs and schools but at the same time they influenced our identity, teaching us to love the West and to be skeptical of our own. The later, post-independence governments would be just like this — serving foreign interests, creating social inequality and holding on to systems that did more good to the elite than to the nation.

For me, one thing that us, Filipinos, failed to realize was that they thought of God’s gift of independence as a process, not an event. Political liberation was treated as the same as genuine freedom. Lowering the foreign flag was a cause for celebration, while the colonizing of our minds, markets, and morals was allowed to go on. The dependency until we UNLEARN it — on foreign powers, on corrupt leaders, on inherited injustices, makes us a nation that has a flag but not yet full freedom.

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Filipinos failed to realize true freedom or independence from our colonizers. Especially that colonial mentality still lingers into our country even after years of being 'free'. We may have an Independence Day but I think our true freedom will be felt and seen if tayo mismong mga Pilipino ay kakawala sa foreign influence

-SAYO

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Yes, naging malaya nga tayo sa mga mananakop noong independence day, but i think we are not  fully free, not completely. Even without colonizers, we’re still bound by their influence, culture and the belief that what’s foreign is better, and the corruption and inequality that hold our nation back.

What many Filipinos fail to realize ay ang freedom ay hindi lamang about independence day or raising the flag. It’s about living with honesty, compassion, and courage every day. True freedom begins when we take responsibility for our country and stand up for what is right.

Espiritu, Diego

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Declaring independence freed the Philippines from formal colonial rule, but true freedom remains incomplete because foreign influence, economic dependence, and internal oppression persist. Political independence did not automatically end the dominance of foreign powers over trade, culture, or policy, nor did it dismantle domestic structures of inequality, corruption, and elite control. Many Filipinos focus on the symbolic celebration of Independence Day, overlooking that real sovereignty requires ongoing vigilance, critical awareness, and active participation to achieve not just political, but economic, social, and cultural freedom.

-Asuncion, Lance Christian A.

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DOSAL

No, even after gaining independence, Filipinos were not truly free because the effects of colonization remained. Many failed to realize that real freedom means freeing our minds and society from colonial influence. Colonial mentality, economic dependence, and internal problems like corruption and inequality still keep us from experiencing true independence.

We might became independent, but we are still not fully free, because real freedom means freeing our minds and our society from the control and influence left by our colonizers.

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No. It only marked the wnd of the Spanish Rule, and we quickly fell under American colonial domination. Masyado tayong naniwala sa mga pangako ng Amerikano. Akala natin pure ang intention nila dahil nga parehas naman ng pinaglalaban at kinalalaban na bansa, pero na-overlook natin yung power ng US. They have the massive resources and political will to hold our country as their new colony.

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No, we were not completely free from the colonial rule, foreign control and oppressive regimes after the Independence Day, Even though the Philippines was declared independent, the Americans still had a big influence over our politics, economy and military. Many filipino leaders were easily influenced or controlled, which led to a puppet like government that followed American interests instead of focusing on the real needs of the Filipino people.

-Dashiel Alen B. Rubrica

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De Lara

kung pormal na usapan po, nakalaya na po tayo sa pananakop ang nagpapatunay po roon ay yung araw ng kalayaan na pinagdiriwang natin pero sa usapin po na as in yung "tunay" na kalayan, siguro po hindi. kasi ang kalayaan po ay yung totoong pagbabago sa sitema, hindi lang pagbabago ng administrasyon or ng mga namumuo kundi yung development po ng bansa at ng mga Pilipino mismo. at yung tunay na kalayaan din po is hindi lang yung malaya from mga dayuhan kundi dapat ay may pagkaka pantay pantay rin. hindi tayo totoong malaya kung may mga naghihirap pa rin dahil inaagawan tayo ng karapatan ng mga nasa matataas na pwesto.

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even after independence day, i dont think we’re completely free, although we gained political independence. somehow many filipinos still think and act like we’re under foregin influence. what we failed to realize is freedom starts in our own, learning to value who we are, us a filipino.

- wade

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No, we may be free from the colonial rule, became an independent country and gained political independence but not entirely because foreign countries still influences our culture, economy and the way we think.

Alexis Ross S. Peredo

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No, to this day there are still remnants of the influences of the American Rule that we've faced back then, such as our society, political systems, and our economics. A great example is from our law book, which I read about an article having our laws based on to the American law, the corporation code or what we call the RCC adopts many principles from american corporate law, such as limited liability and separate corporate personality. We may seem free, but there still remains remnants and I still grasp this feeling of the American dominion still having influence to us indirectly.

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No, Now that we’re free from foreign and oppressive rule, Filipinos should focus on developing our country and protecting our culture. We need to prove that we can stand strong on our own and make decisions that benefit our people. For me, real freedom means being proud of who we are and working together for a better Philippines.

Many Filipinos failed to realize that freedom is not just independence from foreign rule, but also the responsibility to build and improve our own nation. Some thought that being free meant the struggle was over, but in truth, the real challenge started after independence.

-Cassandra Shaine Zabala

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No. Although we are independent on paper, we are still being held back in other fields. Psychologically, a lot of our mentality originated from our colonizers and have stuck with us even after all the years that have passed including crab mentality and bahala na. Politically, our ideals and arguments all but our own, continuously shadowing the strong nations, and doing our best to build stronger relationships with nations on the top. I firmly believe that we will only achieve true independence once we have let go of the grasp of other states on us and improve and prioritize our own culture over others.

Fillar, Roland Vincent O.

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Even though the Philippines is no longer a colony and we are “physically free,” we are not completely free in our minds. Many of our habits and rules still come from other countries, like using English in schools or following American holidays. Spanish culture also influences us, seen in our fiestas, Catholic traditions, and some words we use. Nowadays, we follow trends from countries like Korea, enjoying K-pop, Korean dramas, and fashion. For me true mental freedom means thinking and living based on our own identity, not just copying others.

-PEREDA, Joanne Allyssa L.

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I think Filipinos failed to realize na kahit na-declare na yung Independence Day, hindi ibig sabihin na totally free na tayo. Maybe yes, free na tayo sa mga foreign countries na sumakop sa atin, pero hanggang ngayon meron pa rin mga bagay na kumokontrol sa atin like corruption, poverty, and kung paano tayo bumuo ng desisyon na minsan may influence pa rin nung mga sumakop sa atin. Kaya for me po kahit sabihin na “malaya” na tayo, parang hindi pa rin naman. Siguro may improvement pero hindi po totally “malaya”.

Samantha Clariz C. Reyes

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No, we are not truly free from colonial rule, foreign domain and oppressive regimes. Because western influence, foreign powers and persistence of political systems were still gained from the colonizers. Many filipinos don’t realize that just because we were politically independent, we are still suffering from economic self-sufficiency, having pride in our culture and etc. Though, we have our sovereignty, inequality, corruption and poverty still continue to make a large amount of our population suffer. We may have been freed politically but the structure of power left by the colonizers still makes their original goals exists.

Gapasin, Jyle Jeperluv C.

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No, the Philippines got its freedom from the long tied colonization and finally established a proper Government. However, looking back from the history of Philippine Government System, the county didn’t totally break free from colonialism. To expound, Education is still aligned somehow to western perspective, and even on how Filipino’s impose to their children that career paths should be pursued overseas or English language as a categorizer of intelligence.

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No, the Philippines got its freedom from the long tied colonization and finally established a proper Government. However, looking back from the history of Philippine Government System, the county didn’t totally break free from colonialism. To expound, Education is still aligned somehow to western perspective, and even on how Filipino’s impose to their children that career paths should be pursued overseas or English language as a categorizer of intelligence.

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Independence might have been achieved, but still, we are not fully free from foreign influence and oppression. Many Filipinos do not understand that real freedom is not just independence, but it also means cutting ties with and shunning corruption, inequality, and reliance on others.

- Vistal, Charlotte Vaniah Joy R.

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Despite the declaration of the Philippines Independence Day, we were not truly free from colonial rule and foreign domination, because despite the freedom from Spanish rule, there was merely a shift in colonizers (from Spaniards to Americans) through the Treaty of Paris. In addition, Filipinos didn't realize this because they were led to believe that Americans are their "saviours" or "friends."

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‎No.  kase po kahit na malaya na tayo, may  nararanasan paren po tayo tulad ng corruption, inequality at foreign influnce. At Marami paring mga pilipino ang hindi na rerealize na ang totoong kalayaan ay ang pag babago o pag-unlad ng bansa at nating sarili

-Comboy, Jhon Kenneth B.

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Although Aguinaldo proclaimed our independence, I honestly don't believe that we ever freed ourselves from foreign influences. Also, Filipinos failed to realize that real independence was not only about flag raising or declaration of a country but it was about unity, strength, and the capability to stand alone as a nation.

Saporna, Hannah

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no, even though we gained independence from spanish colonization, the freedom we had was still limited beacuse we were soon fell under the influence of American emperialism. Even after colonial rule ended, the Philippines continued to face problems like corruption, poverty, and social inequality—signs that true freedom was still incomplete.

-Sheera Resuello

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I believe that hindi pa talaga tayo totally free after Independence Day kasi sa treaty of paris, pinasa lang ng Spain ang Pilipinas sa America without consent. And what Filipinos failed to realize is that real independence is not just about ending foreign rule, but also freeing ourselves from colonial mentality and dependence on other nations.

Sarraga, Harrish A.

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The Philippines was liberated from colonization, but the colonial powers' influence and oppression still affected us in full. The foreign nations that supported day-to-day life in our Philippines managed to control not only our economy but also our politics, besides which, at home, corruption and inequality were rampant. A misunderstanding among the Filipinos is that only the political aspects of freedom are the main, or as in the case of this country, the only, areas needing liberation, while at the same time, we are still shackled by dependencies, corruption, and a colonial mentality where we tend to appreciate others more than we do our own.

- Villablanca, Juris Lyle R.

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No, because to be free from the subjugation is to gain control over the politics, economy and identity. Colonial rule will always leave a permanent scar towards a cultures identity, and as long as a foreign nation is able to provide security over our own country, we are powerless against them as treaty's can still be disregarded if it majorly concerns their own nation's security and resources.

Navoa