Oliver, Azzielle Aira A.

CEIT-04-402A
Kronos
Our country, the Philippines is an archipelagic country situated in western Pacific Ocean, Southeast Asia,
with about 7640 islands that are broadly categorized into three geographical divisions from north to south,
the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Known for its rich culture and tradition, Philippines has been one of
those countries that were invaded by powerful nations like the Spain, America, and Japan. I can say that
being in the hands of these colonizers for many measured years is an example of Kronos in the
Philippines history.
In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer sailing for Spain, claimed the Philippines for Spain,
naming the islands after King Philip II of Spain. They were known as Las Felipinas at the time. By the
1830s, Spanish culture and thought had permeated Filipino culture to the point that Filipinos started to
consider independence from Spain. After a few failed attempts at independence and a slew of Spanish
massacres, Filipino nationalists started to speak out. Jose Rizal was a well-known figure at the time. He
went to the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines and the University of Madrid to study medicine.
Rizal wrote two significant novels that depicted Spanish rule violations. Despite being prohibited, the
books were smuggled into the Philippines and widely read. Rizal declared the Philippines "the Pearl of
the Oriental Seas" on the night of his execution, December 30, 1896.
At the same time as the Philippines fought for independence, Cuba, a Spanish colony, attempted to break
free from Spanish control. Cuba, on the other hand, had the support of the United States. When the USS
Maine, an American battleship, sunk in Havana harbor, war between the US and Spain seemed inevitable.
On April 25, 1898, the United States declared war on Spain, and Commodore George Dewey, commander
of the United States Asiatic Squadron, was sent to the Philippines to engage the Spanish navy. On the
morning of May 1, 1898, Dewey launched an assault on the Spanish fleet from the USS Olympia. The
war lasted just a few hours, and the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay was completely destroyed.
The Philippine War of Independence against the Americans began on February 4, 1899 and continued for
two years. The United States needed 126,000 soldiers to subdue the Philippines. The war took the lives of
4,234 Americans and 16,000 Filipinos.

The Commonwealth of the Philippines was established by the United States government in 1935 with a
view to granting Filipino independence within 10 years. However, on December 8, 1941 ten hours after
the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese military invaded the Philippines. United States forces under the
command of General Douglas MacArthur withdrew to Java on December 12, 1941. MacArthur promised:
"I shall return". General MacArthur kept his promise and returned with a massive amphibious force on
the island of Leyte in October of 1944. Over the next four months, U.S. forces, with the help of Filipino
guerrillas routed the Japanese army.

These consecutive invasion of our country is Kronos time. Here we can see it is sequential, and
involvement of time and calendars, which are present in the measured years in being under their foreign
republic.

If only the Filipinos unites and come-up with only one objective, and that is to free us from colonizers,
our fellow countrymen would not have suffered maltreatment, torture, and being a slave of them. If only
they not think of the power and selfishness, Filipinos would have defeated the Americans with their guns
and skills like how they defeated Magellan. But of course, this is another story to tell.
This is the Kairos time that they need long long time ago. If they only were moved by their patriotism,
humane, and nature, like what we are saying in Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat ng Pilipinas, we
could have an amazing life, where our culture and tradition are blossoming without any trace of
colonizers, purely Filipino. But then again, that’s only my what if’s. I am very thankful to those who
colonized us, for what they teaches our origins which molded us on who we are in this present time.