What does it mean to celebrate Philippine Independence Day? Why do we Filipino Americans celebrate it? What’s the difference between June 12 and July 4 and do people really understand its history? Is the Philippines really “independent”?

Yes, we know we’re on Filipino time with this one, but on this TFAL episode, we dive into the cultural nuances of celebrating Philippine Independence Day in the United States. Listen as we discuss the history of Philippine “independence,” the pageantry of cultural celebrations in our community, and the unique Filipino American identity that emerges from “Kalayaan.” As a bonus, you’ll get to learn all about the official hymn of Miagao, Iloilo.

Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on this page, find us on Mixcloud or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts here. And for folks on Spotify, you can listen to us here.

Got any opinions on Philippine Independence Day and how we should acknowledge it in the diaspora? Leave us a voicemail and let us know 805.394.TFAL or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.

Episode 170 – Celebrating Philippine Independence Day