A Month of History
August is indeed an august name for a month that is filled with significant events in Philippine history. That is the reason why the eighth month of the year, in addition to being named as Buwan ng Wika, is also celebrated as History Month. It was the late President Benigno S. Aquino III who proclaimed August as History Month by issuing Proclamation No. 339 in 2012.
There used to be a History Week celebration from Sept. 15 to 21 but the Proclamation correctly argued that “a week of observance is not enough to undertake various activities given the richness and diversity of our nation’s history”. It further changed the date of celebration to the month of August because “major events in the nation’s history occurred in the month of August which concludes with National Heroes Day.”
This year, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) is leading our nation’s celebration of History Month with the theme “Diwa ng Kasaysayan, Kabilin sa Kabataan” (Spirit of History, Heritage for the Youth). According to its website, among the key 2025 observances are the 127th anniversary of the Bacoor Assembly held Aug. 1, the birth anniversaries of Manuel L. Quezon (Aug. 19), Marcelo H. del Pilar (Aug. 30), and Ramon Magsaysay (Aug. 31), and the death anniversary of Ninoy Aquino (Aug. 21).
I have always believed that history is a critical element in the prosperity of our country. History is more than the dates and events some of our teachers made us memorize in school; it is a rich source of wisdom that helps us recognize patterns of success and failure, and foster unity in our ongoing pursuit of national development. It is essential for achieving progress because the lessons embedded in the past guide present decisions and shape future pathways.
On Aug. 4, 1964, for instance, the late former President Diosdado Macapagal signed into law Republic Act No. 4166 which was the law that changed the date of Philippine Independence Day from July 4 to June 12. This was an important law because it recognized as a starting point of our sovereignty the Filipino revolutionaries declaration of Philippine independence from Spain as well as the subsequent establishment of the First Philippine Republic rather than the so-called “grant of independence” by the Americans. That singular act of changing the date reflected the belief that independence is never given or granted but can only be achieved when a nation fights for it with blood, sweat and tears.
It was also in August when Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram II and Brigadier General John C. Bates signed the so-called Kiram-Bates Treaty which secured the Sulu Archipelago as a protectorate of the United States. The treaty which was signed August 20, 1899, provided among others, a pledge to respect the Sultan's rights, dignities, and the religious freedom and customs of the Moro people. According to Mohagher Iqbal of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the treaty was, to the people of Sulu “a recognition of the Moro Sultanate over Sulu and the other islands under its jurisdiction…it was a recognition of their sovereignty (Speech delivered in Nov. 10, 2017 in Cagayan de Oro City).
And let us not forget that it was also in August when Filipino revolutionaries led by Gat Andres Bonifacio tore their “cedulas” as a symbol of their rebellion against Spanish oppression. There is debate among historians when and where the event occurred but this event is universally regarded as the starting point of the Philippine Revolution that would culminate in the establishment of the first ever Philippine Republic in Asia.
Looking at the significant events in our history that happened in August, it seems that even a whole month may not be enough. But it is not about how long we commemorate historical events. The most important thing is that we learn the lessons of history. Young students complain about “being forced” to study history which they will never use when they work. The fact that we have to justify the relevance of history is troubling. Let us hope that History Month can help make the argument that the skills and perspectives gained from studying history will enrich critical thinking, citizenship, and ultimately ability to navigate a complex world—benefits that no future career in whatever industry should overlook.
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