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Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to
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Vol. VI, No. 15 May
21-27, 2006 Quezon City, Philippines |
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Chinese Revolutionists Salute Filipino Comrades
Little do Filipinos know that our own heroes and martyrs were among those
who inspired the Chinese revolutionists and encouraged them to continue
their struggle. The Chinese revolutionists, in turn, stoked in their
Filipino comrades the same ideals to achieve freedom even at the cost of
their lives. This mutual support and encouragement are seldom mentioned in
our history books.
BY GO BON JUAN
Posted by Bulatlat
October marks the success of two Chinese revolutions. October 10, 1911,
marks the downfall of the last Qing emperor, which ended the 276-year
Manchu rule in China (1644-1911). October 1, 1949, marks the success of
the People's Revolution, which gave birth to the People's Republic of
China.
But little do Filipinos know that our own heroes and martyrs were among
those who inspired the Chinese revolutionists and encouraged them to
continue their struggle. The Chinese revolutionists, in turn, stoked in
their Filipino comrades the same ideals to achieve freedom even at the
cost of their lives. This mutual support and encouragement
are seldom mentioned in our history books.
Liang Qi Chao, one of the most renowned reformists, wrote that he wanted
to go down on his hands and knees as a tribute to the brave Filipinos. In
his treatise "How to Annihilate a Country," Chao said: "The Philippines,
our brothers from the same continent and race,
struggled with the white men twice already (against the Spaniards and
Americans) and without losing hope in their defeats. I look toward the
south (the Philippines) and go down on my hands and knees (prostrate
myself) to kowtow to them."
Galiciano Apacible, on the other hand, wanted to commit suicide in Hong
Kong when he learned that the arms
shipment on the Japanese vessel Nonibuki Maru, procured by Dr. Sun Yat Sen
for the Filipino revolutionists, sank after hitting some reefs.
His Chinese friend, Chen Shao Bai, admonished him thus: "It is not so much
adversities that the revolutionaries worry about (as) not ever seeing the
day of victory. How can you lose hope for so small an adversity? In
wanting to die, you seek only your own peace, forgetting everything else.
Everyone has to suffer death, but death can be 'heavier than the Tai
mountain or lighter than a goose feather.' You do not need to die but seek
death—how about the hundred thousands of your comrades facing death in the
midst of battle, braving the cannons and gunfire? Your own life is
directly tied with the survival of
the Philippines itself. Do not look
at it lightly but guard it preciously for the sake of your country."
After Apacible heard this touching admonition, he continued to call on
Filipino patriots in Hong Kong to plot how they could help in the cause of
the Philippine revolution. Posted by Bulatlat
(Editor's note: The ceremony presenting the Fifth Dr. Jose P. Rizal
Awards for Excellence will be held on June 19, 2006, 7 p.m. at the Kaisa-Angelo
King Heritage Center on Anda and Cabildo Streets, Intramuros, Manila.)
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