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I always cringe with pain whenever Spanish abuses are mentioned in speeches and articles. I don't know why. My grandfather fought with Bonifacio and Aguinaldo as a revolutionist but I still harbor no ill feelings towards "the enemies" that ruled our islands for almost three and a half centuries. I did have that sort of animosity towards them when I was a student but that was on account of obvious reasons -- the knowledge inculcated in us by our nationalist officials and writers who had been influenced by the colonial power that took over the reins of the government and which
wanted to pacify the people by comparing their noble mission with that of their predecessors who were "abusive". Like what I wrote in another message, I believe that the revolution broke out not so much due to Spanish abuse but due to the Indios' desire for independence and their desire to try governing the country by themselves - which, as shown half a century later was no better than when we were
a colony. If there was not much progress during the Spanish regime, well, it's because people did not have the technological know-how at that time compared to today's technology that is advancing by leaps and bounds. Today, after more than half a century of running the country ("like hell" which MLQ did not mind as long as they were Filipinos running it), are the citizens satisfied? Are they in heaven as contemplated upon by MLQ? Were the Spanish and American regimes really that bad? Of course, we have to consider also the population explosion in the country, which is hampering our progress. Let's stop fueling our hearts to arouse fervor with such expressions as "'Spanish abuses" when no more than own countrymen since independence were not unknown for such.
Spain has been our punching bag all along, but that's just unfair! Clearly the Americans were just trying to get our favor and justifying their occupation of our land.

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