...Treaty of Paris, December 10, 1898 -- "A Cause for Indignation" ...                                                                                                       ...Universal Declaration of Human Rights, December 10, 1948 -- "A Cause for Celebration" ...

CONTENTS OF THIS BOOK:

 INTRODUCTORY ESSAY  

 FEEDBACK RECEIVED 

 AUTHOR'S INTRO 

 CHAPTER 1 
UDHR '48: A Cause for Celebration

 CHAPTER 2 
TP '98: A Cause for Indignation

 CHAPTER3 
Decade-old Document Dissected

 CHAPTER 4 

Response to the Spanish Response

 CHAPTER 5 

Response to the American Non-Response

 EPILOGUE 1 

Demands of Dignity 

  LINKS TO THE MAIN PARTS OF THE Demands of Dignity BOOK: 

Introductory Essay by Bernard Karganilla, Kamalaysayan chair

Introduction: Campaigning for Deeper, Broader Discourse

CHAPTERS: Introduction  Ch.1  Ch.2  Ch.3  Ch.4  Ch.5  Epilogue

Bibliography    Alphabetical Index    Publication Information

The Author: Ed Aurelio Reyes    The Publisher: Kamalaysayan   

GENERAL FEEDBACK    SPECIFIC FEEDBACK     FEEDBACK BOX

  Chapter Four

  ---------------------- 

Appendix 4-A

Text of Response

from Spain's Envoy

                   Manila, January 13, 1999

No. 30

Mr. Ed Aurelio Reyes

Executive Director

Kamalaysayan

6173-C Gabaldon, Poblacion

Makati City

Dear Sir:

With great concern, I have taken note of the Declaration of Felicitation and Protest adopted by the PAHRA last December 10, which I have duly transmitted to the Spanish authorities.

Let me just stress two facts:

1)   When King Juan Carlos came to the Philippines in February of 1998, in what was called the “Centennial Royal Visit”, in all of his public speeches, he underlined the friendly sentiments that the Spanish people today feel towards the Philippines.  And, in their responses, then President Fidel V. Ramos corresponded this friendship – in behalf of the Filipino people – framed in a new coined relationship among equal, sovereign and close knit nations as is Spain and the Philippines.

2)   These sentiments are expressed in the willingness of the Spanish people to devote a substantial part of its official aid for Development to the Philippines.

The allocation given to this country by Spain (by the Spanish citizen as a tax payer) is of nine million dollars in 1998, especially dedicated to the poorest sectors, the Philippines being the second developing country in the world (apart from Latin America) to receive the Spanish official Development Aid.  And, perhaps, to this we should add the increasing presence of Spanish NGOs working in the fields at different kinds of development programs.

I think this would be the best way to achieve a historical reconciliation.  History is not always a pleasant matter.  And, the financial generosity of a donor – one hundred years later – should be corresponded by at least, a small fragment of intellectual generosity by the recipient.

On a personal basis, I have written a lot about my feelings on the matter in Philippine newspapers and also given Lectures.  I am convinced that the assassination of Rizal and the selling of the Philippines to the United States of America were terrible mistakes.  But I, as a Spanish citizen of the end of this century, I cannot endorse the errors of a “black” Spain that I have fought against all of my life during the long years of Franco’s dictatorship.

Likewise, a great number of Spaniards have always believed firmly in the Rizalian principles of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights.  For example, let me tell you that in my own town, Barcelona, Dr. Rizal had a street with his name as early as 1904, although the first street dedicated to him was only in 1911, seven years later.

With these strong feelings, I assure you that precisely, the best way to reconciliation that I can see is, in Spain helping the Philippines in its development.  And to this effect, you can be sure that the Philippines is one of the priorities of the Spanish cooperation program because the Spanish citizenry demands it.

It is not my intention to indulge in these very sensitive issues.  On the contrary.  You can have the assurance that my Embassy is totally open to every initiative that could improve and further strengthen our bilateral relationship.

In the best spirit – free and generous – of Dr. Jose Rizal himself.

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of Dignity

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 APPENDICES: 

App 4-A: Text of Response from Spain’s Envoy

App. 4-B: Life in the Islands at the start of Spanish Rule