Honestly, I think it depends on who you talk to. For some older folks or people really into history, June 12 is full-on meaningful. My grandpa always talks about the flag and the heroes and all that stuff. But with a lot of my friends, it's just a day to relax or binge-watch shows. I've even seen people just treat it like a random day off unless there's a big parade or a sale at the mall.

Still, I think the whole country sort of pays attention, even if it’s just because they see the flag everywhere or hear about it on social media. Last year I actually went to a parade with my classmates out of curiosity, and you could tell some people were seriously proud to be Filipino. Others just wanted the free ice cream. Maybe we take the freedom for granted, but moments like these remind us it's not just another day on the calendar. So yeah, it’s relevant for those who care, and for others, it’s just a bonus break. I kinda wish more people would get into what it’s actually about, but I guess that's just how things go.