Prologue: the Pearl Glints in the Sun.

'Tierra Adorada,
hija del sol de Oriente,
su fuego ardiente,
en ti latiendo esta.'

A girl with shoulder-length ebony hair stood a few feet away from the crowd, surveying the people with her burnt-brown eyes. She felt the excitement in the air, and she could see that there were smiles on the faces of her country men. The sun was finally shining on her people once again.

Today was the day. Today was the day that they need not fight any longer.

'Maria!' A voice cried from behind her. She whirled around, looking for the source of the voice. A tall blond man in bomber jacket sprinted towards her, causing a few attendees to jump out of the way to avoid him and earning him a few shouts for his impertinence. 'Sorry!' He hollered at them, ignoring their chastisement. An elderly man grabbed the back of the American's outer-most garment, 'Bakit ka tumatakbo? 'Di mo ba nakikita na maraming tao? Baka may masaktan pa diyan sa ginagawa mo, bata!' He chided. 'A-Ah. Paumanhin po! Nagmamadali kasi po ako,' he attempted to pronounce the words as properly as he could, smiling sheepishly. 'Naku naman ito. You're an American, aren't you?' The man inquired. Alfred grinned, 'Yes, sir.'

'You're a soldier, aren't you?' The man said as he examined the westerner's uniform.

'You could say that, sir.'

'Could you say that? Where did you fight?' He asked.

'I had inspected all the fronts, but I has spent most of my time worrying about this one,' he replied honestly.

'So you're a high-ranking officer? Parang ang bata mo pa; ano ka, 19, 20?'

'I'm not as young as I look, sir,' Alfred chuckled.

'What's your name, boy? And why're you in a hurry?'

Alfred raised his arm in a salute, 'Alfred F. Jones, the United States of America, at your service!' The man looked at him with a bewildered expression, 'Ano?' He stared at him for a few more moments, trying to regain his composure. He quickly saluted back the moment the idea penetrated his mind, 'No wonder you knew how to speak Tagalog.' The former gave a light chortle, 'And as for the reason why I am in a hurry, I am on my way to see your Inang Bayan.' The bloke smiled, 'Well, I'd better not keep you then,' he offered Alfred his hand to shake, 'Thank you, Estados Unidos de America, for helping us.' America instantly took his hand and shook it, 'It was my pleasure.' The other nodded and proceeded to the grandstand erected for the occasion. Alfred hastily jogged towards Maria, shouting her name, 'Maria!' She had been watching the entire seen, trying to contain her laughter. The moment he reached her, he pulled her into a tight hug, earning a few chuckles from passers-by. The girl herself laughed as she was hoisted up into the air by him, 'Happy Birthday, Alfred!' He put her down quickly, holding her hands, 'Since it's now your birthday too, Happy Birthday! Sorry that took a while.' 'Ayan kasi. You're too hasty,' she laughed, swinging their arms. 'Well, let's go!' Alfred said, starting to walk in the direction parallel to the festivities. 'Alright, alright.'

A few minutes later, they arrived at a shaded area away from the mass of people. They had the perfect view of the flag pole they were to raise the flag from. At that moment, Alfred's 48-star flag still hovered above their heads, but not for long. They sat down under a tree, waiting for the ceremony to start. Today was the day she had been expecting for so long. For centuries, she had been under another. Her people had been struggling for her freedom for far too long. She smiled at the thought of it, but her smile quickly faltered. She thought of Lapu-lapu, of the Silangs, of the Bonifacio and Katipunan, of the Malolos Republic, of those who opposed the Americans, of those who fought against her most recent captors - and Rizal. The ceremony was so close to the location his execution. She recalled what his final letter had contained.

'Adios, Patria adorada, region del sol querida,
Perla del Mar de Oriente, nuestro perdido Eden!
A darte voy alegre la triste mustia vida,
Y fuera más brillante más fresca, más florida,
Tambien por tí la diera, la diera por tu bien.'

She uttered the words, tasting each and every one of them. Tears began rolling down her face. Alfred looked at her with an anxious expression - she had said it audibly enough for him to hear. He had met Rizal before, and he knew what he had done for her. He wrapped his arms around her. She put her hands on the ones that had enveloped her.

'Tierra adorada,
hija del sol de oriente,
su fuego ardiente,
en ti latiendo esta.

Tierra de amores,
del heroísmo cuna,
los invasores
no te hollarán jamás.'

She began to sing her anthem in its original Spanish form derived from Jose Palma's poem, 'Filipinas.' She thought of the reformists, the revolutionaries, the citizens who wanted to break her chains and set her free. Even though she was sobbing, her voice remained clear and melodious. She was crying not only for Rizal, but also for the 'bayani' who had fought for her.

'Ever within thy skies and through thy clouds
And o'er thy hills and sea,
Do we behold the radiance, feel the throb,
Of glorious liberty.'

Alfred joined in, singing the English version. Maria paused, looking up at him. He smiled at her - not with his usual outspoken grin, but with a sincere toothless smile. His pacific-blue eyes bore into hers as he continued. Maria achieved a small tearful smile. She now cried tears of gratitude towards her American hero. She eventually burst into song again, joining in the singing of her anglicized song. She wanted to sing it well, for from that day on, she would be singing it in her own language.

'Thy banner, dear to all our hearts,
Its sun and stars alight,
O never shall its shining field
Be dimmed by tyrant's might!

Beautiful land of love, o land of light,
In thine embrace 'tis rapture to lie,
But it is glory ever, when thou art wronged,
For us, thy sons to suffer and die.'

They finished together. The archipelago looked up into the sky, thinking about it all. She stood up, Alfred following her. The American flag was being lowered and replaced by hers. They saluted in unison, watching the ceremony. After the flag had been raised, they heard a roar of clapping from the stands. Alfred took her hand, 'from today on, you will no longer be 'Maria Clara Carriedo y Dela Cruz,' nor will you be 'Honda Maria,' nor,' he paused, swallowing the pang of sadness he felt, 'nor shall you be 'Maria Clara D. Jones.' From this day forth, you shall be known as 'Maria Clara Santos Dela Cruz,' he finished, saluting at her, 'Happy Birthday, Maria Clara Santos Dela Cruz, the Republic of the Philippines!' She looked at him, a hearty smile forming on her tear-stricken face, 'Thank you, Alfred. You've emancipated my people,' she returned the salute and quickly hugged her the man who had just given her what she had been wishing for. He caressed her, a smile present on his face. 'It's no problem. I did it not only for your people, but I also did for you.'

'Aiyah, you guys are so adorable, aru!' A voice exclaimed from behind a tree. Startled, Maria and Alfred separated, their eyes darting towards the source of the voice. A man with long brown, ponytailed hair emerged from the shadows; he was wearing an ornately decorated red mandarin jacket. 'Kuya Yao!' Maria declared, running to take her brother's hands. 'Happy Birthday, Maria, aru!' He replied. A few others quickly appeared behind him: a messy-haired and thick-browed blond man wearing a casual suit, a brown-haired boy with same eyebrows wearing a crimson duangua with overlong sleeves, two brunets - one with short, flyaway hair, wearing a blue and white hanbok, and the other with long a long ponytail, wearing the same garment in violet. 'Kuya Arthur, Hong, Yong Soo, and Hyung Soo!' Maria rushed to give them a hug. 'I didn't think you guys would make it. What with all the reparations and a-,' Philippines quickly noticed that someone was unaccounted for, 'where's Me-?' She began, but her question was swiftly answered by voices in the background. 'I'm over here, Maria!' A brunette with a pink plum blossom in her hair said from quite far away; she was wearing a long-sleeved pink qipao top and a long, flowing white skirt. 'Ah, Mei!' Maria hollered, about to approach the girl, but she suddenly noticed that she had brought someone along with her. Someone whom she had not expected to see.

'A-Ah. G-Good M-Morning, M-Maria-san.'

An all-too-familiar man said, struggling to stay on his feet. He had short and dark hair, and he was wearing an imperial uniform. His left arm was slung around Mei's shoulder, so he would not fall. 'Ha-H-Happy B-Birthday, Maria-san,' he stuttered, taking his arm away from Taiwan. He knelt on the ground, bowing his head, 'G-Gomenasai. I-I am truly sorry for everything. I understand if you are furious at me, and I apologize if I am ruining your celebration. I came so that I may ato -,' he was cut off by Maria. She pulled him into an embrace, 'it's alright, kuya. I've already forgiven you,' she said, 'I'm glad you were able to make it with your injury, Kuya Kiku.' Japan was startled at her. She stood up and extended her hand, offering it to him. He grasped her palm, and she pulled him up. He almost toppled over if Alfred had not been there to steady him. 'Arigatou, Alfred-san.' The western nation replied, 'Don't mention it. I am the hero after all!' Maria jabbed her elbow into his ribs, but he was unfazed. He merely chuckled.

'Aiyah, aru. Now that that's settled, let's go eat!' China said happily, 'we've prepared some food over there,' he continued, gesturing to a secluded area in the west. 'Alright, kuya!' Maria smiled, enthusiastic. 'I'm starving,' the American said in agreement. 'Good because I've prepared some of my scones,' Arthur smirked. 'Oh, well, nevermind then,' the other responded in a joking manner. The Englishman thumped the offender's head, 'Oi!' They all laughed at the unfolding scene. 'Come on then,' Hyung Soo leered at them. They all began to proceed towards the designated area. But Maria stopped in her tracks, looking at the spot that the reformist had been shot for her.

'Don't worry, Pepe. The Pearl of the Orient Seas can shine once more.'

Notes:

This'll be one of the only chapters that lacks historical accuracy. I was unable to find a detailed account of the ceremony that transpired on the 4th of July, 1946 in Luneta. I was only aware that they had erected a grandstand for the occasion in the park, and they had lowered the American flag and raised the Philippine one.

Translations:
Tierra Adorada. . . : They are the original Spanish lyrics written by Jose Palma. They were added to Julian Felipe's melody a year after the declaration of independence.
Ever withing thy skies. . . : They are the lyrics to the official English version called, 'the Philippine Hymn.' It was used during the American occupation.
Adios Patria Adorada. . . : It was the first paragraph of Jose Rizal's 'Mi Ultimo Adios.' It is said that he had another letter hidden in his shoe, but since no one is able to decipher it, 'Mi Ultimo Adios' is considered his last.
'Bakit ka tumatakbo? 'Di mo ba nakikita na maraming tao? Baka may masaktan pa diyan sa ginagawa mo, bata!': 'Why are you running? Can't you see that there are a lot of people. Someone might get hurt with what you're doing, kid!'
'Paumanhin po! Nagmamadali kasi po ako': 'Sorry/ Forgive me! I'm in a hurry.'
'Naku naman ito': No direct translation.
Parang ang bata mo pa; ano ka, 19, 20? : You seem so young; what are you, 19, 20?
Inang Bayan: Motherland
Estados Unidos de America: United States of America.
'Ayan kasi. : Similar to 'that's what you get.'
Bayani: Filipino word for 'hero.'

Pepe: Jose Rizal.

I hope you guys like it. :)