The Philippines is celebrating its Independence day today. The Filipino flag was unfurled for the first time on this day June 12 in 1898. It consists of more than 7, 000 separate islands in the western Pacific, declared independence from Spanish rule.<br />''<br />''Secretary of National Defence Delfin Lorenzana fainted during the Independence Day rites at Luneta Park in Manila this morning.  In a statement, the Department of National Defence, DND said Lorenzana fainted due to fatigue after back-to-back engagements in Singapore, Korea, and different parts of the Philippines. President Rodrigo Duterte led the ceremony.