The Declaration of Philippine Independence on 12

June 1898
Written by Philippine Embassy Webmaster

Wednesday, 11 June 2008

The Philippine Declaration of Independence occurred in Kawit, Cavite on 12 June 1898 where
Filipino revolutionary forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty and
independence of the Philippine islands from Spanish colonization after the latter was defeated
at the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898 during the Spanish-American War. It was declared
a national holiday and was witnessed by thousands of people who gathered in Kawit to
witness the historic event.

The declaration, however, was not recognized by the United States or Spain, as the Spanish
government ceded the Philippines (and other Spanish colonial territories) to the United
States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris signed on 10 December 1898 in consideration for an
indemnity for Spanish expenses and assets lost.

The Act of the Declaration of Independence was prepared and written by Ambrosio Rianzares
Bautista in Spanish, who also read the said declaration. A passage in the Declaration reminds
one of another passage in the American Declaration of Independence. The Philippine
Declaration was signed by ninety-eight persons, among them an American army officer who
witnessed the proclamation. The Act declared that the Filipinos “are and have the right to be
free and independent,” and that the nation from ”this day commences to have a life of its
own, with every political tie between Filipinas and Spain severed and annulled”.

The event saw the National Flag of the Philippines, designed by General Aguinaldo and made
in Hongkong by Mrs. Marcela Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo and Delfina Herboza unfurled for
the first time. This was followed by the performance of the “Marcha Filipina Magdalo” now
known as “Lupang Hinirang”, the National Anthem. The composer, Julian Felipe. was a music
teacher from Cavite. The lyrics to the anthem were sourced a year after from the poem of
Jose Palma entitled “Filipinas”.

General Aguinaldo explained the symbolism of the Filipino flag. Each of the three colors has
an appropriate meaning:

a. the lower red stripe represents patriotism and valor

b. the upper blue stripe signifies peace, truth and justice
c. the white triangle stands for equality

The three stars indicate the three geographical areas of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The eight rays of the sun refer to first eight provinces of Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva
Ecija, Bataan, Laguna, Batangas and Cavite which took up arms against Spain and were
placed under martial law by the Spaniards at the start of the Philippine Revolution in 1896.

Sources: Agoncillo and Guerrero, History of the Filipino People

Zaide, S. The Philippines: A Unique Nation