The Philippine Revolution began in August 1896.

In December 1897, the Pact of Biak-

na-Bato, an agreement between the Spanish colonial government and the
revolutionaries, created a truce between the parties. Under terms of this agreement,
Emilio Aguinaldo and other revolutionary leaders went into exile in Hong Kong.

At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Commodore George Dewey sailed from
Hong Kong to Manila Bay leading the Asiatic Squadron of the U.S. Navy. On May 1,
1898, the Dewey defeated the Spanish in the Battle of Manila Bay. Later that month, the
U.S. Navy transported Aguinaldo back to the Philippines.

On June 12, 1898, Aguinaldo led the declaration of Philippine independence from
Spanish colonial rule. Philippines independence was not recognzed either by the United
States of America or by Spain. The Spanish government later ceded the Philippine
archipelago to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris. The Philippines
Revolutionary Government did not recognize the treaty. When the Americans sought to
execute the terms of the treaty, a three-year conflict, now called the Philippine-American
War, ensued.

The US granted independence to the Philippines on 4 July 1946 through the Treaty of
Manila.

4 July, the date intentionally chosen by the United States because it corresponds to its
Independence Day, was observed in the Philippines as Independence Day until 1962.
On 12 May 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Presidential Proclamation No.
28, which declared Tuesday, 12 June a special public holiday throughout the
Philippines, "... in commemoration of our people's declaration of their inherent and
inalienable right to freedom and independence." On 4 August 1964, Republic Act No.
4166 renamed the 4 July holiday as "Philippine Republic Day", proclaimed 12 June as
"Philippine Independence Day", and enjoined all citizens of the Philippines to observe
the latter with befitting rites.

Prior to 1964, 12 June had been observed as Flag Day, which was moved to 28 May
(the date the Philippine Flag was first flown in battle).
Here are a couple of things you need to know about June 12, more commonly known
as ArawngKalayaan or Philippine Independence Day:

1. It was declared on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite. On this faithful day, we were
proclaimed free from 333 years (yes, it was that long) of Spanish rule by Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo. However, it wasn’t Aguinaldo who prepared, wrote, and read it: it was his
adviser, AmbrosioRianzares Bautista, known as Don Bosyong.

2. The National Anthem was composed by Julian Felipe, but wasn’t called
“LupangHinirang.”

It was called “MarchaNacional Filipina.” It didn’t have lyrics until 1899, when Jose Palma
wrote a poem that people started singing to the tune of “MarchaNacional.” It wasn’t until
1938 that it was officially given the title “LupangHinirang.” It was sung in Spanish until
1956, when it was first heard and sung in Tagalog.

3. The Treaty of Paris wasn’t meant to give us freedom from Spain.

The treaty was a deal between Spain and the United States, making the former cede
control of the Philippines to the latter for a cool US$20 million, which is roughly US$571
million today. That’s how much our country was in 1898.

4. June 12 wasn’t our original Independence Day.

It used to be July 4, the day when we were granted independence by the United States
after WWII. Former Pres. DiosdadoMacapagal had it moved in 1962 via Presidential
Proclamation No. 28. July 4 is still celebrated as Republic Day or Filipino-American
Friendship Day.

5. The Philippine Flag wasn’t flown for the first time on June 12.

Rather, it was first flown on May 28, 1898 after the Battle of Alapan. This was
recognized by both Macapagal former Pres. Fidel V. Ramos, who declared that National
Flag Day be celebrated from May 28 – June 12 via Executive Order No. 179. This also
means we celebrate Philippine Independence for 16 days.