The Philippine Revolution

The Proclamation of
Philippine Independence
 Declaration of Independence

With a government in operation, Aguinaldo thought that it

was necessary to declare the independence of the Philippines. He believed
that such a move would inspire the people to fight more eagerly against
the Spaniards and at the same time, lead the foreign countries to recognize
the independence of the country. Mabini, who had by now been made
Aguinaldo's unofficial adviser, objected. He based his objection on the fact
that it was more important to reorganize the government in such a manner
as to convince the foreign powers of the competence and stability of the
new
government than to proclaim Philippine independence at
such an early period. Aguinaldo, however, stood his ground and won.
In the town of Cavite-Viejo, Province of Cavite, this 12th day of
June 1898: BEFORE ME, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, War
Counsellor and Special Delegate designated to proclaim and
solemnize this Declaration of Independence by the Dictatorial of
the Philippines, pursuant to, and by virtue of, a Decree issued
by the Engregious Dictator Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy, The
undersigned assemblage of military chiefs and others of the
army who could not attend, as well as the representatives of
the various towns, Taking into account the fact that the people
of this country are already tired of bearing the ominous joke of
Spanish domination.
Because of arbitrary arrests and abuses of the Civil Guards who
cause deaths in connivance with and even under the express
orders of their superior officers who at times would order the
shooting of those placed under arrest under the pretext that
they attempted to escape in violation of known Rules and
Regulations, which abuses were left unpunished, and because of
unjust deportations of illustrious Filipinos, especially those
decreed by General Blanco at the instigation of the Archbishop
and friars interested in keeping them in ignorance for egoistic
and selfish ends, which deportations were carried out through
processes more execrable than those of the Inquisition which
every civilized nation repudiates as a trial without hearing.
Protectorate Proclaimed Aguinaldo continued his moves for
consolidation. The next step was the proclamation of Philippine
Independence on June 12, 1898. Appropriate celebrations
marked the event in Kawit at which the Philippine flag was
officially raised and the Philippine National Anthem first
publicly played. The declaration was prepared by Ambrosio
Rianzares Bautista who patterned it after the American
Declaration of Independence. Aguinaldo invited Dewey to the
festivities, but the latter declined the invitation and did not
even report the event to Washington. The declaration was
signed by ninety- eight persons, including an American office,
L.M. Johnson, Colonel of Artillery.
The Declaration of Independence is the document in which
Filipino revolutionary forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo
(later to become the Philippines' first Republican President)
proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine
Islands from the colonial rule of Spain after the latter was
defeated at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-
American War. The declaration, however, was not recognized
by the United States or Spain, as the Spanish government ceded
the Philippines to the United States in the 7898 Treaty of Paris,
in consideration for an indemnity for Spanish expenses and
assets lost.
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
fromS panishcolonization 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
he three stars indicate the three geographical areas of Luzon, Visayas
and Mindanao. he 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
THANK YOU!!!