The Philippine Declaration of Independence occurred

on June 12, 1898 in Cavite II el Viejo (now Kawit),

Cavite, Philippines. With the public reading of the Act of
the Declaration of Independence, Filipino revolutionary
forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the
sovereignty and independence of the Philippine Islands
from the colonial rule of Spain, which had been recently
defeated at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-
American War.
The declaration, however, was neither recognized by the
United States nor Spain. The Spanish government later
ceded the Philippines to the United States in the 1898
Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish-American War.
The United States finally recognized Philippine
independence on July 4, 1946 in the Treaty of Manila.[1]
July 4 was observed in the Philippines as Independence
Day until August 4, 1964 when, upon the advice of
historians and the urging of nationalists, President
Diosdado Macapagal signed into law Republic Act No.
4166 designating June 12 as the country's Independence
Day.[2] June 12 had previously been observed as Flag Day
and many government buildings are urged to display the
Philippine Flag in their offices.
The Act of the Declaration of Independence
was prepared and written by
AmbrosioRianzares 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, LorenzaAgoncillo and
DelfinaHerboza unfurled for the first time.
This was followed by the performance of the
“Marcha Filipina Magdalo” now known as
“LupangHinirang”, 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.

he 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
Proclamation of
Philippine
Independence
The most significant
achievement of
Aguinaldo's Dictatorial
Government was the
proclamation of
Philippine
Independence in Kawit,
Cavite, on June 12,
1898. The day was
declared a national
holiday. Thousands of
people from the
provinces gathered in
Kawit to witness the
historic event. The
ceremony was solemnly
held at the balcony of
General Emilio
Aguinaldo's residence.
The military and civil
officials of the
government were in
period. Aguinaldo, however,
stood his ground and won.
***
On June 12, between four and
five in the afternoon,
Aguinaldo, in the presence of a
huge crowd, proclaimed the
independence of the
Philippines at Cavite el Viejo
(Kawit). For the first time, the
Philippine National Flag, made
in Hongkong by Mrs. Marcela
Agoncillo, assisted by Lorenza
Agoncillo and Delfina
Herboza, was officially hoisted
and the Philippine National
March played in public. The
Act of the Declaration of
Independence was prepared by
Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista,
who also read it. A passage in
the Declaration reminds one of
another passage in the
American Declaration of
Independence. The Philippine
Declaration was signed by
attendance.
A dramatic feature of
the ceremony was the
formal unfurling of the
Filipino flag amidst the
cheers of the people. At
the same time, the
Philippine National
Anthem was played by
the band. Ambrosio
Rianzares Bautista
solemnly read the "Act
of the Declaration of
Independence" which he
himself wrote. The
declaration was signed
by 98 persons. One of
the signers was an
American, L.M.
Johnson, Colonel of
Artillery.
The Philippines: A
Unique Nation. Dr.
Sonia M. Zaide
Protectorate Proclaimed
ninety-eight persons, among
them an American army officer
who witnessed the
proclamation. The
proclamation of Philippine
independence was, however,
promulgated on August 1 when
many towns has already been
organized under the riles laid
down by the Dictatorial
Government.
avite is revered as the
birthplace of the Republic.
Many of the events associated
with the Philippine Revolution
occurred here. At Kawit is the
balcony of the Aguinaldo
Mansion, where the
Independence of the
Philippines was proclaimed on
June l2, 1898 by General
Emilio Aguinaldo. The first
president of the ill-fated
Philippine Republic, the
General’s house is now a
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.
national shrine featuring
mementoes of Aguinaldo.
Tejeros between Rosario and
General Trias was the site of a
convention of leading
revolutionaries, which included
The declaration was
signed by ninety-eight
persons, including an
American office, L.M.
Johnson, Colonel of
Artillery.
Andres Bonifacio. Markers
recall battles at Binakayan and
Alapan (where the Filipino flag
was first unfurled).

Cavite is also synonymous with

Tagaytay City, which is
situated 688 meters above sea
level and which has the best
views of Taal Lake and
Volcano. Upon the mountain
ridges are picturesque fruit
plantations, flower farms,
private gardens, retreat houses
and resorts all taking advantage
of the city’s cool, near-alpine
climate. Known as The Rock,
Corregidor Island was the last
stronghold of American and
Filipino resistance fighters until
their surrender to the Japanese
imperial forces in May 1942.

The tadpole-shaped island is

politically part of Cavite City,
not Bataan as commonly
assumed. Points of interest
include the Light and Sound
Show at Malinta Tunnel, the
mortars in the different
batteries, Pacific War
Memorial, Spanish Lighthouse,
and the new Filipino Heroes
Memorial. The province’s
coastline has some fine beaches
with world-class resorts,
particularly at Naic and
Ternate. Other interesting spots
include Spanish-era Fort San
Felipe in Cavite City; the
Geronimo Berenguer de los
Reyes Jr. (GBR} Museum of
historical relics in General
Trias; and Mount Buntis, where
the Bonifacio brothers were
executed Jesuit missionaries
were active in Cavite during
the Spanish era. Testaments to
their legacy are the old
churches of Silang and
Maragondon, both of which
have preserved interiors.