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The author of "Act

of the Declaration of
Philippine
Independence"
AMBROSIO RIANZARES
BAUTISTA
Born On December 7, 1830,
Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista,
lawyer and General Emilio
Aguinaldo’s confidante, was born in
Biñan, Laguna.
Bautista, who was arrested and jailed at the
outbreak of the Revolution, was the one who
authored the "Act of Declaration of Philippine
Independence". He was also the one who read the
declaration during the June 12, 1898 Independence
proclamation by General Aguinaldo in Kawit,
Cavite.
Accordingly, General Aguinaldo thought that it
was necessary to declare the independence of the
Philippines to inspire the people to fight more
eagerly against the Spaniards. The declaration of
independence would also lead foreign countries to
recognize the independence of the country.
Bautista patterned the act on the American
declaration of Independence, which was signed by 98
persons, among them an American army officer who
witnessed the proclamation.
The declaration, however, was not recognized by the
United States nor by Spain, as the Spanish government
ceded the Philippines to the United States in the 1898
Treaty of Paris, in consideration for an indemnity for
Spanish expenses and assets lost. No other foriegn country
recognized the Philippine independence.
Bautista, who also served as solicitor general of the
revolutionary government, died on December 4, 1903 at
the age of 72.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
OF THE ACT OF THE
DECLARATION OF THE
PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE
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.
IMPORTANT
HISTORICAL
INFORMATION
ABOUT THE ACT
OF
DECLARATION
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 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.
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
CONTRIBUTION
AND RELEVANCE
OF THE
DOCUMENT IN
UNDERSTANDING
THE GRAND
NARRATIVE OF
The contribution and relevance of the document in understanding
the grand narrative of Philippine history is that, the article shows
how the Philippines got their independence from the colonization
of the colonizers. It was declared that Philippine independence was
on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite .But the sadly the independent
wasn’t recognized by the family of native, more so the United
States or Spain. So then, the American bought the Philippines from
the Spaniards worth $20 million. Right then, Philippines was again
under colonized by Americans, the Philippine is not free, but was
just prepairing for independence. They were waiting for the
independence to be given by the American Nation. Finally, after a
long wait, the Philippines was fully independent through the
declaration signed by 98 person which says “Filipinos and are have
the right to be free and independent.”
The declaration was accompanied by the
Philippine National Flag designed by
Emilio Aguinaldo, and are made by
Marcela Agoncillo, assisted by Lorenza
Agoncillo and Delfina Herbosa also with
Marcha Filipina Magdalo (now Lupang
Hinirang) composed by Julian Felipe and
played by San Francisco de Malabon
band.
LEARNING
EXPERIENCES
The learning experience that I had while doing the assigned
reading is that, I had been familiar with the Act of Declaration
of the Philippine Independence. I know how the Spanish
Colonizers made a deal with the Americans in order to buy the
Philippines. It was all an act showing that the Americans are the
ones who believe gave us independence but it was not the way it
is. We, Filipinos believe what we have seen without knowing the
real story behind it. But we are also thankful to the Americans
because they helped us paved our way to independence. On June
12, 1898, we are able to raise our flag as a sign of independence.
I have known that Filipinos’ patriotism and nationalism are the
two virtues that exist during those times that we are under
colonized. I thank our heroes that are brave enough to fight for
our rights and succeed in owning the Philippines which is our
own beloved country.
End….
Thank you!
Reported by:
Rona Liza Escaro

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