Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
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