Republic of the Philippines

BOHOL ISLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

Main Campus
C.P.G. Avenue, Tagbilaran City, Bohol

VISION: A premier Science and Technology university for the formation of a world class and virtuous human resource
for sustainable development in Bohol and the country.
MISSION: BISU is committed to provide quality higher education in the arts and sciences, as well as in the professional
and technological fields; undertake research and development, and extension services for sustainable development of Bohol
and the country.

Name: Aliyah Louisse L. Magsino

Year and Section: BSCE 2A
Activity 3 – Essay on Critical Analysis

The Proclamation of Philippine Independence

The annual June 12 observance of the Philippine Independence Day came into effect
after past President Diosdado Macapagal signed the Republic Act No. 4166 regarding this
matter on August 4, 1964. The original celebration used to be on July 4, which was declared as
Philippine Republic Day or American-Filipino Friendship Day, when a treaty was made declaring
the freedom of the Philippines from the United States during the year 1946. The Republic Act
No. 4166 legalized the holiday, which is based on the Declaration of Independence on June 12,
1898, by General Emilio Aguinaldo and Filipino revolutionary forces from the Spanish
colonization. The Act of the Declaration of Independence was prepared by Ambrosio Rianzares
Bautista, who was also the one to read it.
Before the occurrence of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, Ambrosio
Rianzares Bautista, also known as Don Bosyong, was a lawyer. He was said to be a distant
relative of the Rizal family, and he frequently provided advice to José Rizal during his school
days in Manila. Bautista solicited funds to finance a campaign for reforms in the Philippines,
later becoming a member of the La Liga Filipina, Cuerpo de Compromisarios, and La
Propaganda. In 1896, the Spaniards arrested and imprisoned him at Fort Santiago, as he was
suspected of being involved in the Philippine Revolution. Bautista elected to defend himself and
was later released from prison. In 1898, Bautista became the first adviser to President Emilio
Aguinaldo and later wrote the Declaration of Philippine Independence. On July 14, 1899,
Bautista was elected to the position of president in Tarlac’s Revolutionary Congress and was
later appointed judge of the Court of First Instance of Pangasinan. Bautista, who also served as
solicitor general of the revolutionary government, died on December 4, 1903, at the age of 72.
The Philippine Declaration of Independence (Spanish: Acta de la proclamación de
independencia del pueblo Filipino, 'An Act of the Proclamation of the Independence of
the
Filipino People') was written by Ambrosio R. Bautista, “War Counselor and Special
Delegate-
Designate” of the revolutionary Philippine government. It was read by Bautista during
the
proclamation of Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898. The event took place between four
and five in the afternoon at the ancestral home of Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite; which featured
the unfurling of the first Philippine flag (sewn in Hong Kong by Marcela Agoncillo,
Lorenza
Agoncillo, and Delfina Herboza) and the playing of the Marcha Filipina Magdalo (composed by
The Philippine Declaration of Independence (Acta de la proclamación de Independencia
del Pueblo Filipino), was written by Ambrosio R. Bautista and was also read by him during the
proclamation of Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898. The event took place between four
and five in the afternoon at the ancestral home of Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite. During the
Proclamation of Philippine Independence, the Philippine flag, made in Hong Kong by Marcela
Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo, and Delfina Herboza, was first unfurled, with the Philippine
National Anthem played at the same time. As opposed to usual belief, it was Ambrosio
Rianzares Bautista, and not Aguinaldo, who waved the Philippine flag. The declaration was
signed by 98 persons. One of the signers was an American, L.M. Johnson, Colonel of Artillery.
The document declares the independence of the Filipino people from Spain. It lists down the
abuses of the Spanish colonial regime starting from the time of the arrival of Ferdinand
Magellan in 1531. Unfortunately, the Declaration was recognized by neither the United States
nor Spain because Spain had surrendered the Philippines to the United States through the
Treaty of Paris. The primary source is currently located in the National Library of the Philippines.
It is not displayed for the public to see but it can be seen upon request. During the Philippine-
American War, about 400,000 documents were seized and sent to the US, which were then
returned in 1958.
The Declaration of Philippine Independence is one of the most important events in
Philippine history. The country was colonized by many nations for hundreds of years. And
finally, we got to achieve our freedom from Spain, after being colonized by them for around 3
centuries. The Declaration of Philippine Independence was important because Emilio Aguinaldo
believed it would inspire people to fight against the Spaniards and at the same time lead other
nations to recognize the independence of the Philippines. Which showed great bravery and
nationalism.
According to Claro M. Recto, Jr., “Nationalism is nourished by a sense of history. It is of
its essence to know profoundly the past, so that we may be in complete openness with the men
who made that history and in intimate communion with their thoughts, their deeds, and their
noble lives.” Learning about the Declaration of Philippine Independence had not only helped
me understand the historic events of my country but also made me appreciate the Filipino
heritage, culture and tradition, and also our national heroes. The document imparts us with
knowledge on what happened during one of the most important historic events of the
Philippines, which is the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, as it holds the exact record
of the historic event. The historic stories about how our forefathers fought for our freedom
should serve as lessons to learn as citizens of this country. It inspires Filipinos to be better
people, as an individual and as a citizen of the Philippines. Celebrating the annual
Independence Day of the Philippines is not only a holiday we get to enjoy but also a time for us
to reflect and look back on its significance to our country, on how it has helped or country be
what it is now, an independent and republic country. Philippine Independence Day is also a
time for us to honor our heroes for their courage and sacrifices in fighting for our freedom till
their last breath.

References:
https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/philippines/independence-day
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/philippine-independence-declared
https://filipino.biz.ph/history/declaration.html
https://knappily.com/onthisday/the-philippines-independence-spain-united-states-aguinaldo-
264#:~:text=The%20most%20significant%20achievement%20of,to%20witness%20the
%20historic%20event.