NATIONAL HISTORICAL INSTITUTE (1997) DECLARATION OF PHILIPPINE

INDEPENDENCE

-Presently known as National HistoricalCommission of the Philippines

- a government agency of the Philippines. Its mission is "the promotion of Philippine
history and cultural heritage through research, dissemination, conservation, sites management and
heraldry works." 
- "aims to inculcate awareness and appreciation of the noble deeds and ideals of our heroes and other
illustrious Filipinos, to instill pride in the Filipino people and to rekindle the Filipino spirit through
the lessons of history."[
The dictatorial government

 Emilio Aguinaldo decided to establish a Filipino government in the wake of his military victories.
- Aguinaldo established the Dictatorial Government in May 1898 to show the capacity of Filipinos for
self-government.
 He had a draft of a plan for the establishment of a revolutionary government, prepared by Mariano
Ponce.

 Consul Wildman – advised Aguinaldo to establish a dictatorial government in which could lead to
a republican government similar to that of the united States.

 Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista – Aguinaldo’s 1st adviser, who also told him to form a dictatorial
government.

-May 24 1898 – Aguinaldo issued a decree formally establishing the Dictatorial Government which
nullified the orders issued under the authority of the Biak-na-Bato Republic.

Revolutionary government

The Revolutionary government is another government established by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo on

the 23rd day of June in the year 1898; replacing the dictatorial government.
 This government aims to struggle for the Philippine independence until the foreign countries
including Spain will recognized the Philippines. It also aims for the future establishment of the
real republic.
 Came after 1 month of Dictatorial Government through decree on June 23, 1898.
-It was formally adopted by the Malolos Congress on January 20, 1899 and promulgated by President
Emilio Aguinaldo on January 21, 1899.

 4 major Departments were initially created:

1) Dept. of Foreign Affairs, Navy and Commerce,
2) Dept. of War and Public Works,
3) Dept. of Police and Internal Order, Justice, Education and Hygiene, and
4) Dept. of Finance, Agriculture and Manufacturing Industry.

 July 15, 1898 –Aguinaldo appointed his first Cabinet 

*Baldomero Aguinaldo – war and public works

*Leandro Ibarra – Interior
*Mariano Trias – Finance

 On September 23, the cabinet was reorganized to six departments. – 6 departments: Foreign
Affairs, War, Interior, Welfare, Justice & Treasury.

MALOLOS CONGRESS

Emilio Aguinaldo issued a decree on July 18, 1898 asking for the election of delegates to the
revolutionary congress, another decree was promulgated five days later, which declared that
Aguinaldo would appoint representatives of congress because holding elections is not practical at that
time.

September 15
-Aguinaldo formally opened
the revolutionary congress at the church of
Barasoain in Malolos.

The atmosphere was festive and the Pasig Band played the national anthem. After Aguinaldo had read
his speech (which was made by Felipe Buencamino) congressional elections were held among the
delegates present.

The representatives elected for their Officers:

President: Pedro A. Paterno
Vice President: Benito Legarda
1st Secretary: Gregorio Araneta
2nd Secretary: Pablo Ocampo

The following were among the most important achievements of the Malolos Congress:
 
1. In September 29, 1898, ratified the declaration of Philippine independence held at Kawit, Cavite on
June 12, 1898
2. Passage of a law that allowed the Philippines to borrow P 20 million from banks for government
expenses
3. Establishment of the Universidad Literatura de Filipinas and other schools
4. Drafting of the Philippine Constitution
5. Declaring war against the United States on June 12, 1899

The malolos constitution

-A committee headed by Felipe Calderon and aided by Cayetano Arellano, the constitution was
drafted, for the first time by representatives of the Filipino people and it is the first republican
constitution in Asia.
-The constitution was inspired by the constitutions of Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Brazil,
Belgium and France. After some minor revisions (mainly due to the objections of Apolinario Mabini),
the final draft of the constitution was presented to Aguinaldo.
-It established a democratic, republication government with three branches - the Executive,
Legislative and the Judicial branches

*The legislative powers were exercised by the Assembly of Representatives composed of delegates
elected according to law.
*The executive powers were to be exercise by the president of the republic with the help of his
cabinet.
*Judicial powers were given to the Supreme Court and other lower courts to be created by law.

Some of its characteristics:

-anchored in democratic traditions that ultimately had their roots on American soil.
-created a Filipino State whose government was "popular, representative and responsible"
-specifically provided for safeguards against abuses and individual rights not only of the Filipinos,
but also the aliens.
-This paved the way to launching the first Philippine Republic.

The Philippine republic

The first Philippine Republic was inaugurated in Malolos, on January 23, 1899. Emilio Aguinaldo
was proclaimed the President of the Philippine Republic in Malolos. After being proclaimed
president, Emilio Aguinaldo took his oath of office.

Earlier on January 2. he formulated his Cabinet as follows:

Apolinario Mabini - President of the Cabinet and Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Teodoro Sandico - Secretary of the Interior
Baldomero Aguinaldo - Secretary of War
Mariano Trias - Secretary of finance
Gracio Gonzaga - Secretary of Welfare, including Public Instruction, Public Works,
Communications, Agriculture, Industry and Commerence

Declaration of independence
 June 12, 1898 – proclamation of the independence of the Philippines at Cavite el Viejo (Kawit).

 June 5, 1898 – Aguinaldo issued a decree setting aside June 12 as the day for proclamation of
Philippine Independence.

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL ANTHEM  Julian Felipe – composer from Cavite, who showed the draft
of Composition entitled Marcha Filipina Magdalo which was later changed to Marcha Nacional
Filipana.

- The Philippine flag was waved at the central

window while the Marcha Filipina Magdalo was
played.
- Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista is the first to wave the Philippine national flag

 Philippine National Flag – made in 535 MORRISON HILL HongKong by Marcela Agoncillo,
Lorenza Agoncillo, and Delfina Herboza.

Description of the symbols of the Philippine flag

The flag's color scheme also gives the Philippines flag meaning.
- white section symbolizes liberty, equality and fraternity
- blue section represents peace, truth, and justice and;
- red portion means patriotism and valor.
SUN- symbolizes unity, freedom, democracy, and sovereignty.

THE 8 RAYS- each ray represent a province that played a part in the 1896 Philippine Revolution.

*MANILA
*PAMPANGA
*BULACAN
*MORONG
*CAVITE
*LAGUNA
*BATANGAS
*NUEVA ECIJA
The three stars stand for the three big islands of the Philippines, namely Luzon, Visayas, and
Mindanao
THREE STARS represents Luzon, visayas, Mindanao

 4 July 1946-  the United States granted independence to the Philippines on 4 July 1946 via the Treaty
of Manila. July 4 was observed in the Philippines as Independence Day until August 4, 1964
 President Diosdado Macapagal signed into law Republic Act No. 4166 designating June 12 as the
country's Independence Day. June 12 had previously been observed as Flag Day and many
government buildings are urged to display the Philippine Flag in their offices.

Republic Act No. 4166

 AN ACT CHANGING THE DATE OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY FROM JULY
FOUR TO JUNE TWELVE, AND DECLARING JULY FOUR AS PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC
DAY, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION TWENTY-NINE OF THE
REVISED ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.

An act changing the date of Philippine Independence day from July Four to June Twelve and
declaring July Four as Philippine republic day, further amending for the purpose section twenty-nine
of the administrative record.

On June 12th, 2018, the Philippines celebrated the 120th anniversary of their
declaration of independence from Spain in 1898. However, like most holidays,
the history behind this date is a good deal more complicated than a declaration
and a day on a calendar.