LESSON 6

Pre-test

They say that photography is the beauty of life captured. Now, present the beauty of history by
discussing the stories behind the following photos.

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Lesson 6. 1898 Philippine

Independence to 1st Republic
Lesson 6 Learning Outcomes:
1 Analyze context of some sources and its contribution
to understanding Philippine History as a whole.
Required 2. Trace the foundation of Philippine Republic.
resources: 3. Identify reasons for commemoration of June 12
Independence Day.
a. PPT
b. Worksheet
c. videos A. PRE-ACTIVITY
A national flag represents and symbolizes a nation.
Create a version of Philippine flag below and discuss its symbols and colors based on how
you understand the story of our nation.

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Lesson 6. 1898 Philippine

Independence to 1st Republic
B.
Learning Outcomes:
1 Analyze context of some sources and its contribution
Lesson 6 to understanding Philippine History as a whole.
2. Trace the foundation of Philippine Republic.
3. Identify reasons for commemoration of June 12
Independence Day.

B. CONTENT

In April 1898, the Spanish-American War broke out while Spain was trying to subdue the
Cuban revolution which began in 1895. The American became so involved in this war until it
resulted to sending its army to Manila to help Aguinaldo win the battle against Spain to free
Philippines from occupation.

To know more about what happened the Spanish-American war, please watch this:

https://www.history.com/topics/early-20th-century-us/spanish-american-
war

General Emiiio Aguinaldo had negotiations with Mr. E. Spencer Pratt (US Consul General)
when he was in Singapore for an offer to support the Philippines in fighting Spain. The United States
would then recognize Philippine Independence after the defeat of Spain.
The Battle of Manila began on May 1, 1898 when Commodore Dewey with his naval squadron
attacked the Spanish forces in Manila which led to casualties of 160 Spaniards and 210 men
wounded. Aguinaldo arrived in Cavite on May 19, 1898 and urged the Filipinos to join the Americans
in this common struggle.
When Aguinaldo arrived from HongKong, he brought with him a draft of a constitutional plan
drawn up by Mariano Ponce. The plan was for the establishment of a federal republic. On May 24,
1898, upon the advice of Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, General Aguinaldo did not pursue the
federal republic and established a dictatorial government. He established this government to
revoke the authority of the Biak-na-Bato Republic and unite the revolutionary forces.
Having a government in operation, Aguinaldo deemed it necessary to declare the
independence of the Philippines (it happened even though Mabini opposed the plan).

A. The Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence. When we speak of the proclamation of

Philippine Independence, the primary source that we can use is the Acta dela Proclamacion de
Independencia del Pueblo Filipino.

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This act was authored by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista. This man who was
born in Binan Laguna was a lawyer, confidant and an adviser of Emilio
Aguinaldo. He finished his law degree at UST and practiced his profession in
Manila. He was one of the members of La Liga Filipina. He was also
imprisoned during the outbreak of Philippine Revolution. He became also a
member of the Malolos Congress.

On June 12, between 4:00-5:00 in the afternoon, Aguinaldo proclaimed the

Independence of the Philippines at Cavite el Viejo (now Kawit) in front of a huge crowd. Thousands
of people were gathered to witness this historic event. It was also the time when the Philippine
National Flag (check the meaning of symbols in the act) was officially hoisted and the Philippine
National March (Anthem) was played publicly. The Act of declaration is a 21-page document and
signed by 98 persons who witnessed the proclamation and one on them was an American by the
name of L.M. Johnson. The act includes the list of grievances against Spain and the important events
during the Spanish occupation. This act was translated to English by Sulpicio Guevarra.

Please see translation here: https://filipino.biz.ph/history/declaration.html

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The Philippines has more than one Independence Declaration:

1. In the Cave of Pamitinan Montalban, Rizal on April 12., 1895.
2. Cry of Pugadlawin in August 1896.
3. When Aguinaldo issued two manifestos on October 31, 1896.
4. Proclamation in Kawit, Cavite
5. October 14, 1943 during the Japanese Occupation
6. July 4, 1946 in Manila

So why do we commemorate June 12, 1898?

On May 12, 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Proclamation No. 28 which
declares June 12 as special public holiday.
On August 4, 1964 Republic Act No. 4166 renamed July 4 as “Republic Day” and June
12 as “Philippine Independence Day”

According to the memoirs of Macapagal in 1967:

“When I was a congressman, I had formed formed the
opinion that July 4 is not proper Independence Day for
Filipinos and should be changed to June 12 when
General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the
independence of the Philippines in Kawit, Cavite in 1898....I
felt too, that July 4 was not inspiring enough for the Filipino youth
since it recalled peaceful independence missing to the United States.”

B. The Malolos Constitution

General Emilio Aguinaldo transferred the government’s seat of power from Bacoor
Cavite to Malolos, Bulacan and used the Malolos Cathedral as the Palacio Presidencia in
August 1898. He also refused to acknowledge American control in the country. He wanted a
government without foreign invasion.
From September 4-10, 1898, Aguinaldo completed the appointment of the Philippine
Congress which would form the Philippine Constitution. On September 15, 1898, the
Revolutionary Congress was inaugurated at the Barasoain Church in Malolos. A total of 93
representatives took part in the Congress and 35 of them were directly elected.
A committee was formed to draft the
Officers of the Malolos Congress:
constitution. It studied three proposals were (drafts)
President- Pedro Paterno
submitted. The Mabini Plan was the constitutional Vice President- Benito Legarda
program of the Philippine Republic. The Paterno Secretary- Gregorio Araneta,
Plan was based on Spanish Constitution of 1868. Pablo Tecson (replaced Araneta)
The Calderon Plan was constitution based on the and Pablo Ocampo
constitutions of France, Belgium, Mexico, Costa
Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Brazil. At the end, it
was Calderon’s Plan that was approved by the Congress and the discussion about the
constitution lasted until November 29, 1898. The Malolos Constitution was enacted on
January 21, 1899 and the Republic was inaugurated on January 23, 1899 at the Barasoain
Church Malolos Bulacan. This was the first republic in Asia.

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Contribution and Relevance of Documents in Understanding the Grand Narrative of Philippine

History

1. The Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence transformed us into a nation and

made us enjoy freedom and rights.
2. We now appreciate symbols/design of Philippine flag and relevance of national
anthem.
3. It made us understand the role of constitution in establishing a democratic
government.

-It was Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista and not Aguinaldo who read the
proclamation and waived the Philippine Flag in Kawit, Cavite on June 12,
1898.
-The Philippine flag (Sun and Stars) made by Marcella Agoncillo was first
unfurled in the Battle of Alapan (a barrio in Imus, Cavite).
-The Philippine National Anthem was composed by Julian Felipe.
- 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 Act of Declaration was not recognized by the United States and Spain
since Philippines was ceded to US in the amount of Php20M based on the
Treaty of Paris in 1898.
- Felipe Calderon is also known as “The Father of Malolos Constitution”

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Online Resources/Activities:

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/philippine-independence-declared
www.edmodo.com
https://filipino.biz.ph/history/declaration.html

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References:

READINGS
Candelaria J.L and Alporha V.C. (2018).INReadings
PHILIPPINE HISTORY History. Rex Bookstore Inc.
in Philippine
 LESSON 6

Name:
Year & Section:
Assessment Professor:
Date:
t

The Act summarizes the event that happened prior/that led to Declaration of
Philippine Independence from the time of Magellan up to the Revolution in 1896, the exile of
Aguinaldo in Hong Kong, his return to the Philippines in 1898 and his government; including our
grievances.

Direction: By reading the English version of Act of Declaration of Independence, indicate the
important events of the following years that contributed/resulted to Philippine Independence.

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YEAR/s SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

1521

1565

1872

1892

1896

Part 2: Identify the original meaning of the symbols and colors of our national flag using the Act
of Declaration as the reference.

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Name:
Year & Section:
POST-TEST Professor:
Date:

The following sentences tell about the lesson you learned above. Write TRUE on the spade provided
if the statement is correct; otherwise underline the word/s that make/s it incorrect then write F.

__________1. The Treaty of Paris in 1963 ceded Philippines to US.

__________2. It was Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista who wrote the Act of Proclamation
of the Independence of the Filipino People but it was Aguinaldo who read
it.
__________3. It was in Barasoian Church where the 1st Philippine Congress was made.
__________4. The Malolos Republic is the first republic in Asia.
__________5. Felipe Calderon is the Father of Philippine Constitution.
__________6. The Spanish-American war begun in Cuba.

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__________7. William McKinley was the President of the United States when the
Spanish-American war happened.
__________8. No American attended the celebration of Independence in Cavite.
__________9. The Philippine flag was officially unfurled in Kawit, Cavite on June 12,
1896.
__________10. Aguinaldo established a revolutionary government prior to dictatorial
government in 1898.

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