EXAMINING THE DOCUMENTS OF THE

1898 DECLARATION OF THE PHILIPPINE

INDEPENDENCE
What does it mean to
be independent?
Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista
• He was born on December 7, 1830
• He obtained his Law Degree in 1865 from
University of Santo Tomas
• He practiced law in Manila and offered free legal
services to poor clients.
• A confidant of Emilio Aguinaldo and a distant
relative of the Rizal Family
• Solicitor General of the Revolutionary
Government
• He died at the age of 72 on 4th of December
1902
• June 12, 1898- The Philippine Declaration of
Independence was proclaimed in Cavite el Viejo
(present day- Kawit, Cavite)

• Filipino revolutionary forces under General Emilio

Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty and
independence of the Philippine Islands from the
colonial rule of Spain.
 WHAT ARE THE REASONS WHY
THEY CREATED A REVOLUTION?
Biak-na-Bato in San
Miguel, Bulacan
July 18, 1897- (Biak-na-Bato Republic)

• Emilio Aguinaldo (President)

• Mariano Trias (Vice President)
• Antonio Montenegro (Secretary o Foreign Affairs)
• Emiliano Riego de Dios (Secretary of War)
 HISTORY
• In July 1897, Aguinaldo established the Biak-
na-Bato Republic and issued a proclamation
stating the following demands:

1. Expulsion of the friars and the return of the friar lands to

the Filipinos
2. Representation of the Philippines in the Spanish Cortes
3. Freedom of the press and of religion
4. Abolition of the government’s power to banish Filipinos
5. Equality for all before the law.
 HISTORY
• 1897- the Philippine revolution began.
Eventually, the Spanish signed an agreement
with the revolutionaries (Pak of Biak-na-Bato).

• Emilio Aguinaldo went into exile Hongkong. At

the outbreak of the Spanish-American war.
• Commodre George Dewey- sailed from Hong
kong to Manila Bay leading a squadron of U.S.
Navy ships.

• May 1, 1898- the United States defeated the

Spanish in the Battle of Manila Bay.

• The U.S. Navy transported Aguinaldo back of

the Philippines.
THE PROCLAMATION ON JUNE 12

• Independence was proclaimed on June 12, 1898

between four and five in the afternoon in Cavite
at the ancestral home of General Emilio
Aguinaldo.

• The event saw the unfurling of the National Flag

of the Philippines, made in Hong Kong by
Marcela Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo, and
Delfina Herboza.
• And the performance of the Marcha Magdalo, as
the national anthem, now known as Lupang
Hinirang, which was composed by Julian Felipe
and played by the San Francisco de Malabon
marching band.

• The Act of the Declaration of Independence was

prepared, written, and read by Ambrosio
Rianzares Bautista in Spanish
• The Declaration was signed by ninety-eight people,
among them an American army officer who
witnessed the proclamation who attended the
proceedings, Mr. L. M. Johnson, a Colonel of
Artillery.

• The proclamation of the Philippine Independence

was, however, promulgated on August, when many
town had already been organized under the rules
laid down by the Dictatorial Government of General
Aguinaldo.
The Philippine Declaration
of Independence

• Reveals the reason behind

the PH revolution against
Spain.
• It reveals how Spaniards
treated the early Filipinos
• It also reveals the war on
independence
• It reveals what kind of
government did Aguinaldo
established
• It reveal something about
the explanation of the colors
of the Philippine flag.
The above passage demonstrates the justifications behind the revolution

against Spain:
❑ Abuse of civil guards ❑ Avarice and Greeed of Clergy

❑ Unlawful shooting of prisoners ❑ Unjust deportation

❑ Unequal protection ❑ Decision without proper hearing

The Proclamation of the Philippine Independence

❑ Brief historical overview of the

Spanish occupation
❑ Philippine Revolution
❑ Cavite Mutiny of January 1872
❑ GomBurZa
❑ Dictatorship of Emilio Aguinaldo
 The Philippine Flag
❑ The white triangle represents the
emblem of the Katipunan
❑ The three star represents Luzon,
Mindanao and Panay
❑ The 8 rays of the Sun – Manila,
Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva
Ecija, Bataan, Laguna, and Batangas
• Ended when Emilio Aguinaldo was captured
by U.S. forces, and issued a statement
acknowledging and accepting the sovereignty
of the United States over the Philippines.

• 1964- President Diosdado Macapagal signed

into law Republic Act No. 4166 designating
June 12 as the country’s Independence Day.

•
Analysis of the “Proclamation of the
Philippine Independence”
 Analysis of the “Proclamation of the Philippine
Independence”
❑ Treaty of Paris (Dec. 10, 1898)
❑ It was signed by representatives of
Spain and the United States in Paris
on Dec. 10, 1898.
❑ The United States should pay Spain
$20 million nominally for public
buildings and public works in the
Philippines. (Britannica.com)
How did the Treaty of Paris influence the Declaration
of the Philippine Independence?
 Analysis of the “Proclamation of the Philippine
Independence”
❑ The revolution was agrarian in nature / Agrarian
Revolution.
❑ Soldiers fought for the hope owning the lands.
❑ The document shows significant awakening of the
Filipinos in the real conditions of the nation under Spain.
❑ Katipunan was only mentioned once toward the end of
the document.
HISTORY is for the VICTORS!!!!!
Are we truly Independent?
 Activity
A B
Write a 500 words essay “A
CRITICAL ANALYSIS on the act of
Proclamation of Philippine
Independence.”

It should includes, the Introduction,

the Body, and the Conclusion.
Rubrics for the Critical Analysis