Readings in Philippine History

Module

Introduction

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. The Act
of Independence was penned and read by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista who was the legal
adviser of Aguinaldo. The declaration and proclamation of Philippine independence was
very historic for every Filipino particularly those who witnessed the waving of the
Philippine flag and playing of the national anthem. The act was written in Spanish as Acta de
la Proclamacion de la Independencia del Puebblo Filipino and later translated in English. The
document was lost and recovered just before the Centennial celebration of Philippine
Independence.
This is the sixth series of the nine (9) historical accounts in Philippine history
presented in this module.

Topics
 Background of the Author
 Historical Background of the Document
 Content Presentation of the Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence
 Context Analysis of the Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence
 Contribution and Relevance of the Document in Understanding the Grand
Narrative of Philippine History

Learning Objectives

After studying this lesson, the student should be able to:

1. Identify the symbolisms used in the design of the Philippine flag
2. Assess the implications of the calls for revising the design of the Philippine flag
based on present circumstances
3. Explain the importance of the Act of the declaration of Philippine Independence to
the grand narrative of Philippine history
4. Evaluate the relevance of the document to the present time

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Background of the Author

Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista (also known as “Don Bosyong”) was born on

December 17, 1830 in Binan, Laguna to Gregorio Enriquez Bautista and Silvestra Altamire.
He studied law at the University of Sto., Tomas and earned the degree in 1865 at the age of
35 years old.
He solicited funds to finance the campaign for reforms in the Philippines and became
member of the La Liga Filipina, Cuerpo de Compromisarios and La Propaganda. He was
arrested and imprisoned at Fort Santiago by the Spaniards as he was suspected of being
involved in the Philippine Revolution but managed to defend himself and was eventually
released.
He became the first adviser of President Emilio Aguinaldo in 1898 and contrary to
popular belief, it was Bautista and not Aguinaldo who waved the Philippine flag before the
jubilant crowd during the proclamation of Philippine independence in Kawit, Cavite. On
July 14, 1899 he was elected as president of the Philippines=in the Revolutionary Congress in
Tarlac and was later appointed of the Court of First Instance of Pangasinan. He died on
December 4, 1903 (72 years old) from a fatal fail from horse-drawn carriage.

Historical Background of the Document

In April 1898, the Spanish-American War broke out as a result of US intervention in

the Cuban war of Independence. The US attacked Spain’s Pacific Possession, which led to its
involvement in the Philippine revolution. Commodore George Dewey sailed from Hong
Kong to manila Bay aboard the USS Olympia and led the Asiatic Squadron of the US Navy.
In May 1898, the Battle of Manila ensued. Emilio Aguinaldo decided to return to the
Philippine from Honking, bringing with him the first Philippine flag sewn by Marcela
Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo and Delfina Herbosa. Upon arriving in Manila, Aguinaldo
proceeded to his mansion in Kawit, Cavuite to rally all Filipinos against the Spaniards in the
historic battle cry of the “Hour of Liberation.” Together with the Americans, the Filipinos
assaulted the Spaniards in the Battle of Manila Bay. However, the said battle was perceived
to be a mock battle as arrangements were already made n=between the Americans and the
Spaniards, the latter would hand over the Philippines including Guam and Puerto Rico to
the former. Such arrangements were already finalized in the T=treaty of Paris in 1898.
After the Battle of Manila Bay, there were still skirmishes between Filipinos and
Spaniards in various provinces in the Philippines. The Act of Declaration of Philippine
Independence (Acta de la Proclamacion de la Independencia del Puebblo Filipino) written by
Bautista had the intention to encourage Filipinos to fight against the Spaniards. Aguinaldo
formally declared Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898. It was
symbolically accompanied by the playing of the Philippine National Anthem composed by
Julian Felipe with lyrics by Jose Palma from his poem Filipinas. At the same time, Ambrosio
Bautista read the Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence in Spanish. The United
States of America, however, never recognized the declaration.
The Acta de la Proclamacion de la Independencia del Puebblo Filipino was among the
documents lost during the height of the pilferage of historical documents in the 1990s. The
centennial anniversary of Philippine independence heightened the demand for such
documents in the black market. The document was finally returned to the National library in

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1994 after a professor from the University of the Philippines, Milagros Guerrero, negotiated
its return.

Content Presentation of the Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence

Declaration of
PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE
Translation by Sulpicio Guevara
In the town of Cavite-Viejo, Province of Cavite, this 12th day of June 1898:

BEFORE ME, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, War Counsellor and Special Delegate
designated to proclaim and solemnize this Declaration of Independence by the Dictatorial
Government of the Philippines, pursuant to, and by virtue of, a Decree issued by the
Egregious Dictator Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy,
The undersigned assemblage of military chiefs and others of the army who could not
attend, as well as the representatives of the various towns,
Taking into account the fact that the people of this country are already tired of
bearing the ominous joke of Spanish domination,
Because of arbitrary arrests and abuses of the Civil Guards who cause deaths in
connivance with and even under the express orders of their superior officers who at times
would order the shooting of those placed under arrest under the pretext that they attempted
to escape in violation of known Rules and Regulations, which abuses were left unpunished,
and because of unjust deportations of illustrious Filipinos, especially those decreed by
General Blanco at the instigation of the Archbishop and friars interested in keeping them in
ignorance for egoistic and selfish ends, which deportations were carried out through
processes more execrable than those of the Inquisition which every civilized nation
repudiates as a trial without hearing.
Had resolved to start a revolution in August 1896 in order to regain the
independence and sovereignty of which the people had been deprived by Spain through
Governor Miguel Lopez de Legazpi who, continuing the course followed by his predecessor
Ferdinand Magellan who landed on the shores of Cebu and occupied said Island by means
of a Pact of Friendship with Chief Tupas, although he was killed in the battle that took place
in said shores to which battle he was provoked by Chief Kalipulako of Mactan who
suspected his evil designs, landed on the Island of Bohol by entering also into a Blood
Compact with its Chief Sikatuna, with the purpose of later taking by force the Island of
Cebu, and because his successor Tupas did not allow him to occupy it, he went to Manila,
the capital, winning likewise the friendship of its Chiefs Soliman and Lakandula, later
taking possession of the city and the whole Archipelago in the name of Spain by virtue of an
order of King Philip II, and with these historical precedents and because in international law
the prescription established by law to legalize the vicious acquisition of private property is
not recognized, the legitimacy of such revolution cannot be put in doubt which was calmed
but not complete stifled by the pacification proposed by Don Pedro A. Paterno with Don
Emilio Aguinaldo as President of the Republic established in Biak-na-Bato and accepted by
Governor-General Don Fernando Primo De Rivera under terms, both written and oral,
among them being a general amnesty for all deported and convicted persons; that by reason
of the non-fulfilment of some of the terms, after the destruction of the plaza of Cavite, Don

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Emilio Aguinaldo returned in order to initiate a new revolution and no sooner had he given
the order to rise on the 31st of last month when several towns anticipating the revolution,
rose in revolt on the 28th , such that a Spanish contingent of 178 men, between Imus ,Cavite-
Viejo, under the command of major of the Marine Infantry capitulated , the revolutionary
movement spreading like wild fire to other towns of Cavite and the other provinces of
Bataan, Pampanga, Batangas, Bulacan, Laguna, and Morong, some of them with seaports
and such was the success of the victory of our arms, truly marvelous and without equal in
the history of colonial revolutions that in the first mentioned province only the Detachments
in Naic and Indang remained to surrender; in the second all Detachments had been wiped
out; in the third the resistance of the Spanish forces was localized in the town of San
Fernando where the greater part of them are concentrated, the remainder in Macabebe,
Sexmoan, and Guagua; in the fourth, in the town of Lipa; in the fifth, in the capital and in
Calumpit; and in last two remaining provinces, only in their respective capitals, and the city
of Manila will soon be besieged by our forces as well as the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac,
Pangasinan, La Union, Zambales, and some others in the Visayas where the revolution at the
time of the pacification and others even before, so that the independence of our country and
the revindication of our sovereignty is assured.
And having as witness to the rectitude of our intentions the Supreme Judge of the
Universe, and under the protection of our Powerful and Humanitarian Nation, The United
States of America, we do hereby proclaim and declare solemnly in the name by authority of
the people of these Philippine Islands,
That they are and have the right to be free and independent; that they have ceased to
have allegiance to the Crown of Spain; that all political ties between them are should be
completely severed and annulled; and that, like other free and independent States, they
enjoy the full power to make War and Peace, conclude commercial treaties, enter into
alliances, regulate commerce, and do all other acts and things which and Independent State
Has right to do,
And imbued with firm confidence in Divine Providence, we hereby mutually bind
ourselves to support this Declaration with our lives, our fortunes, and with our sacred
possession, our Honor.
We recognize, approve, and ratify, with all the orders emanating from the same, the
Dictatorship established by Don Emilio Aguinaldo whom we reverse as the Supreme Head
of this Nation, which today begins to have a life of its own, in the conviction that he has
been the instrument chosen by God, in spite of his humble origin, to effectuate the
redemption of this unfortunate country as foretold by Dr. Don Jose Rizal in his magnificent
verses which he composed in his prison cell prior to his execution, liberating it from the
Yoke of Spanish domination,
And in punishment for the impunity with which the Government sanctioned the
commission of abuses by its officials, and for the unjust execution of Rizal and others who
were sacrificed in order to please the insatiable friars in their hydropical thirst for vengeance
against and extermination of all those who oppose their Machiavellian ends, trampling upon
the Penal Code of these Islands, and of those suspected persons arrested by the Chiefs of
Detachments at the instigation of the friars, without any form nor semblance of trial and
without any spiritual aid of our sacred Religion; and likewise, and for the same ends,
eminent Filipino priest, Doctor Don Jose Burgos, Don Mariano Gomez, and Don Jacinto
Zamora were hanged whose innocent blood was shed due to the intrigues of these so-called

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Religious corporations which made the authorities to believe that the military uprising at the
fort of San Felipe in Cavite on the night of January 21, 1872 was instigated by those Filipino
martyrs, thereby impeding the execution of the decree- sentence issued by the Council of
State in the appeal in the administrative case interposed by the secular clergy against the
Royal Orders that directed that the parishes under them within the jurisdiction of this
Bishopric be turned over to the Recollects in exchange for those controlled by them in
Mindanao which were to be transferred to the Jesuits, thus revoking them completely and
ordering the return of those parishes, all of which proceedings are on file with the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs to which they are sent last month of the year of the issuance of the proper
Royal Degree which, in turn, caused the grow of the tree of the liberty in our dear land that
grow more and more through the iniquitous measures of oppressions, until the last drop of
our chalice of suffering having been drained, the first spark of revolution broke out in
Caloocan, spread out to Santa Mesa and continued its course to the adjoining regions of the
province were the unequalled heroism of its inhabitants fought a one sided battle against
superior forces of General Blanco and General Polavieja for a period of 3 months, without
proper arms nor ammunitions, except bolos, pointed bamboos, and arrows.
Moreover, we confer upon our famous Dictator Don Emilio Aguinaldo all the
powers necessary to enable him to discharge the duties of Government, including the
prerogatives of granting pardon and amnesty,
And lastly, it was results unanimously that this Nation, already free and
independent as of this day, must used the same flag which up to now is being used, whose
designed and colored are found described in the attached drawing, the white triangle
signifying the distinctive emblem of the famous Society of the "Katipunan" which by means
of its blood compact inspired the masses to rise in revolution; the tree stars, signifying the
three principal Islands of these Archipelago - Luzon, Mindanao, and Panay where the
revolutionary movement started; the sun representing the gigantic step made by the son of
the country along the path of Progress and Civilization; the eight rays, signifying the eight
provinces - Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna, and Batangas
- which declares themselves in a state of war as soon as the first revolt was initiated; and the
colors of Blue, Red, and White, commemorating the flag of the United States of America, as a
manifestation of our profound gratitude towards this Great Nation for its disinterested
protection which it lent us and continues lending us.
And holding up this flag of ours, I present it to the gentlemen here assembled:

Don Segundo Arellano Don Florencio Manalo

Don Tiburcio del Rosario Don Ramon Gana
Sergio Matias Don Marcelino Gomez
Don Agapito Zialcita Don Valentin Politan
Don Flaviano Alonzo Don Felix Politan
Don Mariano Legazpi Don Evaristo Dimalanta
Don Jose Turiano Santiago y Acosta Don Gregorio Alvarez
Don Aurelio Tolentino Don Sabas de Guzman
Don Felix Ferrer Don Esteban Francisco
Don Felipe Buencamino Don Guido Yaptinchay
Don Fernando Canon Faustino Don Antonio Gonzales
Don Anastacio Pinzun Don Juan Antonio Gonzales

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Don Timoteo Bernabe Don Juan Arevalo

Don Flaviano Rodriguez Don Ramon Delfino
Don Gavino (?) Masancay Don Honorio Tiongco
Don Narciso Mayuga Don Francisco del Rosario
Don Gregorio Villa Don Epifanio Saguil
Don Luis Perez Tagle Don Ladislao Afable Jose
Don Canuto Celestino Don Sixto Roldan
Don Marcos Jocson Don Luis de Lara
Don Martin de los Reyes Don Marcelo Basa
Don Ciriaco Bausa Don Jose Medina
Don Manuel Santos Don Efipanio Crisia(?)
Don Mariano Toribio Don Pastor Lopez de Leon
Don Gabriel de los Reyes Don Mariano de los Santos
Don Hugo Lim Don Santiago Garcia
Don Emiliano Lim Don Andres Tria Tirona
Don Faustino Tinorio(?) Don Estanislao Tria Tirona
Don Rosendo Simon Don Daniel Tria Tirona
Don Leon Tanjanque(?) Don Andres Tria Tirona
Don Gregorio Bonifacio Don Carlos Tria Tirona
Don Manuel Salafranca Don Sulpicio P. Antony
Don Simon Villareal Don Epitacio Asuncion
Don Calixto Lara Don Catalino Ramon
Don Buenaventura Toribio Don Juan Bordador
Don Gabriel Reyes Don Jose del Rosario
Don Hugo Lim Don Proceso Pulido
Don Emiliano Lim Don Jose Maria del Rosario
Don Fausto Tinorio(?) Don Ramon Magcamco(?)
Don Rosendo Simon Don Antonio Calingo
Don Leon Tanjanque(?) Don Pedro Mendiola
Don Gregorio Bonifacio Don Estanislao Galinco
Don Manuel Salafranca Don Numeriano Castillo
Don Simon Villareal Don Federico Tomacruz
Don Calixto Lara Don Teodoro Yatco
Don Buenaventura Toribio Don Ladislao Diwa(?).
Don Zacarias Fajardo Don Francisco Arambulo
Don Mariano Rianzares Bautista

Who solemnly swear to recognize and defend it unto the last drop of their blood.

In witness thereof, I certify that this Act of Declaration of Independence was signed
by me and by all those here assembled including the only stranger who attended those
proceedings, a citizen of the U.S.A., Mr. L.M. Johnson, a Colonel of Artillery.

Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista

War Counsellor and Special Delegate-Designate

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Context Analysis of the Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence

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”.
Looking at the document penned by Bautista, it was clear enough that there are
missing accounts in justifying the cause of Philippine independence. While it mentioned on
the execution of the GomBurZa (three Filipino Catholic priests; Mariano Gomez, José
Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora) and Dr. Jose Rizal, the struggles of the Katipunan led by
Andres Bonifacio was hardly recognized. Bonifacio’s name was not mentioned in his
accounts though he had historically accounted the struggles of the Filipinos since Lapu-
Lapu (mentioned as Kalipulako in the Act) against Magellan up to the Katipunan. The Act
was so biased as it gives more emphasis on the dictatorial government of Aguinaldo, and
this was obvious since Bautista is Aguinaldo’s man.
The Act of Declaration was witnessed by a few people and mostly the Generals
under the Revolutionary Government of Aguinaldo. No common people from the other
walks of life were present in the declaration, implying the dominance of the elite or chosen
people closed to Aguinaldo.
The last part of the Act presented the meaning of the symbols in the Philippine flag.
Sad to note that the eight rays from the Sun refer only to eight provinces considering there
are more than 80. The declaration was hasted and not properly planned , though it can be
understood that the revolutionary Filipinos were hurry to gain independence from the
Spain.

Contribution and Relevance of the Document in Understanding the Grand Narrative of

Philippine History

The document of Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence is very important as

it reminds us how we gain independence from the colonial rule of the Spanish. It’s very
historic and patriotic as we Filipinos finally gained independence though it was not
recognized by the US and Spanish governments based on the Treaty of Paris signed by these
two nations.
Recognizing the struggles of our ancestors against the colonial government of Spain
through several revolts and finally stood up against the oppressors by declaring
independence in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898 is worthy of emulation by us Filipinos.
While we enjoy our freedom from the foreign power, we must recognize those people who
fought for this.
This important document was lost in the 1990s but recovered in time for the
centennial celebration of the Philippine independence. The recovery of this document was so
important as it matter for the whole Filipinos particularly to those historians who keep track
on historical documents.

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Exercise 4.11.

1. The proclamation of Philippine independence was done in?

a. Tarlac b. Cavite c. Laguna d. Batangas

2. The date of proclamation of Philippine independence

a. June 12, 1898 c. June 12, 1899
b. June 12, 1897 d. June 12, 1896

3. Number of signatories of the Act of Declaration

a. 96 b. 97 c. 98 d. 99

4. One of the Spanish generals who caused oppressions to the Illustrious people
a. General Alvarez c. General Javier
b. General Blanco d. General Plasensia

5. The white triangle of the Philippine flag signifies the?

a. Filipinos c. Archipelago
b. Islands d. Katipunan

Exercise 4.12.

1. What was your learning experience after reading the Act of Declaration of Philippine
Independence?

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References

Acta de la Proclamacion de la Independencia del Pueblo Filipino (Spanish). (n.d). Retrieved

from https://digital library.ust.edu.ph/cdm/ref/collection/section5/id/136015

Asuncion, N. and G. R. Cruz. 2019. Readings in Philippine history. C and E Publishing.

Quezon City, Philippines.243 p.

Candelaria, J.P and V.C. Alporha. 2018. Readings in Philippine history. Rex Book Store.
Manila, Philippines. 144 p.

Constantino, R. 2010. A history of the Philippines. Monthly Press Review. Quezon City,
Philippines.

History. (n.d.) Philippine independence declared. Retrieved from:

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/philippine-independence-declared

Torres, J.V. 2018. Batis. Sources in Philippine history. C and E Publishing. Quezon City,
Philippines.682 p.

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