Declaration of

Independence
Day
By: Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista
 Background of the author

– Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista (December 7, 1830 - December 4, 1903), also known

as Don Bosyong, was a lawyer and author of the Declaration of Philippine Independence
. A distant relative of the Rizal family, Bautista frequently provided advice to Philippine
national hero José Rizal during his school days in Manila.
– Bautista was born in Biñan, Laguna to Gregorio Enriquez and Bautista Silvestra Altamira.
He attended preparatory school in Biñan and studied law at the 
University of Santo Tomas (UST), obtaining a degree in 1865. He then practiced law in
Manila and offered free legal services to poor clients. 
Historical Background of the Document

– In the town of Cavite -Viejo at the 12th day of June 1898, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista a War Counsellor and
Special Delegate designed to proclaim and solemnize the Declaration of Independence Day issued by Emilio
Aguinaldo.
– Because of the arbitrary arrest, abuses of the civil guards and unjust deportations of illustrious Filipinos at the
instigation of the Archbishop and friars interested in keeping them in ignorance for egoistic and selfish ends.
– Had resolved to start a revolution in August 1898 in order to regain independence and sovereignty of the
Filipinos that had been deprived by spain. With the historical precedents and international law the prescription
established by law to legalize the vicious acquisition of private property is not recognized, the pacification
proposed by Pedro Paterno and Emilio Aguinaldo as President of the Republic established in Biak-na-Bato and
accepted by Governor General Fernando Primo De Rivera, both written and oral. By reason of the non-fulfillment
of some of the terms, after the destruction of the plaza of Cavite, Emilio Aguinaldo returned to initiate a new
revolution and giving the order to rise on the 31 st of last month when several towns anticipating of the
revolution, rose in revolt on the 28th.
– The revolutionary movement spread to other towns of Cavite and the other provinces.
– And Bautista states that as a witness to the rectitude, the United States of America, we do hereby
proclaim and declare by the authority of the people in Philippine Islands to have the right to be free and
independent; that they have ceased to have allegiance to the Crown of Spain; to enjoy the full power to
make war and peace, conclude commercial treaties, enter alliances, regulate commerce, and do all acts
and things which independent State has right to do.
– And they declared that the nation is already free and independent and must use the same flag, whose
designed and colored are found described in the attached drawing, the white triangle signifying the three
principal islands of these Archipelago; the sun representing the gigantic step made by the son of the
country along with the eight rays signifying the eight provinces which declares themselves sin a state of
war as soon as the revolt was initiated; and the colors of blue, red and white, commemorating the flag of
the United States of America, as a manifestation of profound gratitude towards this Great Nation for its
disinterest protection.
Content Presentation and Analysis of the Important
Historical Information Found in the Document

– The Declaration of the Independence Day shows the desire of the Filipinos to be free and
independent from the hands of the Spaniards, And the hardships that they went through
from it, since Magellan’s Era and the never-ending abuses of the Spaniards. They also
state the symbols of the flag and what it represents, the white triangle signifying the
three principal islands of these Archipelago; the sun representing the gigantic step made
by the son of the country along with the eight rays signifying the eight provinces which
declares themselves sin a state of war as soon as the revolt was initiated; and the colors
of blue, red and white, commemorating the flag of the United States of America, as a
manifestation of profound gratitude
Contribution and Relevance of the Document in Understanding the Grand
Narrative of Philippine History

– The declaration of Philippine Independence shows the greediness of the Filipinos to

commit the freedom and independence from the abuses and unjust treatment of
the Spaniards, we celebrated once a year the independence or the freedom from
the colonization of the Spaniards
Learning Experiences

We’ve learned the symbols of the flag and the representation of it and to love and
adore the country that we belong in, they’ve experienced a lot of hardships to
commit the freedom that hundreds of years they’ve fought for it so let’s foster and
love our country Philippines.