Proclamation of Philippine Independence

1. PROCLAMATION OF
THE PHILIPPINE
INDEPENDENCCE
PRESENTED BY:
RODRIGUEZ, OSCAR (Reporter)
ARAGON, BERNADETTE (Researcher)
BIANG, REGINE (Reporter)
BUENAVENTURA, XYRILLE (Researcher)
PADINA, LARA (Researcher)
PARIS, MYLENE JOY(Researcher)

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Since 1962, Philippine Independence Day has been celebrated every June 12 after President
Diosdado Macapagal changed the date from July 4, the day when a treaty was made declaring the
freedom of the Philippines from the United States.
JUNE 12, 1898
-Philippine Revolutionary Gen. Emilio F. Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite.
- The the Philippine National Flag, made in Hongkong by Mrs. Marcela Agoncillo, assisted by Lorenza Agoncillo
and Delfina Herboza, was officially hoisted and the Philippine National March played in public.
-The Act of the Declaration of Independence was prepared by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, who also read it. 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 proclamation of Philippine independence was, however, promulgated on August 1when many towns has
already been organized under the riles laid down by the Dictatorial Government.

3. PROCLAMATION OF THE PHILIPPINE
INDEPENDENCE
• It is a short 2,000- word document
• It summarized the reason behind the revolution against Spain.
• It also summarized the subsequent war for independence, as well as the
future of the new republic under the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo.
The proclamation commenced with a
characterization of the condition of the
Philippined during Spanish colonial period.
• It specifically mentioned the abuses and
inequalities existing in the colony.

4. THE DECLARATION SAYS:
• The passage demonstrates the justifications
behind the revolution against Spain.
• Specifically cited are the abuses by the Civil
Guards and the unlawful shooting of
prisoners whom they alleged as “attempting
to escape”.
• It also condemns the unequal protection of
the law between the Filipino people and the
“eminent personages”.
• Moreover, the line mentions the avarice and
greed of the clergy like the friars and the
Archbishop himself.
• The passage also condemns what they saw
as the unjust deportation and rendering of
other decisions without proper hearing, of
expected any civilized nation.
“…taking into consideration, that their inhabitants being already
weary of bearing the ominous yoke of Spanish domination, on
account of the arbitrary arrests and harsh treatment practiced by
the Civil Guard to the extent of causing death with the
connivance and even with the express orders of their
commanders, who sometimes went to the extreme of ordering
the shooting of prisoners under the pretext that they were
attempting to escape, violation of the provisions of the
Regulations of their Corps, which abuses were unpunished and
on account of the unjust deportations, especially those decreed
by General Blanco, of eminent personages and of high social
position, at the instigation of the Archbishop and friars interested
in keeping them out of the way for their own selfish and
avaricious purpose, deportations which are quickly brought about
by a method of procedure more execrable than that of the
Inquisition and which every civilized nation rejects on account of
a decision being rendered without a hearing of the persons
accused.”

5. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
• The proclamation then proceeded with a brief historical
overview of the Spanish occupation since Magellan’s
arrival until the Philippine Revolution.
• It narrates the movement, describing it as “like an electric
spark”, through different towns and provinces like Bataan,
Pampanga, Batangas, Bulacan, Laguna, and Morong, and
the quick decline of Spanish forces in the same provinces.
• The revolt also reached Visayas, thus, the independence
of the country was ensured.

6. JUNE 12, 1898
• The proclamation of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite, however did not
receive any recognition from United State nor Spain, since it lacked territory and
sovereignty
AUGUST 1898
• The Philippine Revolution ended, the Philippine-American War took place the
following year
• The Philippine was colonized by America for the next 50 years.
MARCH 23, 1901
• Emilio Aguinaldo was capture by U.S forces.
• Issued a statement acknowledging and accepting sovereignty of United States
over the Philippines.

7. COMMONWEALTH ERA
• Another detail before the proclamation that is worth looking is the 10 year
transitional period from 1935-1945 preparation of the Philippines from the
United States.
• Filipinos were governed by commonwealth of the Philippines and the
Philippines Island both under Americans.
JANUARY 2, 1942
• Commonwealth Era was interrupted when Japanese occupied the Philippines.
OCTOBER 20, 1944
• Headed by Gen. Douglas McArthur with allied forces, they landed on the island of
Leyte to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese
SEPTEMBER 2, 1945
• Japan formally surrendered.
JULY 4,1946
• Commonwealth era ended when the United States granted independence.

8. JULY 4,1946
• It is commonwealth era when the United States granted independence to the
Philippine via Treaty of Manila, following World War II.
• Philippines officially became a state where it had people, territory, government
and sovereignty.
• The country celebrated its freedom day from United States.
1962
• President Diosdado P. Macapagal decided to move the date of celebration to
June 12,.
• He stated that: " It was correct to recognize June 12 as the country's true
independence day because it was the birth of the Filipino Nation.
1964
• President Diosdado Macapagal signed into the law Republic Act No. 4166.
• Section 1: The twelfth day of June is hereby proclaimed as the Philippines are
enjoined to observe such day with rites befitting Independence Day.

9. ANALYSIS:
• This declaration has a purpose to proclaim thesovereignty and independence of the
Philippines from the colonial rule of the Spanish Empire.
• The Declaration of Philippine Independence is a government- issued
document. The purpose of this document is to remind us, remind the colonists, and
the whole world that the Philippines declared independence from the colonists
• The declaration included the list of grievances against the Spanish Government
stretching back to explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrival on 1521 .
• Summarizes and expresses all about the events happened during the
conquest by the colonists in 300 years.
• This document can prove us that our country and ourselves were freed from
the colonists and implies that we have the right to live without any hindrances
and we also have equality.
• It teaches us to be more independent and to fight for ourselves and our
country in oder to exercise our right to live with freedom, peace of mind and
unity with others.

10. REFERENCES
Primary Sources
• WWW.MSC.EDU.PH/CENTENNIAL/INDEPENDENCE.HTML
• www.zenrooms.com/blog/post/independence-day-
philippines/?fbclid=IwAR0tcUJ438tikDyXcU5saYFREZl0QLGP6_twCFMFoafEpGsCGYsj
OsB_m-A
• www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/july-4-1946-philippines-
independence?fbclid=IwAR1j6O4u0Ac3Fu_0vEljQ1ahQrnxG_uwgUxQVRsk_snl1681-
7jVFcg0HH4
• HTTPS://WWW.PHILIPPINE-HISTORY.ORG/PHILIPPINE-COMMONWEALTH.HTML
Secondary Sources
• Readings in Philippine History by John Lee P. Candelaria & Veronica C. Alphore,
Pp. 26-30

11. LINK: