QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – In the Philippines, the month of June is a reminder of the country’s hard-won independence. It marks one of the most significant events in our history: Philippine Independence Day.
The national holiday commemorates the Declaration of Independence from Spanish rule on June 12, 1898. This historic ceremony took place at Emilio Aguinaldo’s residence in Kawit, Cavite, and commemorated the birth of the country’s democracy.
But did you know that Philippine Independence has been declared more than once?
April 12, 1895: The Cry of Pamitinan
In April 1895, Andres Bonifacio and the Katipuneros sought refuge in Pamitinan Cave in San Mateo, Rizal, using it as a secret meeting place. Inside the cave, they plotted their revolt against the colonizers and welcomed new members. They also wrote “Viva la Independencia de Filipinas (Long Live Philippine Independence)” on the cave walls to express their cry for independence. Modern historians believe this to be the first cry for liberty in the Philippines.
August 1896: The Cry of Pugadlawin
Andres Bonifacio and his troops declared an armed revolt against Spain. In a display of defiance, they tore up their residency certificates, or cedulas, as a symbol of their independence from colonial power. The historic event is known as the “The Cry of Pugadlawin.”
While the specific date is debated, with accounts indicating August 20, 23, 24, 25, or 26, 1896, and the actual location is contested—whether Pugadlawin, Balintawak, Pasong Tamo, Kangkong, or Bahay Toro—the significance of this event as a declaration of independence remains unchanged.
June 12, 1898: The Declaration of Independence in Kawit
On June 12, 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo, issued the Declaration of Independence from the window of his home in Kawit, Cavite. This proclamation was an important moment in Philippine history since it was mainly viewed as the country’s first declaration of independence.
In 1962, the Philippine Historical Association persuaded President Diosdado Macapagal to move the Philippine Independence Day celebration from July 4 to June 12. Macapagal recognized the symbolic importance of June 12 in the Filipino fight for nationhood.
The Kawit Declaration led the way for independence, such as the formation of a Congress, ratification of independence, the development of a constitution, and the inauguration of Asia’s first democratic republic. Despite the Treaty of Paris, which dismissed Aguinaldo’s administration, the republic’s establishment justified the Filipino battle for independence, resulting in the Philippine-American War. This encouraged aspirations for autonomy, which resulted in independence on July 4, 1946.
While July 4, 1946, is remembered as the day of total sovereignty and unaltered independence, the decision to recognize June 12, 1898, as Philippine Independence Day expressed the country’s will to dictate its destiny and history.
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) invites everyone to join the 126th Independence Day.
Don’t miss out on these activities prepared by the NHCP for the 126th Philippine Independence Day!
Schedule of events:
June 07, 2024
Musikalayaan
Open Air Auditorium, Rizal Park, Manila
6:00 pm onwards
June 08, 2024
Independence Day Colloquium
Rizal Park, Manila
8:00 am to 3:00 pm
June 09, 2024
Parade of Volunteer Firefighters of the Philippines along Luneta
Rizal National Monument, Rizal Park, Manila
8:00 am
June 10 -11, 2024
Pampamahalaang Programa at Serbisyo
June 10 – 12, 2024
Burnham Green Activities
June 12, 2024
Parada ng Kalayaan 2024
5:00 pm
(GLDG/PIA-NCR)
