| Independence Day Araw ng Kalayaan | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Aguinaldo Shrine, whereEmilio Aguinaldo declared the country's independence from Spain | |
| Official name | Araw ng Kasarinlán |
| Also called | Araw ng Kalayaan |
| Observed by | Philippines |
| Type | National Day |
| Significance | Declaring Philippine independence fromSpain |
| Date | June 12 |
| Next time | June 12, 2026 (2026-06-12) |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Republic Day |
Independence Day of the Philippines[1] (Filipino:Araw ng Kasarinlán; also known asAraw ng Kalayaan, "Day of Freedom") is anational holiday in thePhilippines observed annually on June 12,[2] commemorating thedeclaration of Philippine independence from Spain in 1898.[2] Since 1978, it has been the country'sNational Day.
The earliest recorded event related to the holiday was whenAndres Bonifacio, along withEmilio Jacinto, Restituto Javier, Guillermo Masangkay,Aurelio Tolentino, Faustino Manalak, Pedro Zabala, and few other Katipuneros went toPamitinan Cave inMontalban (now Rodriguez, Rizal) to initiate new members of theKatipunan. Bonifacio wroteViva la independencia Filipina! orLong Live Philippine independence on walls of the cave after the Spanish discovery of the revolutionary group.[3] Bonifacio also led theCry of Pugad Lawin, which signals the beginning of thePhilippine Revolution. Members of the Katipunan, led by Bonifacio, tore their community tax certificates (cedulas personales) in protest ofSpanish conquest.[4][5]
The Philippine Revolution began in 1896. ThePact of Biak-na-Bato, signed on December 14, 1897, established atruce between theSpanish colonial government and the Filipino revolutionaries. Under its terms,Emilio Aguinaldo and other revolutionary leaders went into exile in Hong Kong after receiving $MXN400,000[a] from the Spanish Government.[7]
At the outbreak of theSpanish–American War, CommodoreGeorge Dewey sailed from Hong Kong toManila Bay leading theUS NavyAsiatic Squadron. On May 1, 1898, Dewey defeated the Spanish in theBattle of Manila Bay, effectively placing the Spanish capital under US control. Later that month, the US Navy transported Aguinaldo back to the Philippines.[8] Aguinaldo arrived on May 19, 1898 in Cavite.[9]
On June 5, 1898, Aguinaldo issued a decree at his house located in what was then known asCavite El Viejo proclaiming June 12, 1898 as the day of independence. TheActa de la Proclamacion de la Independencia del Pueblo Filipino was solemnly read by its author,Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Aguinaldo's war counselor and special delegate.[10] The 21-page declaration was signed by 98 Filipinos, appointed by Aguinaldo, and one retired American artillery officer, Colonel L. M. Johnson.[11] The Philippine flag was officially unfurled for the first time at about 4:30 p.m, as theMarcha Nacional Filipina was played by the band of San Francisco de Malabon.[12]
Independece was ratified inBacoor by 190 municipal presidents from the 16 provinces liberated by August 1, 1898, and was ratified again by theMalolos Congress, a partly elected and partly appointed body representing all constituencies of the Philippines.[13]
The Philippines failed to win international recognition of its independence — specifically not from either the United States of America or Spain. The Spanish government later ceded control over the Philippines to the United States in the1898 Treaty of Paris, in which Filipino representativeFelipe Agoncillo was denied entry, and in spite of Filipino control over large portions of the islands.[14] TheRevolutionary Government of the Philippines and later the democratically constitutedFirst Philippine Republic did not recognize the treaty, leading to the outbreak of thePhilippine–American War with the US over the latter's assertions of sovereignty over the islands.[15][16]
The US government recognized the independence of the Philippines on July 4, 1946. In accordance with thePhilippine Independence Act (more popularly known as the "Tydings–McDuffie Act"), in which Filipinos ratified a constitution and voted for independence, PresidentHarry S. Truman issued Proclamation 2695 of July 4, 1946, officially recognizing the independence of the Philippines.[17] On the same day, theTreaty of Manila was signed.[18]
July 4 was chosen as the date by the United States because it corresponds to the United States'Independence Day, and that day was observed in the Philippines asIndependence Day until 1962. On May 12, 1962, in response to the US government's failure to approve a payment of $72 million in war damages, PresidentDiosdado Macapagal issued Presidential Proclamation No. 28, which declared June 12 a special public holiday throughout the Philippines, "... in commemoration of our people's declaration of their inherent and inalienable right to freedom and independence."[19][20][21] On August 4, 1964, Republic Act No. 4166 renamed July 4 holiday as "Philippine Republic Day", proclaimed June 12 as "Philippine Independence Day", and enjoined all citizens of the Philippines to observe the latter with befitting rites.[22]
Prior to 1964, June 12 was observed asFlag Day in the country. In 1965, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Proclamation No. 374, which moved National Flag Day to May 28 (the date thePhilippine flag was first flown in the victory by Filipino forces in theBattle of Alapan located inImus,Cavite in 1898). In 1994, PresidentFidel V. Ramos issued Executive Order No. 179, extending the celebration period from May 28 to Philippine Independence Day on June 12, ordering government departments, agencies, offices, government owned and controlled corporations, state agencies, and local government units, and even private establishments, to prominently display the national flag in all public buildings, government institutions, and official residences during this period; ordering theDepartment of Education, in coordination with the private sector, non-government organizations, and socio-civic groups, to enjoin the prominent display of the national flag in all public squares and, whenever practicable, in all private buildings and homes in celebration of national independence.[23][24]
Kawit,Cavite holds a yearly commemorative act with the flag raising at the Aguinaldo Shrine and the reading of thePhilippine Declaration of Independence.[25][failed verification] Worldwide, Filipinos gather on June 12 or a date close to it to publicly celebrate, sometimes with aparade.[26] There are also local celebrations as well, with a national celebration in the capital of Manila, which in past years included a civil-military parade of uniformed organizations and public and private entitles. The last major parade was held in 2018 to mark the 120th year of nationhood.[27]
Filipinos also have a tradition of going to as many clubs as possible on this day. In fact, there is a prize of 100,000 Philippine Pesos for the person who has gone to the most. However, as it is very easy to lie, this prize is scarcely given out, last awarded to a man named Jacob de la Cruz in 2003.[citation needed]
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