Today in Philippine History: Independence Day 1898 (Part 3)

JUNE 12, 1898

The sun and stars flag now known as the Philippine National Flag was unfurled before the jubilant crowd. It was designed by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and sewn in Hong Kong by Marcela Marino Agoncillo with the assistance of her 7-year old daughter Lorenza and Jose Rizal’s niece Delfina Rizal Herboza de Natividad. Contrary to what everyone thought, Aguinaldo just unfurled the flag but did not wave it. It was Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Aguinaldo’s War Counselor who waved it in the central window and not in the balcony which did not exist during that time.

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Today in Philippine History: Independence Day 1898 (Part 2)

JUNE 12, 1898

The Acta de la Proclamacion de la Independencia del Pueblo Filipino or the Act of the Declaration of Philippine Independence was solemnly read by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista who also wrote it. The declaration was signed by 97 Filipinos and a retired American artillery officer, Col. L.M. Johnson. The proclamation was never recognized by Spain and the United States and on December 10, 1898, the Philippines was ceded by Spain to America for US $20 million. 

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Today in Philippine History: Independence Day 1898 (Part 1)

JUNE 12, 1898

After the successive victories of the Philippine Revolutionary Army against the Spanish troops in different battlefields, President Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the independence of the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule in his ancestral home in Cavite El Viejo now Kawit, Cavite at around 4:00 and 5:00 in the afternoon. Before a huge crowd, the Act of the Declaration of Philippine  Independence was read, the Philippine Flag was unfurled and the National March was played.

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Today in Philippine History: Gen. Aguinaldo Establishes Dictatorial Government

MAY 24, 1898

Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo established a dictatorial government upon the advice of Ambrosio Bautista his legal adviser. As dictator, he immediately reassumed command of all the Filipino forces. The dictatorship was necessary to continue the war against Spain and was temporary until a republic was in place. On May 19, Aguinaldo together with his staff arrived in Manila from their exile in Hong Kong aboard the USS McCulloch and learned that the truce signed between the revolutionaries and Spaniards in Biak-na-Bato have been violated in many areas. 

Photo credit: http://philippineamericanwar.webs.com/