Reading the “Proclamation of the Philippine provoked by Chief Kalipulako ** of Mactan who

Independence”. suspected his evil designs, landed on the Island of

In the town of Cavite-Viejo, Province of Cavite, this Bohol by entering also into a Blood Compact with its
12th day of June 1898: Chief Sikatuna, with the purpose of later taking by
BEFORE ME, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, War force the Island of Cebu, and because his successor
Counsellor and Special Delegate designated to Tupas did not allow him to occupy it, he went to
proclaim and solemnize this Declaration of Manila, the capital, winning likewise the friendship of
Independence by the Dictatorial Government of the its Chiefs Soliman and Lakandula, later taking
Philippines, pursuant to, and by virtue of, a Decree possession of the city and the whole Archipelago in the
issued by the Engregious Dictator Don Emilio name of Spain by virtue of an order of King Philip II,
Aguinaldo y Famy, and with these historical precedents and because in
The undersigned assemblage of military chiefs and international law the prescription established by law to
others of the army who could not attend, as well as the legalize the vicious acquisition of private property is
representatives of the various towns, not recognized, the legitimacy of such revolution
Taking into account the fact that the people of this cannot be put in doubt which was calmed but not
country are already tired of bearing the ominous joke complete stifled by the pacification proposed by Don
of Spanish domination, Pedro A. Paterno with Don Emilio Aguinaldo as
Because of arbitrary arrests and abuses of the Civil President of the Republic established in Biak-na-Bato
Guards who cause deaths in connivance with and even and accepted by Governor-General Don Fernando
under the express orders of their superior officers who Primo De Rivera under terms, both written and oral,
at times would order the shooting of those placed among them being a general amnesty for all deported
under arrest under the pretext that they attempted to and convicted persons; that by reason of the non-
escape in violation of known Rules and Regulations, fulfillment of some of the terms, after the destruction
which abuses were left unpunished, and because of of the plaza of Cavite, Don Emilio Aguinaldo returned
unjust deportations of illustrious Filipinos, especially in order to initiate a new revolution and no sooner had
those decreed by General Blanco at the instigation of he given the order to rise on the 31st of last month
the Archbishop and friars interested in keeping them in when several towns anticipating the revolution, rose in
ignorance for egoistic and selfish ends, which revolt on the 28th , such that a Spanish contingent of
deportations were carried out through processes more 178 men, between Imus Cavite-Viejo, under the
execrable than those of the Inquisition which every command of major of the Marine Infantry capitulated ,
civilized nation repudiates as a trial without hearing. the revolutionary movement spreading like wild fire to
Had resolved to start a revolution in August 1896 in other towns of Cavite and the other provinces of
order to regain the independence and sovereignty of Bataan, Pampanga, Batangas, Bulacan, Laguna, and
which the people had been deprived by Spain through Morong, some of them with seaports and such was the
Governor Miguel Lopez de Legazpi who, continuing success of the victory of our arms, truly marvelous and
the course followed by his predecessor Ferdinand without equal in the history of colonial revolutions that
Magellan who landed on the shores of Cebu and in the first mentioned province only the Detachments
occupied said Island by means of a Pact of Friendship in Naic and Indang remained to surrender; in the
with Chief Tupas, although he was killed in the battle second all Detachments had been wiped out; in the
that took place in said shores to which battle he was third the resistance of the Spanish forces was localized
in the town of San Fernando where the greater part of humble origin, to effectuate the redemption of this
them are concentrated, the remainder in Macabebe, unfortunate country as foretold by Dr. Don Jose Rizal
Sexmoan, and Guagua; in the fourth, in the town of in his magnificent verses which he composed in his
Lipa; in the fifth, in the capital and in Calumpit; and in prison cell prior to his execution, liberating it from the
last two remaining provinces, only in their respective Yoke of Spanish domination,
capitals, and the city of Manila will soon be besieged
by our forces as well as the provinces of Nueva Ecija, And in punishment for the impunity with which the
Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Zambales, and some Government sanctioned the commission of abuses by
others in the Visayas where the revolution at the time its officials, and for the unjust execution of Rizal and
of the pacification and others even before, so that the others who were sacrificed in order to please the
independence of our country and the revindication of insatiable friars in their hydropical thirst for vengeance
our sovereignty is assured. against and extermination of all those who oppose their
Machiavellian ends, trampling upon the Penal Code of
And having as witness to the rectitude of our intentions these Islands, and of those suspected persons arrested
the Supreme Judge of the Universe, and under the by the Chiefs of Detachments at the instigation of the
protection of our Powerful and Humanitarian Nation, friars, without any form nor semblance of trial and
The United States of America, we do hereby proclaim without any spiritual aid of our sacred Religion; and
and declare solemnly in the name by authority of the likewise, and for the same ends, eminent Filipino
people of these Philippine Islands, priest, Doctor Don Jose Burgos, Don Mariano Gomez,
That they are and have the right to be free and and Don Jacinto Zamora were hanged whose innocent
independent; that they have ceased to have allegiance blood was shed due to the intrigues of these so-called
to the Crown of Spain; that all political ties between Religious corporations which made the authorities to
them are should be completely severed and annulled; believe that the military uprising at the fort of San
and that, like other free and independent States, they Felipe in Cavite on the night of January 21, 1872 was
enjoy the full power to make War and Peace, conclude instigated by those Filipino martyrs, thereby impeding
commercial treaties, enter into alliances, regulate the execution of the decree- sentence issued by the
commerce, and do all other acts and things which and Council of State in the appeal in the administrative
Independent State Has right to do, case interposed by the secular clergy against the Royal
Orders that directed that the parishes under them
And imbued with firm confidence in Divine within the jurisdiction of this Bishopric be turned over
Providence, we hereby mutually bind ourselves to to the Recollects in exchange for those controlled by
support this Declaration with our lives, our fortunes, them in Mindanao which were to be transferred to the
and with our sacred possession, our Honor. Jesuits, thus revoking them completely and ordering
the return of those parishes, all of which proceedings
We recognize, approve, and ratify, with all the orders are on file with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to
emanating from the same, the Dictatorship established which they are sent last month of the year of the
by Don Emilio Aguinaldo whom we reverse as the issuance of the proper Royal Degree which, in turn,
Supreme Head of this Nation, which today begins to caused the grow of the tree of the liberty in our dear
have a life of its own, in the conviction that he has land that grow more and more through the iniquitous
been the instrument chosen by God, inspite of his measures of oppressions, until the last drop of our
chalice of suffering having been drained, the first spark
of revolution broke out in Caloocan, spread out to
Santa Mesa and continued its course to the adjoining
regions of the province were the unequalled heroism of
its inhabitants fought a one sided battle against
superior forces of General Blanco and General
Polavieja for a period of 3 months, without proper
arms nor ammunitions, except bolos, pointed bamboos,
and arrows.

Moreover, we confer upon our famous Dictator Don

Emilio Aguinaldo all the powers necessary to enable
him to discharge the duties ofoGovernment, including
the prerogatives of granting pardon and amnesty,

And lastly, it was results unanimously that this Nation,

already free and independent as of this day, must use
the same flag which up to now is being used, whose
designed and colored are found described in the
attached drawing, the white triangle signifying the
distinctive emblem of the famous Society of the
"Katipunan" which by means of its blood compact
inspired the masses to rise in revolution; the tree stars,
signifying the three principal Islands of these
Archipelago - Luzon, Mindanao, and Panay where the
revolutionary movement started; the sun representing
the gigantic step made by the son of the country along
the path of Progress and Civilization; the eight rays,
signifying the eight provinces - Manila, Cavite,
Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna, and
Batangas - which declares themselves in a state of war
as soon as the first revolt was initiated; and the colors
of Blue, Red, and White, commemorating the flag of
the United States of America, as a manifestation of our
profound gratitude towards this Great Nation for its
disinterested protection which it lent us and continues
lending us.
ALFRED MCCOY’S PHILIPPINE CARTOONS:
POLITICAL CARICATURE OF THE “Flaming Youth” (CINEMA)
AMERICAN ERA (1900-1941) A blown-up officer was at the screen saying that
Alfred McCoy, and American professor and historian couple are not allowed to neck and make love in the
together with Alfredo Roces made a compilation of theater.
political cartoons during the American Era. It deals Two youngsters looked horrified while n older couple
with some of the editorial cartoons compiled by seemed amused.
McCoy and Roces, for students to have a glimpse of
Philippine society during the American Era from the UNCLE SAM RIDING A CHARIOT
lens of these selected editorial cartoons. A brief Uncle Sam Riding a chariot pulled by Filipinos
analysis is provided in each cartoon. The students are wearing school uniforms. The Filipino boys were
expected to make their own criticism/analysis relating carrying American objects like baseball bats, whiskey,
the cartoons to contemporary and boxing gloves.
Philippine society.
EL TURNO LOS PARTIDOS
Public post is not a hereditary crown Was published by Lipang Kalabaw on August 24,
The cartoon shows a politician from Tondo, named Dr. 1907.
Santos, passing his crown to his brother – in – law, Dr. In the picture we can see the Uncle Sam rationing
Barcelona. porridge to the politicians and member of the
A filipino Guy was trying to stop Santos, telling the Progresista Party while members of Nacionalista Party
latter to stop giving Barcelona the crown because it is look on and wait for their turn.
not his to begin with.

War Against Speculator

This was drawn by Fernando Amorsolo. A Filipino
child who stole a skinny chicken because he had
nothing to eat. The police officer was relentlessly
pursuing the said child. A man wearing a salakot
named Juan de la Cruz was grabbing the officer, telling
him to leave the small-time pockets and thieves and to
turn at the great thieves instead. He was pointing to
huge warehouse containing bulks of rice, milk and
grocery products.

“Death cars” (COLORUM)

The Philippines Free Press published this commentary
when fatal accidents involving colorum vehicles and
taxis occurred often already.