READINGS IN PHILIPPINE On May 19, 1898, Aguinaldo finally

HISTORY returned to the Philippines on board the

U.S. cruiser McCulloch. Aguinaldo
Historical Context conferred with Dewey on Philippine
conditions and was supplied with arms
The first phase of the Philippine captured from the Spaniards. From his
Revolution ended in a stalemate between headquarters in Cavite, Aguinaldo
the Spaniards and the Filipino rebels. In announced the resumption of the
December 1897, a truce was declared revolution against the Spaniards, thus
between the two forces with the Filipino beginning the second phase of the
leaders, led by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, revolution. The Filipinos immediately
agreeing to be exiled to Hong Kong while flocked to the province to join the army.
the Spaniards paid an indemnity for the By the end of May, Aguinaldo was in
damages caused as a result of the conflict. command of an army of 12,000 troops.
The truce, however, lasted for only a few
months before it collapsed. The renewed On May 28, the Filipino forces won their
conflict would have been disastrous for first victory in Alapan, Imus. The newly-
the Filipinos if not for the deteriorating made Filipino flag was hoisted in Alapan
diplomatic relations between Spain and then later unfurled at the Teatro Caviteño
the United States over the another in Cavite Nuevo (now Cavite City) in
revolution in Cuba. This eventually led to front of the Filipinos and captured
the Spanish-American War in 1898 and Spanish soldiers. A group of American
the arrival of a new colonizer to the officers and soldiers also witnessed the
Philippines-the Americans. ceremony.

Even before the Battle of Manila in 1898, Earlier, on May 24, Aguinaldo
Aguinaldo had already been meeting with announced the creation of the dictatorial
the Americans in Singapore. He talked government. The formation of this type
with consul E. Spencer Pratt regarding of rule was a necessity when the growing
US-Filipino collaboration against the nation needed a strong leader. He
Spaniards before he went back to Hong emphasized that the dictatorship was only
Kong to meet up with Commodore temporary as it would be a prelude to the
George Dewey, commander of the establishment of a republican form of
Asiatic Fleet. Unfortunately, Dewey had government.
already left for the Philippines to attack
the Spanish fleet following America's On June 12, 1898, Aguinaldo declared
declaration of war against Spain in April. Philippine independence from Spanish
Aguinaldo remained in Hong Kong ed in rule at a ceremony in his house in Kawit,
Hong Kong and met w met with the Cavite. Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista read
American consul general Rounseville the declaration that was later signed by
Wildman. He paid Wildman a total of 177 persons, including an American
P117,000 to purchase rifles and mlitary officer. The Philippine National
ammunition. A first shipment worth Anthem, then known as "Marcha
P50,000 was made but the other half was Nacional Filipina," composed by Julian
never delivered. Wildman never returned Felipe, was played by the Banda de San
the money given to him.
Francisco de Malabon and the Philippine Elections for a pamahalaang
flag was again unfurled. panghihimagsik were held in Barrio
Tejeros, San Francisco de Malabon (now
About the Author General Trias) on March 22, 1897.
Aguinaldo was elected President with
It is important to note that although the Mariano Trias (Vice-President), Artemio
actual author of the proclamation was Ricarte (Captain- General), Emiliano
Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, the Riego de Dios (Director of War), and
initiator of Philippine independence that Andres Bonifacio (Director of the
led to the making of the proclamation Interior). But the elections were disrupted
was Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. following a protest over Bonifacio's
educational qualification for such a
Emilio Aguinaldo was born on March 22, position. Bonifacio angrily declared the
1869 in Kawit, Cavite (Cavite el Viejo), result of the elections null and void and
the second to the youngest of eight walked out. The Magdalos, however,
children of Carlos Aguinaldo and considered the election binding and the
Trinidad Famy. The Aguinaldos were a new government was founded.
wealthy and influential family with
Carlos being gobernadorcillo for several When Bonifacio tried to put up his own
terms. Following his father's death in government with an armed group, he was
1883, Emilio assisted his mother in the arrested and tried for sedition. Found
family business and worked to help earn guilty, Supremo and his brother Procopio
the family income. were executed on May 10, 1897.

Aguinaldo followed in his father's The internal dissent caused by

footsteps and was chosen capitan Bonifacio's death weakened the
municipal of Kawit in 1894. Months later, Katipunan further. The Spanish troops
he joined the Katipunan choosing the regained Cavite and Aguinaldo was
name Magdalo, a name that was also forced to retreat to the mountains of
given to another branch of the Katipunan Biak-na- Bato. But the Spaniards soon
(the other was the Magdiwang), which he realized that going after the rebels in their
set up in his province. mountain hideout was futile. A stalemate
ensued broken only by a truce proposal to
When the revolution began in 1896, the which the rebels agreed. In exchange for
Katipunan in Cavite succeeded in driving an indemnity, amnesty, and colonial
away the Spaniards from the province. reform, Aguinaldo and his officers went
But territorial and logistical problems into exile in Hong Kong in December
between the two groups soon forced 1897.
Aguinaldo to ask for help from Supremo
Andres Bonifacio in settling the conflict. The Spanish-American War in 1898
Bonifacio's intervention, however, only eventually changed Philippine history.
worsened the situation and the only After the Americans won the Battle of
solution the two factions saw was to Manila Bay in 1898, Aguinaldo returned
create a revolutionary government. to the Philippines with their help and
announced the resumption of the
revolution against Spain. After winning
several victories against the Spaniards, he result was a sixteen- page document that
declared Philippine independence on June contained the aspirations of freedom from
12, 1898. Spanish rule, the sacrifices made, and the
revolution that resulted from it. It was the
But the Filipinos soon realized that the text of this declaration that was read in
Americans were to become their new Kawit in the afternoon of the celebration
colonizers. After the Spanish defeat in of the declaration of independence.
1898, the United States began to send Copies of the document were made and
fresh troops to the Philippines. In 1899, distributed. However, there was a
Aguinaldo convened a Congress in problem in determining how many
Malolos, Bulacan in which the delegates witnesses really signed the declaration.
wrote a Constitution and established the The copies classified under Philippine
Philippine Republic with Aguinaldo as Revolutionary Papers (PRP) in the
President in January 1899. National Library had varying numbers.
Later research by historian-writer Jim
Three weeks later, the continuing friction Richardson placed the total number of
with the Americans erupted into a signees at 177.
conflict in February 1899. The
Philippine-American War eventually The Act of Proclamation
ended in 1901 with the capture of of Independence of the Filipino People
Aguinaldo.
In the town of Cavite-Viejo, Province of
Soon after, he pledged allegiance to the Cavite, this 12th day of June 1898:
United States and returned to private life Before me, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista,
on his family farm. He briefly hugged the War Counselor and Special Delegate
limelight when he ran for the presidency designated to proclaim and solemnize this
of the Philippine Commonwealth but lost
to Manuel L. Quezon. Declaration of Independence by the
Dictatorial Government of the Philippines,
Aguinaldo was charged with pursuant to, and by virtue of, a Decree
collaboration by the Americans for issued by the Egregious Dictator Don
helping the Japanese during World War II Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy,
but was later freed in a general amnesty.
As a private citizen, he devoted his time The undersigned assemblage of military
to the cause of veteran revolucionarios chiefs and others of the army who could
until his death at the age of 94 on not attend, as well as the representatives
February 6, 1964. of the various towns,
Taking into account the fact that the
About the Text people of this country are already tired of
bearing the ominous yoke of Spanish
On June 10, 1896, Gen. Emilio domination,
Aguinaldo issued a one- sentence decree
appointing his Auditor General of War, Because of arbitrary arrests and abuses of
Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, as a the Civil Guards who cause deaths in
"special commissioner" to write the Act connivance with and even under the
of the Declaration of Independence. The express orders of their superior officers
who at times would order the shooting of is not recognized, the legitimacy of such
those placed under arrest under the revolution cannot be put in doubt which
pretext that they attempted to escape in was calmed but not completely stifled by
violation of known Rules and the pacification proposed by Don Pedro
Regulations, which abuses were left A. Paterno with Don Emilio Aguinaldo as
unpunished, and because of unjust President of the Republic established in
deportations of illustrious Filipinos, Biak-na-Bato and accepted by Governor-
especially those decreed by General General Don Fernando Primo de Rivera
Blanco at the instigation of the under terms, both written and oral, among
Archbishop and the friars interested in them being a general amnesty for all
keeping them in ignorance for egoistic deported and convicted persons; that by
and selfish ends, which deportations were reason of the non-fulfillment of some of
carried out through processes more the terms, after the destruction of the
execrable than those of the Inquisition Spanish Squadron by the North American
which every civilized nation repudiates as Navy, and bombardment of the plaza of
a trial without hearing, Cavite, Don Emilio Aguinaldo returned
in order to initiate a new revolution and
Had resolved to start a revolution in no sooner had he given the order to rise
August 1896 in order to regain the on the 31st of last month when several
independence and sovereignty of which towns anticipating the revolution, rose in
the people had been deprived by Spain revolt on the 28th, such that a Spanish
through Governor Miguel López de contingent of 178 men, between Imus and
Legazpi who, continuing the course Cavite Viejo, under the command of a
followed by his predecessor Ferdinand major of the Marine Infantry capitulated,
Magellan who landed on the shores of the revolutionary movement spreading
Cebu and occupied said Island by means like wild fire to other towns of Cavite and
of a Pact of Friendship with Chief Tupas, the other provinces of Bataan, Pampanga,
although he was killed in battle that took Batangas, Bulacan, Laguna, and Morong,
place in said shores to which battle he some of them with seaports and such was
was provoked by Chief Kalipulako of the success of the victory of our arms,
Mactan who suspected his evil designs, truly marvelous and without equal in the
landed on the Island of Bohol by entering history of colonial revolutions that in the
also into a Blood Compact with its Chief first mentioned province only the
Sikatuna, with the purpose of later taking Detachments in Naic and Indang
by force the Island of Cebu, and because remained to surrender; in the second, all
his successor Tupas did not allow him to Detachments had been wiped out; in the
occupy it, he went to Manila, the capital, third, the resistance of the Spanish forces
winning likewise the friendship of its was localized in the town of San
Chiefs Soliman and Lakandula, later Fernando where the greater part of them
taking possession of the city and the are concentrated, the remainder in
whole Archipelago in the name of Spain Macabebe, Sexmoan, and Guagua; in the
by virtue of an order of King Philip II, fourth, in the town of Lipa; in the fifth, in
and with these historical precedents and the capital and in Calumpit; and in the
because in international law the last two remaining provinces, only in
prescription established by law to legalize their respective capitals, and the city of
the vicious acquisition of private property Manila will soon be besieged by our
forces as well as the provinces of Nueva foretold by Dr. Don José Rizal in his
Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, magnificent verses which he composed in
Zambales, and some others in the Visayas his prison cell prior to his execution,
where the revolution at the time of the liberating it from the Yoke of Spanish
pacification and others even before, so domination,
that the independence of our country and
the revindication of our sovereignty is And in punishment for the impunity with
assured. which the Government sanctioned the
commission of abuses by its officials, and
And having as witness to the rectitude of for the unjust execution of Rizal and
our intentions the Supreme Judge of the others who were sacrificed in order to
Universe, and under the protection of the please the insatiable friars in their
Powerful and Humanitarian Nation, the hydropical thirst for vengeance against
United States of America, we do hereby and extermination of all those who
proclaim and declare solemnly in the oppose their Machiavellian ends,
name and by authority of the people of trampling upon the Penal Code of these
these Philippine Islands, Islands, and of those suspected persons
arrested by the Chiefs of Detachments at
That they are and have the right to be free the instigation of the friars, without any
and independent; that they have ceased to form nor semblance of trial and without
have any allegiance to the Crown of spiritual aid of our sacred Religion; and
Spain; that all political ties between them likewise, and for the same ends, eminent
are and should be completely severed and Filipino priests, Doctor Don Jose Burgos,
annulled; and that, like other free and Don Mariano Gomez, and Don Jacinto
independent States, they enjoy the full Zamora were hanged whose innocent
power to make War and Peace, conclude blood was shed due to the intrigues of
commercial treaties, enter into alliances, these so-called Religious corporations
regulate commerce, and do all other acts which made the authorities to believe that
and things which an Independent State the military uprising at the fort of San
has a right to do, Felipe in Cavite on the night of January
21, 1872 was instigated by those Filipino
And imbued with firm confidence in martyrs, thereby impeding the execution
Divine Providence, we hereby mutually of the decree-sentence issued by the
bind ourselves to support this Declaration Council of State in the appeal in the
with our lives, our fortunes, and with our administrative case interposed by the
most sacred possession, our Honor. secular clergy against the Royal Orders
We recognize, approve, and ratify, with that directed that the parishes under them
all the orders emanating from the same, within the jurisdiction of this Bishopric
the Dictatorship established by Don be turned over to the Recollects in
Emilio Aguinaldo whom we revere as the exchange for those controlled by them in
Supreme Head of this Nation, which Mindanao which were to be transferred to
today begins to have a life of its own, in the Jesuits, thus revoking them
the conviction that he has been the completely and ordering the return of
instrument chosen by God, in spite of his those parishes, all of which proceedings
humble origin, to effectuate the are on file with the Ministry of Foreign
redemption of this unfortunate country as Affairs to which they are sent last month
of last year for the issuance of the proper and Batangas- which declared themselves
Royal Decree which, in turn, caused the in a state of war as soon as the first revolt
growth of the tree of liberty in this our was initiated; and the colors of Blue, Red,
dear land that grew more and more and White, commemorating the flag of
through the iniquitous measures of the United States of North America, as a
oppression, until the last drop from our manifestation of our profound gratitude
chalice of suffering having been drained, towards this Great Nation for its
the first spark of revolution broke out in disinterested protection which it lent us
Caloocan, spread out to Santa Mesa and and continues lending us.
continued its course to the adjoining And holding up this flag of ours, I present
regions of the province where the it to the gentlemen here assembled:
unequalled heroism of its inhabitants (The text is followed by the Signatures of
fought a one- sided battle against superior the Witnesses)
forces of General Blanco and General
Polavieja for a period of three months, Relevance
without proper arms nor ammunitions, Nothing is more relevant to Philippine
except bolos, pointed bamboos, and history than the declaration of
arrows. independence from colonial rule. The
Declaration is, of course, that sole
Moreover, we confer upon our famous document that proves the value Filipinos
Dictator Don Emilio Aguinaldo all the place on their freedom. At present, our
powers necessary to enable him to independence has been questioned,
discharge the duties of Government, especially in relation to our dealings with
including the prerogatives of granting the United States (which colonized us for
pardon and amnesty, almost half a century and later recognized
our independence in 1946). However, it
And, lastly, it was resolved unanimously must be understood that the independence
that this Nation, already free and we attained in 1898 was freedom that was
independent as of this day, must use the fought for with the lives of Filipinos. The
same flag which up to now is being used, goal or objective of this independence,
whose design and colors are found however, is something that we might
described in the attached drawing, the have failed to achieve and protect
white triangle signifying the distinctive properly. It in this context that the Acta
emblem of the famous Society of the must be studied again.
"Katipunan" which by means of its blood
compact inspired the masses to rise in
revolution; the three stars, signifying the
three principal Islands of this
Archipelago-Luzon, Mindanao, and
Panay where this revolutionary
movement started; the sun representing
the gigantic steps made by the sons 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,