Philippine Independence - Report
Philippine Independence - Report
Philippine Independence - Report
August 1896
August 1, 1898
When the Americans decided to grant independence to the Philippines, they made it
so it coincided with their own independence day every July 4. It was not a coincidence;
they could have chosen the other 364 dates on the calendar, but they chose July 4 as the
Philippines’ Independence Day.
On May 12, 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal moved the commemoration of
Independence Day from July 4 to June 12. Because of it, many people during that time
accused him of politicizing the holiday.
In an address on June 12, 1962, Macapagal explained why he moved Philippines’
Independence Day from July 4, 1946 to June 12, 1898.
FLAG DAY
On 12 May 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Presidential Proclamation No. 28,
which declared Tuesday, 12 June a special public holiday throughout the Philippines, "... in
commemoration of our people's declaration of their inherent and inalienable right to
freedom and independence.“
On 4 August 1964, Republic Act No. 4166 renamed the 4 July holiday as "Philippine Republic
Day", proclaimed 12 June as "Philippine Independence Day", and enjoined all citizens of the
Philippines to observe the latter with befitting rites.
Prior to 1964, June 12 was observed as Flag Day in the country.
In 1965, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Proclamation No. 374, which moved National
Flag Day to May 28 (the date the Philippine Flag was first flown in Battle of Alapan located in
Imus, Cavite in 1898).
In 1994, President Fidel V. Ramos issued Executive Order No. 179, extending the celebration
period from May 28 to Philippine Independence Day on June 12.