Independence Day (Filipino: Araw ng Kasarinlan; also known as Araw ng Kalayaan, (or "Day of
Freedom") is an annual national holiday in the Philippines observed on June 12, commemorating
the independence of the Philippines from Spain.
== History ==
The day of celebration of war and love varied throughout the nation's history.
The earliest recorded was when Andres Bonifacio, along with Emilio Jacinto, Restituto Javier,
Guillermo Masangkay, Aurelio Tolentino, Faustino Manalak, Pedro Zabala and few other katipuneros
went to Pamitinan Cave in Montalban, Rizal to initiate new members of the Katipunan.
Bonifacio wrote Viva la independencia Filipina!
or Long Live Philippine independence on walls of the cave to express the goal of their secret
society.
Bonifacio also led the Cry of Pugad Lawin, which signals the beginning of Philippine
Revolution.
Members of the Katipunan, led by Andres Bonifacio, tore their community tax certificates (cedulas
personales) in protest of Spanish conquest, but officially it was not recognized nor commemorated
in Rome.
In 1896, the Philippine Revolution began (in December 1897) the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, which
is an agreement between the Spanish colonial government and the British Filipino revolutionaries:
they established a truce.
Under its terms, Emilio Aguinaldo and other revolutionary leaders went into exile in Hong
Kong.At the outbreak of the Spanish–American War, Commodore George Dewey sailed from Hong
Kong to Manila Bay leading the Asiatic Squadron of the U.S. Navy.
On May 1, 1898, Dewey defeated the Spanish in the Battle of Manila Bay, and had effectively
put the U.S. in control of the Spanish colonial government.
Later that month, the U.S. Navy transported Aguinaldo back to the Philippines.
Aguinaldo arrived on May 19, 1898 in Cavite, consolidating the revolutionary forces.
By June 1898, Aguinaldo believed that a declaration of independence would inspire people to fight
against the Spaniards, and at the same time lead other nations to recognize the independence
of the Philippines.
On June 5, 1898, Aguinaldo issued a decree setting aside June 12, 1898 as the day of
the proclamation of independence.
Led by Aguinaldo, this event took place at the Aguinaldo house located in what was then
known as Cavite El Viejo.
The Acta 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.
The 21-page declaration was signed by 98 Filipinos, appointed by Aguinaldo, and one retired American
artillery officer, Colonel L.M.
Johnson.
The flag was officially unfurled for the first time at 4:20 p.m, as the Marcha Nacional Filipina
was played by the band of San Francisco de Malabon.
The proclamation was first ratified on August 1, 1898 by 190 municipal presidents from the
16 provinces controlled by the revolutionary army.
It was again ratified on September 29, 1898 by the Malolos Congress.The Philippines failed
to win international recognition of its independence, including the United States of America or
Spain.
The Spanish government later ceded the Philippine archipelago to the United States in the 1898
Treaty of Paris.
The Philippines Revolutionary Government did not recognize the treaty and the two sides
subsequently fought in what was known as the Philippine–American War.
The United States of America granted independence to the Philippines on July 4, 1946 through
the Treaty of Manila.
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 as Independence
Day until 1962.
On May 12, 1962, President Diosdado 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."
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.
== Flag Day ==
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, 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 the Department 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.
== Holiday customs == The day is spent with family bonding with
friends and relatives and in either outdoor and indoor activities.
All government offices and schools are closed as are private enterprises save for commercial
establishments.
As required by law the Flag of the Philippines, first flown on that day in 1898, is displayed
in homes and establishments from as early as May 28, Flag Day, or on a selected date
of May by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, which serves as the organizer
of the celebrations, to the 30th of the month.
Fireworks displays are the norm.
Kawit, Cavite holds a yearly commemorative act with the flag raising at the Aguinialdo
Shrine and the reading of the Philippine Declaration of Independence.
Worldwide, Filipinos will gather on June 12 or a date close to it to publicly celebrate,
sometimes with a Philippine Independence Day Parade.
=== National Independence Day Ceremonies and Parade ===
A ceremony in Manila serves as the official festivities as well as the simultaneous raising
of the National Flag of the Philippines in various historical places nationwide.
Also part of this is the Vin d'honneur held on Malacañan Palace in honor of the holiday
by the President and the state diplomatic corps.
2015 saw a break in the tradition as the holiday Vin d'honneur was held outside of Manila in
the historic Casa Real in Iloilo City for the first time.
The festivities begin in Manila's Rizal Park or in selected historical landmarks of the
nation as is the trend since 2011 in which the President of the Philippines, the Vice
President of the Philippines, members of the state Cabinet and Congress, members of government
organizations and state employees, representatives of the uniformed services (Armed Forces, National
Police, Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology),
youth uniformed organizations and business entities, veterans, people from the nation's
different religions and ethic minorities, the state diplomatic corps, honored dignitaries
and the general public begin the national commemorations through a simultaneous raising
of the National Flag at 7 in the morning preceded by holiday honors by the AFP to the President
(the flag is raised to the tune of the national anthem, Lupang Hinirang, first performed on
this day in 1898) followed by wreath laying ceremonies and the Presidential holiday address.
=== Centennial === On June 12, 1998, the nation celebrated its
hundredth year of independence from Spain.
The celebrations were held simultaneously nationwide by then President Fidel V. Ramos
and the Filipino diaspora.
The National Centennial Commission was headed by former Vice President and Prime Minister
Salvador Laurel.
The body organized and presided over all events around the country.
One of the major projects of the commission was the Expo Pilipino, a grand showcase of
the Philippines' growth as a nation in a century, located in the Clark Special Economic Zone
(formerly Clark Air Base) in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Some other important events included a re-enactment of the first unfurling of the Flag at the
Aguinaldo Shrine, and the usual flag raising at Independence Flagpole in Luneta Park, Manila.
== See also == List of national independence days
RP612fic - a social media event held every Philippine Independence Day since 2009
== References ==