Notes

The Proclamation of Philippine Independence (1898)

On June 12, 1898, the Philippine Independence was proclaimed in Cavite, ending more than 300 years of Spanish rule. The proclamation was read and written by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, a lawyer and adviser of Emilio Aguinaldo. Contrary to common belief, it was Bautista—not Aguinaldo—who waved the Philippine flag during the event. The flag was also displayed from a window of Aguinaldo’s house, not from a balcony.

The proclamation was a 2,000-word document that explained the reasons for the revolution, the abuses of Spanish officials and friars, and the establishment of a new government under Aguinaldo. It described the unjust arrests, deportations, killings by the Civil Guard, and the greed of the friars. It also recalled key events in Philippine history: the Cavite Mutiny of 1872, the execution of GOMBURZA, and the execution of José Rizal, which the document condemned as unjust and done to satisfy the friars.

The declaration stated that Aguinaldo would serve as the head of the new government under a dictatorship, calling him the chosen leader to redeem the Filipino people. It also explained the meaning of the national flag, noting that:

* the white triangle symbolized the Katipunan,
* the three stars stood for Luzon, Panay, and Mindanao,
* the sun with eight rays represented the first provinces to rise against Spain,
* and the red, white, and blue colors were taken from the United States flag as a gesture of gratitude for their “protection.”

The presence of the U.S. was acknowledged in the document, showing early dependence on American involvement in the revolution. An American, Colonel L. M. Johnson, even witnessed and signed the proclamation.

Relevance in Philippine history
The Proclamation of Independence is studied because it represents the birth of the Philippine nation and the formal declaration of freedom from Spain. It reveals both the ideals and the limitations of the revolutionary leadership. While it justified independence by citing abuses and invoking equality, it also showed the influence of politics: the Katipunan and Bonifacio were barely mentioned, while Aguinaldo’s leadership was highlighted. The document also shows early reliance on the United States, foreshadowing the coming American colonization.

Historians study the proclamation not just for its symbolic importance, but also to understand how independence was narrated by those in power and how political bias shaped official records. It reminds us to examine primary sources critically and compare them with other accounts to get a fuller picture of history.