June 12 and the Commemoration of Philippine Independence

We still need to shed some upon a number of things regarding the actual date of our independence. Although June 12 is officially declared as the commemoration of Philippine independence, it isn’t the actual date of our liberation from foreign powers: it is actually July 4.

Here are the reasons why…

BEFORE 1898

Before 1898, there were significant events that would reveal how June 12, 1898 was purely a show and invalidated the so-called Independence day.

In 1897, while the revolution was completely at its peak, Aguinaldo, along with his constituents, created a provisional draft of the Philippine constitution. It was known as the Constitution of Biak-na-Bato.

The Pact of Biak-na-Bato, as it would later be called, was signed on December 15, 1897. Unfortunately, none of the provisions materialized because Aguinaldo, along with his loyal allies, had an agreement with the Spanish government in exchange for financial indemnities and pardons in Hong Kong on December 24, 1897.

He thought that the relationship he had built with Spanish officials would last. Little did he know, he unwittingly (or not) sold the Philippines to the next colonizers: the Americans.

TREATY OF PARIS  – DECEMBER 10, 1898

On December 10, 1898, the Spanish government conceded to the Americans through a treaty in Paris, France. The Spanish government was reluctant at first, but eventually accepted the deal offered by the Americans after their demands were met. The country was sold for $20 million nominally for the public buildings and public works in the Philippines.

The first Republic of the Philippines refused to be undermined by the United States and declared war against them instead. Hence, the Filipino-American War erupted on February 6, 1899. Manila became a battleground for U.S. troops and insurgents led by Emilio Aguinaldo. For more than three years the Filipinos engaged in a guerrilla warfare against the better-equipped American troopers. Unfortunately, the valiant Filipinos were eventually defeated by the Americans on July 2, 1902, which paved the way for the U.S. colonial rule of the Philippines.

JULY 4, 1946 – FREEDOM FROM THE UNITED STATES 

July 4, 1946 at the Independence Grandstand/IMAGE from Official Gazette 

Fast forward to July 4, 1946, the United States formally recognized the independence of the Republic of the Philippines. Under the Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934, the independence of the Philippines will be recognized after they went through a ten-year transitional period.  The independence of the Philippines was marked by Manuel Roxas retaking his oath as President of the Philippines, eliminating the pledge of allegiance to the United States required prior to independence. Independence thereafter was celebrated on July 4th of every year until 1962.

Independence Day moved from July 4 to June 12

In 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Proclamation No. 28, s. 1962, effectively moving the date of Philippine independence from July 4 to June 12—the date independence from Spain was proclaimed in Kawit, Cavite, Emilio Aguinaldo’s hometown.

Macapagal cited that “the establishment of the Philippine Republic by the Revolutionary Government under General Emilio Aguinaldo on June 12, 1898, marked our people’s declaration and exercise of their right to self-determination, liberty, and independence.”

He also adopted the view of historians and many political leaders, that the foundation date of the nation should be June 12, since July 4 was the restoration of that independence. At present, we celebrate Independence Day on June 12.

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Source: Official Gazette Britannica

Written by Cedie Salido