Independence Day

The annual June 12 observance of Philippines Independence Day came into effect after past President Diosdado Macapagal signed the Republic Act No. 4166 regarding this matter on August 4, 1964. This Act legalized the holiday, which is based on the Declaration of Independence on June 12, 1898 by General Emilio Aguinaldo and Filipino revolutionary forces from the Spanish colonization. The Philippines flag was raised and its national anthem was played for the first time in 1898. However, liberty was short-lived because Spain and the United States did not recognize the declaration.

The 1898 Treaty of Paris ended the war between Spain and the United States. Spain surrendered the entire archipelago comprising the Philippines to the United States. The Philippines started a revolt against the United States in 1899 and achieved national sovereignty on July 4, 1946, through the Treaty of Manila. Independence Day was officially observed on July 4 until the Republic Act No. 4166, which set out to move the holiday to June 12, was approved on August 4, 1964.

8 Things Pinoys Should Not Know About Independence Day

1.The revolutionaries Gen. Juan Tan Juan Araneta and Gen. Aniceto L. Lacson established the Independent Republic of Negros at Bago Plaza, Negros Occidental after defeating the Spaniards on November 5, 1898 and on November 6 of the same year, Don Diego de los Rios, the last Governor-General of Spain the Philippines surrendered to the powerful revolutionary tandem.

Yup, thats right, Negros Occidental already had their independence and their Republic up and running even before Aguinaldo was proclaimed as the Philippine President in Malolos, Bulacan on January 23, 1899.

2. Gen. Martin Delgado proclaimed at Sta. Barbara, Iloilo the Federal Republic of the Visayas on 1898 and had their share of triumph too.

Governor-General Don Diego de los Rios didnt only surrender to Negros, he also conceded against the Ilonggos thru Iloilos Alcalde-Mayor Jose Ma. Gay on December 23, 1898.

Thats a double whammy for the Ilonggo Nation! The Visayan Republic had never been under the authority and jurisdiction of Aguinaldos Katagalogan Republic in Luzon.

3. Palawan also had their version of independence that transpired on December of 1898, the Goviemo de Revolucion Dictatorial was declared by Don Casiano Padon in Lucbuan, Cuyo Island.

It is also known as the Lucbuan Republic, although this government was short-lived, it was the only offshoot of the Philippine Revolution in the entire history of the country.

4. Philippine history books will tell you that the Muslims of Mindanao had already established their own states and concrete government system with diplomatic and trade relations with other countries. And the books will also note that the Spanish colonists, no matter how hard they tried, werent able to conquer the Muslim states (although their Islands were technically claimed by Spain). Yup, they were already independent especially from the Spaniards prior to Aguinaldos declaration.

5. The June 12 proclamation had a very big complication due to the following lines: under the protection of our Powerful and Humanitarian Nation, The United States of America and lines colors of Blue, Red, and White, commemorating the flag of the United States of America, as manifestation of our profound gratitude towards this Great Nation for its disinterested protection which it lent us and continues lending us.

Everyone knows you cant be independent with Uncle Sam behind you. Disinterested protection? So that means being independent, but is dependent of protection? Oh you must be shaking your heads now. Well, thats the reason why Mabini insisted another proclamation which was eventually held in Malolos.

6. You might have heard the rumors that Aguinaldo ordered the death of Andres Bonifacio during his trial. The truth is, he didnt order it. He spared Bonifacio by giving an order of pardon but it was withdrawn when two of his generals insisted upon him to do so in interest of Unity.

Aguinaldo was at fault for allowing himself to be peer pressured by his men who were responsible for the death of the Father of the Katipunan. One can then assume that the majority of the signatories in the Philippine Independence were all Caviteo and not by representatives around the region.

7. With several proclamations that occurred simultaneously in the year of 1898. Aguinaldos declaration of Philippine Independence from Spain was simply just one of them. Also, it is contentious because the Visayas and Mindanao regions were already independent prior to that, it also makes you wonder if there was even a concept of the Philippines during that time.

Was there even a person from the Visayas or Mindanao or even from Palawan who was a signatory in the declaration of Philippine Independence? Probably none, well if thats the case, then Aguinaldo cannot declare it as the independence of the Philippines from Spain because it does not cover everyone in the first place. Especially if the other regions didnt really want to be part of it.

8. Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine independence from Spainbut never won, as explained in the infamous betrayalthe Mock Battle of Manila. That only means that no such independence existed with the proclamation of Aguinaldo, the events that transpired after ensured that everything was in vain.

True Independence could never be just self-proclaimed nor bestowed upon, it has to be won and duly achieved with dignity.

The Federal Republic of the Visayas (1898-1901)

*That Spain had already formally surrendered to the Federal Republic of the Visayas even before Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was proclaimed Philippine President in Malolos, Bulacan on January 23, 1899. That our Independent Visayan Republic, had never been under the authority and jurisdiction of Aguinaldo's "Katagalogan" Republic in Luzon.

excerpted: "...A paper written by Jose Manuel Velmonte, a research associate at the UP Third World Studies Center, found that the Visayan revolutionary elites not only had sophisticated political ideas but also resented attempts by Malolos to assert its authority. A Tagalog military expedition sent by Malolos to Panay to assert its presence was met with hostility. The Luzon force led by Generals Ananias Diocno and Leandro Fullon was regarded by the Visayan revolutionaries, led by the Visayan supremo, Gen. Martin Delgado, as an ''invasion'' force ..." (Source: Inquirer-1999-06-13 "View of revolt in provinces spurs revision" By: Amando Doronila)

*That the 1898 Treaty of Paris preliminaries, should not have included territories of the sovereign "Visayan Nation"; the confederation of Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol and Romblon cantonal governments --by virtue of Spain's formal surrender prior to this U.S-Spain treaty of peace and the $20-million buy-out. Spain had no more legal right to sell.

This diplomatic "Faux pas" that was officially consummated and became legal and internationally binding only on APRIL 11, 1899 must be rectified.

*June 12, 1898 -Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine Independence from Spain in Kawit, Cavite --but never won the war against Spain, as explained in the infamous betrayal --the "Mock Battle of Manila".

*Nov. 6 & Dec. 23, 1898 -Spain formally surrendered to both; the Negros Republic that merged (Dec. 2, 189with the Federal Republic of the Visayas based in Iloilo (respectively).

excerpted: "...These two nations, from a purely legal point of view, are COMPLETELY LEGITIMATE UNTIL TODAY. This could imply that the Manila-based Tagalista-oriented Unitarian central government of the Philippines in the Visayas and Mindanao is an Occupational Government, that ultimately originated from an invalid Treaty of Paris.. .." Dr. Jose P. Dacudao; National President -Save Our Languages thru Federalism Foundation (SOLFED), Inc.

*July 4, 1946 -The United States granted Philippine Independence on a silver platter.

The Bohol Republic

On 11 June 1899, the Boholanos declared Bohol as an Independent Republic. The Bohol Republic had a constitution and set of officials. It functioned independently from June 11, 1899 to March 20, 1900. From March 20, 1900 to September 1, 1900 it had a precarious existence due to the presence of the occupying Americans. However, its mails, bearing the Republic of Bohol stamps, were still honored by the Americans and delivered regularly anywhere in the world.

The President of the Republic of Bohol was Don Bernabe Reyes. He was from Dauis, Bohol. He was a lawyer and former Alcalde de Ayuntamento (now Provincial Board Member) of the Provincial of Cebu just before the start of the Philippines Revolution.

The Vice President was Don Salustiano Borja from Tagbilaran. The Minister of Finance was Don Rafael Reyes, from Dauis, Bohol and had business concerns in Mambajao, Camiguin. The Minister for Justice was Don Eduardo Calceta, a native of San Francisco de Malabon, Cavite (now General Trias town). He came to Bohol as a young school teacher and got married and stayed in Tagbilaran. The one in charge for education and religion was Fr. Mariano Baluyot.

It should be noted that in the Republic of Bohol the religion was part of the function of the republic. Roman Catholicism was the "state religion." In this regard, the Eskayas of Bohol came to Tagbilaran to protest because they want "Aglipayan" to be the state religion. It was of no avail.

Do you remember the Republic of Bohol? Of course not; our provincial officials would not even recognize this facet of our provincial history. While the Republic of Negros, which immediately collaborated with the Americans, is found in history books studied in school, nobody is studying the Republic of Bohol in our schools. Why? It is because our minds are still colonized by the Americans. The Republic of Negros was deemed good by the Americans because they collaborated while the Republic of Bohol dared to fight the Americans and defeated the Americans in some major battles. Therefore the Republic of Bohol, according to American viewpoint, ought not to be remembered