Malaya na nga ba?
Ngayon ay ang ika-122 na taon ng Araw ng Kalayaan. Magbalik-tanaw tayo tungkol sa deklarasyon ng independencia ng Pilipinas noong 1898.
The Philippine Revolutionaries declared Independence in June 12, 1898 from Spain and the Act of Declaration of Independence was also signed. Eto yung panahon where majority of Luzon is under Filipino control with the help of the United States. Spanish guys ceded control of their empire, including the Philippines to the US through a Treaty. The Philippine government refused to recognize the treaty. Also the Philippine government failed to win recognition of independence in the international scene. War broke between the US and the Philippines and in 1902, the revolutionaries was soundly defeated.
Back in 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo declared the country’s independence from Spain right from the balcony of what it is known now as Aguinaldo’s Shrine.
The Philippine flag was officially unfurled for the first time at about 4:30 p.m, as the Marcha Nacional Filipina was played by the band of San Francisco de Malabon.
Post-1898 Treaty of Paris, the United States of America granted independence to the Philippines on July 4, 1946. In accordance with the Philippine Independence Act (more popularly known as the “Tydings–McDuffie Act”), President Harry S. Truman issued Proclamation 2695 of July 4, 1946 officially recognizing the independence of the Philippines. On the same day, the Treaty of Manila was signed.
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.
