The PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY

 

WHENEVER THE MONTH OF JUNE comes, we Filipinos celebrate the Philippine Independence Day. Amid the events surrounding this memorable occasion, have we asked ourselves what really is the so-called Philippine Independence?

 

Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia, states that:

 

“The Philippine Declaration of Independence occurred on June 12, 1898 in Cavite el Viejo (now Kawit), Cavite, Philippines. With the public reading of the Act of the Declaration of Independence, Filipino revolutionary forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain, which had been recently defeated at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.”

 

“The declaration, however, was not recognized by the United States or Spain. The Spanish government later ceded the Philippines to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish-American War. The United States recognized Philippine independence on July 4, 1946 in the Treaty of Manila. 

 

July 4 was observed in the Philippines as Independence Day until August 4, 1964 when, upon the advice of historians and the urging of nationalists, President Diosdado Macapagal signed into law Republic Act No. 4166 designating June 12 as the country'sIndependence Day. June 12 had previously been observed as Flag Day.”

 

Let us celebrate once again our independence with pride!

 

Related: Imperyalismo sa Pilipinas