Independence Day in Philippines (Araw ng Kasarinlan)

One of the most significant dates in the Philippine’s history is Independence Day
because it marks the nation’s independence from the Spanish rule on June 12, 1898.
Filipinos celebrate it annually on June 12.

Independence Day (Filipino: Araw ng Kasarinlan; also Araw ng Kalayaan, lit.

"Day of Freedom" is an annual national holiday in the Philippines observed on 12 June,
commemorating the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain on 12 June
1898. It is the country’s National Day.

HISTORY

The Philippine Revolution began in August 1896. In December 1897, the Pact of
Biak-na-Bato, an agreement between the Spanish colonial government and the
revolutionaries, created a truce between the parties. Under terms of this agreement,
Emilio Aguinaldo and other revolutionary leaders went into exile in Hong Kong.

At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Commodore George Dewey

sailed from Hong Kong to Manila Bay leading the Asiatic Squadron of the U.S. Navy. On
May 1, 1898, the Dewey defeated the Spanish in the Battle of Manila Bay. Later that
month, the U.S. Navy transported Aguinaldo back to the Philippines.

On June 12, 1898, Aguinaldo led the declaration of Philippine independence from
Spanish colonial rule. Philippines independence was not recognized either by the
United States of America or by Spain. The Spanish government later ceded the
Philippine archipelago to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris. The Philippines
Revolutionary Government did not recognize the treaty. When the Americans sought to
execute the terms of the treaty, a three-year conflict, now called the Philippine-American
War, ensued.

The US granted independence to the Philippines on 4 July 1946 through the

Treaty of Manila.

4 July, the date intentionally chosen by the United States because it corresponds
to its Independence Day, was observed in the Philippines as Independence Day until
1962. On 12 May 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Presidential
Proclamation No. 28, which declared Tuesday, 12 June 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 4 August 1964,
Republic Act No. 4166 renamed the 4 July holiday as "Philippine Republic Day",
proclaimed 12 June as "Philippine Independence Day", and enjoined all citizens of the
Philippines to observe the latter with befitting rites. Prior to 1964, 12 June had been
observed as Flag Day, which was moved to 28 May (the date the Philippine Flag was
first flown in battle).