Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista’s Declaration of Philippine Independence: Shownotes

Images are in the public domain, and retrieved from Wikipedia.

In the eighth episode of Primary Sources & U, we have talked about the momentous event of Philippine Independence that was celebrated on June 12, 1898. Here is the introduction for the episode, containing some question that we tried to answer:

"On a clear Sunday afternoon of June 12, 1898 in the town of Cavite Viejo present day Kawit, Emilio Aguinaldo waved the Philippine national flag before cheering crowds for the first time. For many, this day signaled the end of the 333 years of Spanish Colonization. It was a euphoric culmination of the revolution that started less than two years prior—a revolution that spilt the blood of many revolutionaries, both in the hands of the colonizers and of their fellow Filipinos. It was the beginning of a government that would be led by the people it ought to represent and serve. But 1898 was hardly a break from the struggle. It beckoned a continuation of the fight for self-determination that would go on for years. For others, it would end in a series of surrenders. Yet for some, the revolution is unfinished. In the years to come, scholars and students would look back to this day and interrogate what this event truly represents? What did it really do for the people? And what does it really mean to be free?”

The Declaration of Independence is quite a quick read! Better yet, it’s available online through Wikipedia (yet another proof that Wikipedia could actually be pretty useful when used properly).

Primary Source Quotes from the Episode

This historical day is one event that a lot of Filipinos are familiar with since it is celebrated as a national holiday every year, however, only a handful of Filipinos are familiar with the landmark document of the independence penned by Ambrosio-Rianzares Bautista. This document is of utmost importance since it provides us with the insight of the revolutionaries at the moment where they saw the revolutionary victory unto them. The document also allows us to revisit the historical circumstances of our Independence. Here are some of the excerpts in the document:

The first part of the document reveals the psyche of the revolutionaries and provides their justification of revolting against Spain:

“…taking into consideration, that their inhabitants being already weary of bearing the ominous yoke of Spanish domination, on account of the arbitrary arrests and harsh treatment practiced by the Civil Guard to the extent of causing death with the connivance and even with the express orders of their commanders, who sometimes went to the extreme of ordering the shooting of prisoners under the pretext that they were attempting to escape, in violation of the provisions of the Regulations of their Corps, which abuses were unpunished and on account of the unjust deportations, especially those decreed by General Blanco, of eminent personages and of high social position, at the instigation of the Archbishop and friars interested in keeping them out of the way for their own selfish and avaricious purpose, deportations which are quickly brought about by a method of procedure more execrable than that of the Inquisition and which every civilized nation rejects on account of a decision being rendered without a hearing of the persons accused.”

What was the kind of government that the revolutionaries envisioned for the Filipinos after Spain?:

“And summoning as a witness of the rectitude of our intentions, the Supreme Judge of the Universe, and under the protection of the Mighty and Humane North American Nation, we proclaim and solemnly declare, in the name and by the authority of the inhabitants of all these Philippine Islands, that they are and have the right to be free and independent; that they are released from all obedience to the crown of Spain; that every political tie between the two is and must be completely severed and annulled; and that, like all free and independent states, they have complete authority to make war, conclude peace, establish treaties of commerce, enter into alliances, regulate commerce, and execute all other acts and things that Independent States have the right to do. Reposing firm confidence in the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge for the support of this declaration, our lives, our fortunes, and our most sacred possession, which is our honor. We acknowledge, approve and confirm together with the orders that have been issued therefrom, the Dictatorship established by Don Emilio Aguinaldo, whom we honor as the Supreme Chief of this Nation, which this day commences to have a life of its own, in the belief that he is the instrument selected by God, in spite of his humble origin, to effect the redemption of this unfortunate people.”

In the entire document, the Katipunan was only mentioned once. But the more interesting part was the way that the United States was regarded by the revolutionaries at this period. These are seen in the latter parts of the documents.

"And finally, it was unanimously resolved that this Nation, independent from this day, must use the same flag used heretofore, whose design and colors and described in the accompanying drawing, with design representing in natural colors the three arms referred to. The white triangle represents the distinctive emblem of the famous Katipunan Society, which by means of its compact of blood purged on the masses of the people to insurrection; the three stars represent the three principal Islands of this Archipelago, Luzon, Mindanao and Panay, in which this insurrectionary movement broke out; the sun represents the gigantic strides that have been made by the sons of this land on the road of progress and civilization, its eight rays symbolizing the eight provinces of Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna and Batangas, which were declared in a state of war almost as soon as the first insurrectionary movement was initiated; and the colors blue, red and white, commemorate those of the flag of the United States of North America, in manifestation of our profound gratitude towards that Great Nation for the disinterested protection she is extending to us and will continue to extend to us."

Scholarly Works Mentioned in the Episode

Jonathan Fast and Jim Richardson, 1979. Roots of Dependency: Political and economic revolution in 19th century Philippines. A comprehensive essay that discussed the radical economic changes in the Philippines in the 1800s, and characterized the social and political movements that were born in this period.

Teodoro Agoncillo, 1956. Revolt of the masses: The story of Bonifacio and the Katipunan. Arguably the most important work on Philippine revolution. Agoncillo blazed the trail in interpreting the Revolution as something borne our of the masses initiative and not as a mere continuation of the Reform Movement led by the elite ilustrados.

These works aren’t publicly available, so check your local libraries!