Indio:Bravo//

Go to Link View Separately

On June 12, 1898, crowds have gathered at Kawit, Cavite who have heard of the circular that finally the declaration of independence of the Philippines would be proclaimed. On the window of his house, the President of the fledgling Republica Filipina, Emilio Aguinaldo looks on, confident of the future of the country. He won the people by his mere presence, having arrived only in May the previous month from exile with the help of U.S. Admiral George Dewey. The Spanish-American War was on, and the Spanish forces were busy fighting both the Americans at sea and the Filipino revolutionaries on land. Spain would not let go of the colony Filipinas without a fight.

Not without fault, the President trusted the Americans, perhaps too much. On the Declaration of Independence itself is written, “And … under the protection of the Powerful and Humanitarian nation, the United States of America, we do hereby proclaim and declare solemnly in the name by authority of the people of these Philippine islands.”

At around 4:00 PM that day, the declaration authored by Aguinaldo’s chief adviser, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, a distant relative of Rizal, was read in the presence of Filipinos and was signed by 97 Filipinos, and one American (a U.S. representative in the event). By 4:20 P.M. the Philippine flag with the anthropomorphic sun of freedom was unfurled.

Apolinario Mabini, who was called upon by President Aguinaldo upon hearing his expertise on law to become his adviser, arrived late, being carried from town to town because of his disability. But what he never had (the ability to walk) he made up for his inquisitive mind, that like Nick Joaquin notes, would always question the legality of things.

Upon arriving, and realizing the significance of the event, Mabini surprisingly objected to the declaration of independence. He posed these questions, as noted by historian Cesar Adib Majul: “was there a formal agreement or treaty between the American authorities and Aguinaldo regarding the final disposition of the Islands? The negative response cast a dark cloud on all around. Again: Might not the promises remain merely verbal and ambiguous? If so, was not the declaration of independence premature and imprudent, for while it disclosed to the Americans the intentions of the Filipinos, they, on the contrary, were keeping theirs a secret?”

Furthermore, Mabini saw that a dictator should not proclaim the freedom of the people; that was for the people themselves to declare. Thus, he did not rest until all the provincial presidents of the provinces controlled by the revolutionary army ratified the declaration. Since then, Mabini became the adviser of Aguinaldo. Though imperfect (what republic isn’t?), and even when the republic was short-lived, Mabini fought using his mind to protect it, because so much blood have been shed for it. The document was also ratified by the Malolos Congress, that had representatives from the entire archipelago.

Historians then probably look to this day in a similar light—seeing the pros and cons of things, for many Filipino holidays are ambiguous, as ALL human events are. It is not in black or white. And many misinterpret these occasions, especially those who do not know their history.

The fact remains, that among all the proclamations of Philippine independence, this one, no matter how imperfect, was declared in our own volition and was “not dependent upon the will and discretion of another.”

*Scanned copy of the first page of the Philippine Declaration of Independence, from GMA News Site.