Day of Freedom

The Spanish navy was defeated in Manila Bay by the Americans on April 30, 1898. Filipino revolutionaries took advantage of the situation and besieged Manila on June 12, declaring the Philippines independent.

This day is more than just a holiday; it is a day on which Filipinos remember the bravery and sacrifices of warriors and heroes who fought for our country. Their bravery in fighting colonizers and determination to free the land should be remembered by future generations. These valiant efforts should be regarded with the same reverence as the gift of dominion.

Independence Day (Filipino: Araw ng Kasarinlán; also known as Araw ng Kalayaan, "Day of Freedom") is an annual national holiday celebrated in the Philippines on June 12 to commemorate the declaration of Philippine independence from Spain in 1898. We celebrate our independence from the Spaniards; we Filipinos had been under Spanish control for nearly 300 years, and the torture, prejudice, and unfair oppression had finally ended, replaced by a free country, free to make its own laws and rule over its own territory. Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Restituto Javier, Guillermo Masangkay, Aurelio Tolentino, Faustino Manalak, Pedro Zabala, and other Katipunan members went to Pamitinan Cave in Montalban, Rizal, to meet new Katipunan members. Viva la Filipina independencia! Bonifacio wrote Alternatively, Long Live Philippine Independence on the cave walls to indicate the secret society's goal. Bonifacio also led the Cry of Pugad Lawin, which signaled the start of the Philippine Revolution. In protest against Spanish conquest, members of the Katipunan, led by Bonifacio, tore their community tax certificates (cedulas personales). 

The Philippine Revolution began in 1896. The Pact of Biak-na-Bato was signed on December 14, 1897, establishing a truce between the Spanish colonial administration and Filipino rebels. After accepting 400,000 pesos from the Spanish government, Emilio Aguinaldo and other revolutionary leaders were exiled to Hong Kong under the terms of the agreement. Aguinaldo issued a decree declaring June 12, 1898 as the day of independence on June 5, 1898, at his home in what was then known as Cavite El Viejo. Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Aguinaldo's war counselor and special delegate, solemnly read the Acta de la Proclamacion de la Independencia del Pueblo Filipino. The Philippines failed to gain international recognition for their independence, particularly from the United States of America and Spain. The Philippines were later given to the United States by the Spanish government in the 1898 Treaty of Paris. The Philippine Revolutionary Government refused to accept the treaty, and the two sides fought the Philippine–American War as a result.

The Philippines declared independence from the United States of America on July 4, 1946. On July 4, 1946, President Harry S. Truman issued Proclamation 2695, officially recognizing the Philippines' independence under the Philippine Independence Act (also known as the "Tydings–McDuffie Act").

May this day serve as a reminder of our hard-won independence as well as an occasion to celebrate Filipino ancestry, culture, and custom. Our diverse traditions and culture from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao demonstrate that the Filipino character is more than just brave and fearless.

Retrieve. June 10, 2022. - Image: Balok-tanaw sa unang Araw ng Kalayaan! - Ako Ay Pilipino  www.akoaypilipino.eu -https://images.app.goo.gl/4eziFH8om4x82tUG6