“National Historical Institute (1997). Documents of 1898
Declaration of Philippine Independence, The Malolos
Constitution, and the First Philippine Republic”
SUMMARY OF THE EVENT
Declaration of Philippine Independence
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On June 12, 1898 between four and five in the afternoon, Aguinaldo proclaimed
the independence of the Philippines at Cavite el Viejo (Kawit).
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Philippine National Flag, made in Hongkong by Mrs. Marcela Agoncillo, assisted
by Lorenza Agoncillo and Delfina Herboza, was officially hoisted and the Philippine
National March played in public.
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The Act of the Declaration of Independence was prepared by Ambrosio
Rianzares Bautista, who also read it.
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The Philippine Declaration was signed by ninety-eight persons, among them an
American army officer who witnessed the proclamation.
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Proclamation of Philippine Independence promulgated on August 1, 1898
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Was not recognized by the US nor Spain
The Malolos Constitution
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Ratified on November 29, 1898
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The constitution of the First Philippine Republic
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First republican constitution in Asia
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Written by Felipe Calderón y Roca and Felipe Buencamino
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Paved way to launching the 1st Philippine republic
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Called for the separation of church and state
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Created 3 branches of representative government: Executive , Legislative, and
Judicial
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Executive powers were to be exercise by the president of the republic with the help
of his cabinet
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Judicial powers were given to the Supreme Court and other lower courts to be
created by law.
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The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was to be elected by the legislature with
the concurrence of the President and his Cabinet.
First Philippine Republic
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Started: 1899
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Ended: 1901
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January 23, 1899 – Aguinaldo took the oath of office as the 1st president of the
republic
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Unrecognized independent state established by Filipino leaders
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Aguinaldo’s first act as president was to pardon Spanish prisoners of war and grant
business rights to Europeans
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Outbreak of Philippine-American War disrupted diplomatic relations.
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Dissolved on April 1, 1901 when Aguinaldo took an oath of allegiance to the US
government.
BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR
Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista
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Born: December 17, 1830 in Biñan, Laguna
Parents: Gregorio Enriquez Bautista and Silvestra Altamira
Died: December 4, 1903 (72 years old)
Cause of Death: a fatal fall from a horse drawn carriage
Studied Law at the University of Sto. Tomas and earned his degree in 1865 (35
years old)
Prepared, written and read the Act of the Declaration of Independence in Spanish
(Acta de la Proclamación de la Independencia del Pueblo Filipino)
General Emilio Aguinaldo’s confidante
Popularly known as Don Bosyong
A lawyer and an author a distant relative of the Rizal family
Solicited funds to finance a campaign for reforms in the Philippines
Became a member of the La Liga Filipina, Cuerpo de Compromisarios and La
Propaganda
Arrested and imprisoned at Fort Santiago by the Spaniards
Became the first adviser to President Emilio Aguinaldo in 1898
Was elected to the position of president in the Revolutionary Congress in Tarlac
on July 14, 1899
Was later appointed judge of the Court of First Instance of Pangasinan.
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Felipe Gonzáles Calderón y Roca
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Born: April 4, 1868 in Santa Cruz de Malabon, Cavite
Parents: José Gonzáles Calderón and Manuela Roca
Died: June 6, 1908 (aged 40)
Studied at University of Santo Tomas and completed his studies in 1893. After
graduation, he participated in the law office of Cayetano Arellano.
He co-authored the Constitución Política de 1899, which was the constitution of
the First Philippine Republic.
Known as the 'Father of the Malolos Constitution‘
In 1899 he founded the law school Escuela de Derecho de Manila, which is now
known as the Manila Law College.
Felipe Buencamino, Sr.
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Born: August 23, 1848 in San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan
Parents: Victor Buencamino and Petrona Siojo
Died: February 6, 1929 (aged 80)
Took up Bachelor of Arts at the University of Santo Tomas.
He completed a law degree in 1884, was employed in the Audencia (court) in
Manila
He fought under the Spanish flag during the revolution; rose from the ranks, and
became a colonel in the Spanish army. But after the failed “Truce of Biak-na-Bato”
and upon the resumption of the revolution he switched side and even managed to
land a position in Aguinaldo’s revolutionary cabinet.
Dr. Spencer Coakley Tucker
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Born on September 20, 1937
An American historian, educator and writer, who also served as a military
intelligence and analyst in the US Army. North American Society for Oceanic
History, Society for Military History, U.S. Naval Institute, Nautical Research Guild,
American Association of University Professors, Southwestern Social Science
Association, Southern Historical Association (European Section), Phi Beta Delta.
He had several awards for his works and research such as John Lyman Book
Awards, North American Society for Oceanic History (1989) for Arming the Fleet,
Rear Admiral Ernest M. Eller Naval History Prize (2000), for best article in naval
history of that year, and more.
As a historian since 1962, he has written lots of books and writings, including “The
Encyclopedia of the Spanish-American and Philippine American Wars: A Political,
Social, and Military History” (2009), which consists of three volumes.
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HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE SOURCE
DECLARATION OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE
Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista
 Around May to June 1898, he wrote the Declaration of Philippine Independence
and was authorized by General Emilio Aguinaldo, who later on was recognized as
the “First President of the Philippines”, and with 98 signatories, the document
mainly consists of four sections: Preamble, A Declaration of Rights, A Bill of
Indictment, and A Statement of Independence.
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Proclaimed on June 12, 1898 in Cavite el Viejo (Kawit, Cavite), Philippines, the
day which has been regarded as the Philippine Independence Day as declared in
the Republic Act No. 4166, signed and approved by President Diosdado
Macapagal in August 4, 1964, this day was chosen by Aguinaldo to proclaim
independence from the Spanish colonization with high hopes that this would be
made possible after the United States declared war against Spain.
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With a common opponent, he made alliances with the US to combat against the
Spanish colonial government, which governed the Philippines for about 333 years
by that time counting from the year 1565.
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Under their reign, Filipinos, which they regarded to as “indios” (savage) that time,
have suffered different kinds of abuse such as the “polo y servicio” or forced labor
with no compensation, “encomienda”, wherein they used the Catholic faith as a
tool to take as much resources as they can from those forced laborers, taxes in a
form of tribute or “bandala”, sexual abuse to women and children, and limitation of
right to education, wherein Filipino children are only granted the certain levels of
education, much inferior to the Spanish students so as to avoid having Filipinos
gain much or sufficient knowledge to declare a revolt against them.
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But their fears did happen- Filipinos have eventually gained as much knowledge
as they could that their spirits have been awakened and enlightened, with the help
Rizal’s writings too, they were able to create bloodshed revolutions such as the
KKK led by Andres Bonifacio. This declaration of independence marks the end of
the Spanish regime in Philippines, and although a short-lived liberty, it has inspired
more Filipinos to fight for their rights and freedom.
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In September 4 of the same year, Aguinaldo, as president, convened the
Revolutionary Congress at Barasoain, Malolos Bulacan, informally known as the
Malolos Congress, which consisted of fifty delegates.
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Knowing that the country is in need of a constitution as the backbone of
governance, including law-making and government rules, Felipe Calderón y Roca,
a lawyer, politician, and intellectual regarded as the "Father of the Malolos
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Constitution", with all the other Filipino representatives, authored the Malolos
Constitution of 1899, which paved the way for the First Philippine Republic.
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Upon the promulgation of the constitution in January 21, 1899, a democraticrepublican government was formed consisting of three branches: the executive
branch, which consists of the president, vice-president, cabinets, commissions and
committees who approves and enforces laws and acts; the legislative branch,
which consists of the house representative and the congress to approve or
disprove the presidential nominations thus, they serve as the signatories, and lastly
the judicial branch, which consists of the Chief Justice, the Supreme Court and
lower courts which interpret and apply laws to civil cases to make judgments.
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The constitution also emphasizes the sovereignty which resides with the Filipino
people (Article 3), which furthermore recognizes the separation of the State from
the Church, giving freedom and equality for all religions (Article 5), and other rights
that is granted for all Filipinos.
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The proclamation of the Malolos Constitution was an alleviation for the Filipinos of
that time being, having being under the reign of the Spanish colonizers for more
than three centuries, wherein this constitution not only granted them the rights that
were once taken from them, but it also sets limitations that gives them the reminder
to be responsible of using their rights such as in the election of government
leaders.
AUTHOR’S INTENT/ PURPOSE ON PRODUCING THE TEXT
Independence holds great significance as it allows an individual to express his/her
thoughts, live life in accordance to what he/she desire and be accountable to what his/
decisions are. However, independence should not be taken for granted. There are rules
that we need to obey for us to live a harmonious life. Bautista provided the Filipinos a
tangible and legal proof of independence from colonization. The document indicates
justice, knowledge, patriotism and aspiration.
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Justice
The author intend to give Filipinos the ability to be informative on how rights are
lawfully given to each individuals due to this written documents.
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Knowledge
The author’s intent/purpose in producing the text is to enhance the knowledge of
the reader who’s looking for more information that she/he may use in further knowledge
for research and any academic and non-academic related activities. Also, through the
author’s way of producing the text as a source is a way to maintain the record of the past
in chronological order, and to avoid more false fabrication of the original content of the
history.
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Patriotism
The author wanted the Filipinos to be awaken on how the Spaniards colonized us.
The declaration served as an eye opener that we must act as responsible citizens, and
obliged to make our country better. The act of patriotism is an important thing which will
make for a stronger nation, and this is what the author wants us to realize. The more we
show the love for our country, the stronger our country will be as a whole.
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Aspiration
The author intend to offer an aspiration for the Filipinos to aim something and
achieve it no matter how hard the circumstances are. In this sense, we will be able to
become better not just for ourselves but also for the nation.
RELEVANCE / IMPORTANCE OF THE SOURCE
We believe that the importance of the source is:
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For foreign countries to acknowledge the independence of our country.
For our country to be officially recognized as an independent country and to have
legal basis supported by documents.
For the Filipino citizens to justify their rights against an abusive government.
For us to remember the sacrifices made in order to achieve liberty.
For us to appreciate our country’s sovereignty from the hands of the Spaniards.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista. Retrieved from
http://geocitiessites.com/sinupan/BaltzarF.htm
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The Malolos Constitution. Retrieved from
https://filipino.biz.ph/history/constitution.html?fbclid=IwAR2mDXWyl7_s7KZDqN6
vk6pg4tK-d8Cx-dapvf5qJavvJzzS9CqeogJ4FI4
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The Philippine Revolutionary Government. Retrieved from https://www.philippinehistory.org/malolos-congress.htm
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The Encyclopedia of the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars.
Retrieved fromhttps://cloudflareipfs.com/ipfs/bafykbzaceaac2papkqknyreltdtcibir45wib7lajcylf7a
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