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“CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS”
Act of Proclamation of Independence of the Filipino People
GEd-105 Readings in the Philippine History
Esmores, Bon Axl C.
BPA1202
Leading Innovations, Transforming Lives, Building the Nation
Republic of the Philippines
BATANGAS STATE
UNIVERSITY
The National Engineering University
Pablo Borbon Campus
Rizal Avenue Ext., Batangas City, Batangas, Philippines 4200
Tel Nos.: (+63 43) 980-0385; 980-0387; 980-0392 to 94; 425-7158 to 62 loc. 1124
E-mail Address:
[email protected] | Website Address:
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I. Pre-reading Activity
a. Background of the Author – Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista
Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista y Altamira, also known as Don Bosyong, was a
Filipino lawyer and author of the Declaration of Philippine Independence (Pagpapahayag
ng Kalayaan ng Pilipinas). He was born in Biñan, Laguna on December 17, 1830, to
Gregorio Enriquez Bautista and Silvestra Altamira and also a distant relative of the Rizal
family.
He studied in a preparatory school in Biñan and Studied law at UST and got his
degree on 1865. Bautista was a Filipino lawyer and author of the Declaration of
Philippine Independence (Pagpapahayag ng Kalayaan ng Pilipinas). Bautista is said to
often gave advice to José Rizal while he was still studying in Manila. He practiced law in
Manila and offers free legal services to poor clients. At the same time, on his way to
Malolos, Bulacan, Bautista was captured by a group of bandits, who later learned that he
had saved many of their friends as a defender of the poor in courts against rich Filipinos
and Spaniards. The bandits then apologized and set him free.
Bautista solicited funds to finance a campaign for reforms in the Philippines, later
becoming a member of the La Liga Filipina, Cuerpo de Compromisarios and La
Propaganda. In 1896, the Spaniards arrested and imprisoned Bautista at Fort Santiago, for
being suspected of being part of the Philippine Revolution. He elected to defend himself
Leading Innovations, Transforming Lives, Building the Nation
Republic of the Philippines
BATANGAS STATE
UNIVERSITY
The National Engineering University
Pablo Borbon Campus
Rizal Avenue Ext., Batangas City, Batangas, Philippines 4200
Tel Nos.: (+63 43) 980-0385; 980-0387; 980-0392 to 94; 425-7158 to 62 loc. 1124
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and was later released from prison. In 1898, Bautista became the first adviser to President
Emilio Aguinaldo and subsequently wrote the Declaration of Philippine Independence.
In contrary to the common belief, it was Bautista who waved the Philippine flag
before the delighted crowd on June 12, 1898, during the Philippines Proclamation of
Independence in Cavite, and not Emilio Aguinaldo. On July 14, 1899, Bautista was
elected to the position of president in Tarlac's Revolutionary Congress and was later
appointed judge of the Court of First Instance of Pangasinan. Bautista was also a member
of Malolos Congress from September 15, 1898 – November 13, 1899 Serving with
Mariano Crisostomo, Pedro Serrano, and Trinidad Iscasiano.
Bautista then died on December 4, 1903 at the age of 72 from an accidental fall in
a horse-drawn vehicle.
b. Historical Background of the Primary Source
The Act of Proclamation of Independence of the Filipino People is part of a long
line of declarations of independence including the United States Declaration of
Independence. It brings up a list of grievances against the Spanish government stretching
back to Ferdinand Magellan's arrival in 1521 and confers upon "our famous Dictator Don
Emilio Aguinaldo all the powers necessary to enable him to discharge the duties of
Government, including the prerogatives of granting pardon and amnesty." The Act of
Proclamation of Independence of the Filipino People was written by Ambrosio Rianzares
Leading Innovations, Transforming Lives, Building the Nation
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The National Engineering University
Pablo Borbon Campus
Rizal Avenue Ext., Batangas City, Batangas, Philippines 4200
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Bautista in Spanish. It was signed by Baustista and other 98 people including a citizen of
the U.S.A. (Mr. L.M. Johnson, a Colonel of Artillery).
On June 12, 1898, the Philippine Declaration of Independence was issued Cavite
II el Viejo (now known as Kawit, Cavite), Philippines. Filipino revolutionary forces led
by General Emilio Aguinaldo declared the sovereignty and independence of the
Philippine Islands from Spanish colonial control with the public reading of the Act of the
Declaration of Independence (Acta de la proclamación de independencia del pueblo
Filipino).
The proclamation of Philippine independence was, however, promulgated on
August 1, when many towns had already been organized under the rules laid down by the
Dictatorial Government of General Aguinaldo. 190 municipal presidents of different
towns from 16 provinces ratified the Proclamation of Independence in Bacoor, Cavite.
Later at Malolos, Bulacan, the Malolos Congress modified the declaration upon the
insistence of Apolinario Mabini who objected to that the original proclamation essentially
placed the Philippines under the protection of the United States.
In the 1980s or 1990s, the Declaration was stolen from the National Library. As
part of a larger investigation into the widespread theft of historical documents and a
subsequent public appeal to return of stolen documents, the Declaration was returned to
the National Library in 1994 by historian and University of the Philippines professor
Milagros Guerrero, who mediated the return of the documents. Today, the Declaration of
Leading Innovations, Transforming Lives, Building the Nation
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BATANGAS STATE
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The National Engineering University
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Tel Nos.: (+63 43) 980-0385; 980-0387; 980-0392 to 94; 425-7158 to 62 loc. 1124
E-mail Address:
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Independence is currently at the National Library of the Philippines. It is not on public
display but it can be viewed with permission like any other document held by the
National Library.
II. While-reading Activity
a. Content Analysis of the Important Historical Information Found in the Document
On August 25, 1898, the Philippines passed the Act of Declaration of the
Independence of the Filipino People, which recognized the Philippines' independence
from Spain. From their first arrival and establishment of a colony in the Philippines in
1521, the Spaniards have been in control of the country. They succeeded in asserting
dominance over the people of the Philippines in a various way over the span of following
500 years. The nation's natural resources were seized away, and was transformed into a
colony where the general majority people were treated like slaves. The indigenous
cultures and traditions were destroyed, and the people were unable to express themselves
without fear of retaliation.
As a consequence, the Filipino people was encouraged and became determined to
defend their country and fight against the injustices and slavery inflicted by the Spanish.
The document details how Magellan conquered the island and handed power to his
countrymen, which unknowingly paved the stage for the exploitation of the Filipino
people. It states that the rights to life, freedom, and independence are inherent for all
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mankind. It also exhibits the source of the flag's colors and design inspiration. The
purpose of the document was to revive the Filipino people's determination to fight for
their country's liberation. It describes the harsh, unfair and mistreatment carried out by
the Spanish colonizers and those politically corrupt Filipinos in the administration. A
revolution resulted from the Spanish colonizers' oppression of the Filipino people. It was
said that there was a revolution in various provinces of the Philippines, and the locals
took part in the fight. Each citizen of the nation was aware of it and supported it. For a
country to be said to be democratic or free, it must also have a distinctive national flag.
Thus, they arrived at the flag we use today after a lengthy process of designing
and making it. The renowned Katipunan group, whose blood pact inspired the population
to rise up in revolution, is symbolized by the white triangle. The three stars represent the
three largest islands that make up the archipelago: Panay, Mindanao, and Luzon. The sun
is a representation of the immense progress made by the nation's men in terms of growth
and human civilization. The eight rays stand for the several provinces that participated in
armed warfare among themselves as early as the first revolution got under way: Manila,
Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna, and Batangas.
lll. Post-reading Activity
A. Contribution and Relevance of the document in understanding the Grand
Narrative of the Philippine History
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This document serves as a reminder that the nation is a separate entity with its
own history, culture, and customs and is not in any way dependent on the Spanish. Also,
it is evidence of the resilience of the Filipino people and the leaders' determination to
build a country founded on freedom and democracy. It serves as a reminder of the
Filipino people's sacrifices in building their country. In their struggle for independence,
they persisted and overcame numerous obstacles, like the Spanish occupation and the
protracted period of oppression that followed the war. Despite these challenges, they
eventually succeeded in founding a new country that was independent of colonial power.
B. Relevance of the document to the Present Time
One of the turning points in Philippine history was the declaration of
independence of the Philippines. It was a critical point that enabled the Filipinos to
achieve national sovereignty and self-government. The declaration of independence,
influences every Filipino to appreciate the independence we are enjoying The Philippines
is recognized as a democratic nation where the people are led by leaders’ they elect for
themselves and where there is no colonial influence involve from other nations meddling
how we Filipinos should live our lives. The Declaration of Independence of the
Philippines is the ultimate proof that we Filipinos have the freedom, to express ourselves
in our society and are free from oppressions
Leading Innovations, Transforming Lives, Building the Nation
Republic of the Philippines
BATANGAS STATE
UNIVERSITY
The National Engineering University
Pablo Borbon Campus
Rizal Avenue Ext., Batangas City, Batangas, Philippines 4200
Tel Nos.: (+63 43) 980-0385; 980-0387; 980-0392 to 94; 425-7158 to 62 loc. 1124
E-mail Address:
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References
Wikipedia contributors. (2023, January 5). Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista. Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrosio_Rianzares_Bautista
Wikipedia contributors. (2023b, January 30). Philippine Declaration of Independence.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Declaration_of_Independence
Today in Philippie History, December 7, 1830, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, lawyer and
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldos confidante, was born in Biñan, Laguna. (2011, December 7).
The Kahimyang Project.
https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/799/today-in-philippie-history-
december-7-1830-ambrosio-rianzares-bautista-lawyer-and-gen-emilio-aguinaldo-
s-confidante-was-born-in-bi-an-laguna
Alporha, V. (2021, March 15). Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista’s Declaration of Philippine
Independence: Shownotes. Podkas: Conversations on Philippine History, Politics, and
Society.
https://www.podkas.org/blog/rianzares-shownotes
Republic Act No. 6975 - Official Gazette Of The Republic Of The Philippines. (n.d).
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1990/12/13/republic-act-no-6975/
Why Are Filipino Names Spanish? - Love For Traveling. (n.d).
https://lovefortraveling.com/why-are-filipino-names-spanish/
Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War, 1898-1902. (n.d).
https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/spanish-american-war.htm
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