History in the making: June 12, 100 years ago

History in the making: June 12, 100 years ago

With most of the Philippines already under Filipino control in 1893 (except for the city of Manila), Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo felt that it was imperative to establish a Philippine government to formally institute Filipino sovereignty.

On the advice of Ambrosio R. Bautista, Aguinaldo inaugurated "a dictatorial government" on May 24, 1898, setting forth June 12 of that year as the date of Philippine Independence.

Commissioned to compose a march for the independence rites was Julian Felipe, whose composition Marcha Filipina Nacional (originally Marcha Filipina Magdalo) was adopted as the official march, and later as the national anthem of the Philippines.

Bautista prepared the Declaration of Independence, which he read at the independence rites in Kawit, Cavite. The event marked the first time the Philippine flag was hoisted and the first time the Philippine national anthem was played.

The first cabinet appointments were announced on July 15, 1898: Baldomero Aguinaldo, Secretary of War and Public Works; Leandro Ibana, Secretary of the Interior; Mariano Trias, Secretary of Finance; and Mabini as Secretary of Foreign Affairs (after Cayetano Arellano refused the post).

Next to be appointed were the 50 delegates of the Revolutionary Congress at Barazoain, Malolos, pursuant to Aguinaldo's decrees of June 13 and June 23. Amid euphoric chants of "Viva!" and the rhythm of the national anthem, the chief executive and the delegates were greeted with pageantry in the streets of Malolos.

In its first significant act, the Malolos Congress ratified the June 12 proclamation of independence on September 29. It also set out to draft what would later be known as the Malolos Constitution (with Felipe Calderon as head of the committee).

One of its provisions formally separated the affairs of church and state. Following the promulgation of the Constitution on Jan. 21, 1899, the Malolos Republic was inaugurated with Aguinaldo as president and the following as cabinet members: Mabini as president of the cabinet and secretary of foreign affairs; Teodoro Sandico as secretary of the interior; Baldomero Aguinaldo as secretary of war; Trias as secretary of finance; and Gracio Conzaga as secretary of welfare, public instruction, public works, communications, agriculture, industry and commerce.

Although American intentions in the Philippines would soon cut short its existence, the Malolos Republic was eloquent proof that the Filipino was ready for self-government.

Written by Tammy Mendoza for The Fookien Times, 1997 Philippines Yearbook.