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.