Independence Day (Philippines) - History

History

Main article: History of the Philippines (1898–1946) See also: Philippine Declaration of Independence

The declaration of Philippine independence from the Spanish colonial rule followed the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution in 1896. Philippine independence was not recognised either by the United States of America or by Spain. The Spanish government later ceded the Philippine archipelago to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris. The Philippine Revolutionary Government did not recognize the treaty. When the Americans sought to execute the terms of the treaty, a three-year conflict, now called the Philippine-American War, ensued. The US granted independence to the Philippines on 4 July 1946 through the Treaty of Manila.

4 July, the date intentionally chosen by the United States because it corresponds to its Independence Day, was observed in the Philippines as Independence Day until 1962. On 12 May 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Presidential Proclamation No. 28, which declared Tuesday, 12 June a special public holiday throughout the Philippines, "... in commemoration of our people's declaration of their inherent and inalienable right to freedom and independence." On 4 August 1964, Republic Act No. 4166 renamed the 4 July holiday as "Philippine Republic Day", proclaimed 12 June as "Philippine Independence Day", and enjoined all citizens of the Philippines to observe the latter with befitting rites.

Prior to 1964, 12 June had been observed as Flag Day, which was moved to 28 May (the date the Philippine Flag was first flown in battle).