Click on the image above to see the first page of the Declaration of Independence handwritten by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, proclaimed in Kawit, Cavite, on 12 June 1898, and reproduced in The Laws of the First Philippine Republic: 1898-1899, compiled and edited by Sulpicio Guevara (Manila: National Historical Commission, 1972). See pp. 185-202 to see the entire document; signatures begin on p. 196.Below are (1) a translation made by Sulpicio Guevara (pp. 203-206), and (2) a translation from John Taylor's Philippine Insurgent Records, reprinted in The Development of Philippine Politics by Maximo Kalaw (Ph.D. dissertation, University of Michigan, ), pp. 413-417.
| Translation by Sulpicio Guevara In the town of Cavite-Viejo, Province of Cavite, this 12th day of June 1898: BEFORE ME, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, War Counsellor and Special Delegate designated to proclaim and solemnize this Declaration of Independence by the Dictatorial Government of the Philippines, pursuant to, and by virtue of, a Decree issued by the Egregious Dictator Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy, | Translation from John Taylor's Philippine Insurgent Records In the town of Cavite Viejo, in this province of Cavite, on the twelfth day of June eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, before me, Don Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Auditor of War and Special Commissioner appointed to proclaim and solemnize this act by the Dictatorial Government of these Philippine Islands, for the purposes and by virtue of the circular addressed by the Eminent Dictator of the same Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy, |
| The undersigned assemblage of military chiefs and others of the army who could not attend, as well as the representatives of the various towns, | the undersigned being assembled, among whom figure commanders of his army and the representatives of others who have not been able to attend and notable residents of various towns of the same, |
| Taking into account the fact that the people of this country are already tired of bearing the ominous yoke of Spanish domination, | taking into consideration, that their inhabitants being already weary of bearing the ominous yoke of Spanish domination, |
| Because of arbitrary arrests and abuses of the Civil Guards who cause deaths in connivance with and even under the express orders of their superior officers who at times would order the shooting of those placed under arrest under the pretext that they attempted to escape in violation of known Rules and Regulations, which abuses were left unpunished, and because of unjust deportations of illustrious Filipinos, especially those decreed by General Blanco at the instigation of the Archbishop and the friars interested in keeping them in ignorance for egoistic and selfish ends, which deportations were carried out through processes more execrable than those of the Inquisition which every civilized nation repudiates as a trial without hearing, | on account of the arbitrary arrests and harsh treatment practised by the Civil Guard to the extent of causing death with the connivance and even with the express orders of their commanders, who sometimes went to the extreme of ordering the shooting of prisoners under the pretext that they were attempting to escape, in violation of the provisions of the Regulations of their Corps, which abuses were unpunished and on account of the unjust deportations, especially those decreed by General Blanco, of eminent personages and of high social position, at the instigation of the Archbishop and friars interested in keeping them out of the way for their own selfish and avaricious purpose, deportations which are quickly brought about by a method of procedure more execrable than that of the Inquisition and which every civilized nation rejects on account of a decision being rendered without a hearing of the persons accused, |
| Had resolved to start a revolution in August 1896 in order to regain the independence and sovereignty of which the people had been deprived by Spain through Governor Miguel Lopez de Legazpi who, continuing the course followed by his predecessor Ferdinand Magellan who landed on the shores of Cebu and occupied said Island by means of a Pact of Friendship with Chief Tupas, although he was killed in battle that took place in said shores to which battle he was provoked by Chief Kalipulako of Mactan who suspected his evil designs, landed on the Island of Bohol by entering also into a Blood Compact with its Chief Sikatuna, with the purpose of later taking by force the Island of Cebu, and because his successor Tupas did not allow him to occupy it, he went to Manila, the capital, winning likewise the friendship of its Chiefs Soliman and Lakandula, later taking possession of the city and the whole Archipelago in the name of Spain by virtue of an order of King Philip II, and with these historical precedents and because in international law the prescription established by law to legalize the vicious acquisition of private property is not recognized, the legitimacy of such revolution can not be put in doubt which was calmed but not completely stifled by the pacification proposed by Don Pedro A. Paterno with Don Emilio Aguinaldo as President of the Republic established in Biak-na-Bato and accepted by Governor-General Don Fernando Primo de Rivera under terms, both written and oral, among them being a general amnesty for all deported and convicted persons; that by reason of the non-fulfillment of some of the terms, after the destruction of the Spanish Squadron by the North American Navy, and bombardment of the plaza of Cavite, Don Emilio Aguinaldo returned in order to initiate a new revolution and no sooner had he given the order to rise on the 31st of last month when several towns anticipating the revolution, rose in revolt on the 28th, such that a Spanish contingent of 178 men, between Imus and Cavite-Viejo, under the command of a major of the Marine Infantry capitulated, the revolutionary movement spreading like wild fire to other towns of Cavite and the other provinces of Bataan, Pampanga, Batangas, Bulacan, Laguna, and Morong, some of them with seaports and such was the success of the victory of our arms, truly marvelous and without equal in the history of colonial revolutions that in the first mentioned province only the Detachments in Naic and Indang remained to surrender; in the second, all Detachments had been wiped out; in the third, the resistance of the Spanish forces was localized in the town of San Fernando where the greater part of them are concentrated, the remainder in Macabebe, Sexmoan, and Guagua; in the fourth, in the town of Lipa; in the fifth, in the capital and in Calumpit; and in the last two remaining provinces, only in their respective capitals, and the city of Manila will soon be besieged by our forces as well as the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Zambales, and some others in the Visayas where the revolution at the time of the pacification and others even before, so that the independence of our country and the revindication of our sovereignty is assured. | the people determined to start an insurrectionary movement in August, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, for the purpose of recovering the independence and sovereignty of which Spain deprived them through the Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, who continuing the course followed by his predecessor Hernando de Magallanes, who arrived upon the shores of Cebu, and occupied that Island by virtue of the treaty of friendship which he celebrated with its King Tupas, although he was killed in the battle which took place on said shores, to which he was provoked by King Kalipulako de Maktan, who was suspicious of his bad intentions; he landed on the Island of Bohol, entering also into the celebrated blood compact of friendship with its King Sikatuna, for the purpose, after taking Cebu by force of arms, because the successor of Tupas did not permit him to occupy it, of coming to Manila, the capital, as he did, likewise winning the friendship of its Kings Soliman and Lakandula and afterwards taking possession of it and thus of the entire Archipelago for Spain, by virtue of an order of King Philip II; that in view of these historical data, because in international law the prescription established by laws legalizing even the fraudulent acquisition of the property of individuals is not recognized, there can be no doubt as to the legality of such a movement as the one that was quieted but not entirely quenched by the pacification proposed by Pedro A. Paterno with Don Emilio Aguinaldo as President of the Republican government established in Biac-na-bato, and accepted by the Governor-General, Don Fernando Primo de Rivera, under conditions which were established, some in writing and others verbally, among them a general amnesty for all deported and sentenced; that by reason of nonfulfillment of some of these conditions after the destruction of the Spanish squadron by the North American one and the bombardment of Cavite, Don Emilio Aguinaldo returned to start a new revolution, and hardly had he given the word to commence, on the thirty-first of last month, when several towns anticipated the movement, and on the twenty-eighth between Imus and Cavite Viejo here was engaged and captured force of one hundred and seventy-eight, commanded by a major of marine infantry. This movement spread like an electric spark through the other towns not only of this province, but also in Bataan, Pampanga, Batangas, Bulacan, Laguna and Morong, some of them with seaports. So complete is the triumph of our arms, truly marvelous and unparalleled in the history of Colonial revolutions, that in the first province mentioned there remain to be surrendered only the detachments at Naic and Indang; in the second there are none at all, in the third, resistance by the Spanish forces is localized in the town of San Fernando, where the greater part are concentrated the remainder being in Macabebe, Sesmoan and Guagua; in the fourth only in the city of Lipa; in the fifth, in the capital and Calumpit; and in the remaining two, only in their respective capitals. The city of Manila will soon be completely besieged by our forces, and also the posts in the province of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Union, Zambales and several others in the Visayan islands, where insurrection has broken out in several of their towns, having started in some almost at the moment of completing that pacification, and in others even before that, wherefore the independence of our territory and the recovery of our sovereignty are assured. |
| And having as witness to the rectitude of our intentions the Supreme Judge of the Universe, and under the protection of the Powerful and Humanitarian Nation, the United States of America, we do hereby proclaim and declare solemnly in the name and by authority of the people of these Philippine Islands, | And summoning as a witness of the rectitude of our intentions, the Supreme Judge of the Universe, and under the protection of the Mighty and Humane North American Nation, we proclaim and solemnly declare, in the name and by the authority of the inhabitants of all these Philippine Islands, |
| That they are and have the right to be free and independent; that they have ceased to have any allegiance to the Crown of Spain; that all political ties between them are and should be completely severed and annulled; and that, like other free and independent States, they enjoy the full power to make War and Peace, conclude commercial treaties, enter into alliances, regulate commerce, and do all other acts and things which an Independent State has a right to do, | that they are and have the right to be free and independent; that they are released from all obedience to the crown of Spain; that every political tie between the two is and must be completely severed and annulled; and that, like all free and independent states, they have complete authority to make war, conclude peace, establish treaties of commerce, enter into alliances, regulate commerce, and execute all other acts and things that Independent States have the right to do. |
| And imbued with firm confidence in Divine Providence, we hereby mutually bind ourselves to support this Declaration with our lives, our fortunes, and with our most sacred possession, our Honor. | Reposing firm confidence in the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge for the support of this declaration, our lives, our fortunes, and our most sacred possession, which is our honor. |
| We recognize, approve, and ratify, with all the orders emanating from the same, the Dictatorship established by Don Emilio Aguinaldo whom we revere as the Supreme Head of this Nation, which today begins to have a life of its own, in the conviction that he has been the instrument chosen by God, inspite of his humble origin, to effectuate the redemption of this unfortunate country as foretold by Dr. Don Jose Rizal in his magnificent verses which he composed in his prison cell prior to his execution, liberating it from the Yoke of Spanish domination, | We acknowledge, approve and confirm together with the orders that have been issued therefrom, the Dictatorship established by Don Emilio Aguinaldo, whom we honor as the Supreme Chief of this Nation, which this day commences to have a life of its own, in the belief that he is the instrument selected by God, in spite of his humble origin, to effect the redemption of this unfortunate people, as foretold by Doctor Jose Rizal in the magnificent verses which he composed when he was preparing to be shot, liberating them from the yoke of Spanish domination |
| And in punishment for the impunity with which the Government sanctioned the commission of abuses by its officials, and for the unjust execution of Rizal and others who were sacrificed in order to please the insatiable friars in their hydropical thirst for vengeance against and extermination of all those who oppose their Machiavellian ends, trampling upon the Penal Code of these Islands, and of those suspected persons arrested by the Chiefs of Detachments at the instigation of the friars, without any form nor semblance of trial and without any spiritual aid of our sacred Religion; and likewise, and for the same ends, eminent Filipino priests, Doctor Don Jose Burgos, Don Mariano Gomez, and Don Jacinto Zamora were hanged whose innocent blood was shed due to the intrigues of these so-called Religious corporations which made the authorities to believe that the military uprising at the fort of San Felipe in Cavite on the night of January 21, 1872 was instigated by those Filipino martyrs, thereby impeding the execution of the decree-sentence issued by the Council of State in the appeal in the administrative case interposed by the secular clergy against the Royal Orders that directed that the parishes under them within the jurisdiction of this Bishopric be turned over to the Recollects in exchange for those controlled by them in Mindanao which were to be transferred to the Jesuits, thus revoking them completely and ordering the return of those parishes, all of which proceedings are on file with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to which they are sent last month of last year for the issuance of the proper Royal Degree which, in turn, caused the growth of the tree of liberty in this our dear land that grew more and more through the iniquitous measures of oppression, until the last drop from our chalice of suffering having been drained, the first spark of revolution broke out in Caloocan, spread out to Santamesa and continued its course to the adjoining regions of the province where the unequalled heroism of its inhabitants fought a onesided battle against superior forces of General Blanco and General Polavieja for a period of three months, without proper arms nor ammunitions, except bolos, pointed bamboos, and arrows. | in punishment of the impunity with which their Government allowed the commission of abuses by its subordinates; and for the unjust executions of said Rizal and others who were sacrificed to please the greedy body of friars in their insatiable desire to seek revenge upon and exterminate all those who are opposed to their Macchiavellian purposes, which tramples upon the penal code prescribed for these islands; and for the sake of those persons who, though merely suspected, were convicted by the Commanders of detachments at the instigation of the friars without form or semblance of a trial and without the spiritual consolation afforded by our sacred religion; and likewise for the hanging for the same motives of the eminent native Filipino priests Doctor Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez and Jacinto Zamora, whose innocent blood was shed through the intrigues of those socalled religious orders which pretended that a military insurrection had broken out on the night of January 21st, 1872, in the Fort of San Felipe in the town of Cavite, accusing said martyrs of starting it, so as to prevent the execution of the decree-sentence issued by the Council of State in the appeal in administrative litigation (contencioso administrativo) interposed by the Secular Clergy against the Royal Orders where in it was directed that the parishes under them in the jurisdiction of this Archbishopic should be turned over to the Recoletos in exchange for those controlled by the Recoletos in Mindanao, which were to be transferred to the Jesuits. These were revoked completely, and the return of those parishes was ordered. The papers were filed in the Colonial Department, to which they were sent some time during the last months of the preceding year, for the preparation of the respective Royal Provision. That was what caused the tree of Liberty to bud in this land of ours, the iniquitous measures employed to suppress it only causing it to grow more and more, until, the last drop having been drained from the cup of our afflictions, the former insurrection broke out at Caloocan, extended to Santa Mesa, and continued its course to the adjoining places in this province, where the unequalled heroism of its inhabitants met with failure in the battles with General Blanco, and continued the struggle against the great hosts of General Polavieja for the period of three months, without any of the war material that we now possess, but commencing with arms peculiar to the country, such as the bolo, sharpened bamboo, and arrow. |
| Moreover, we confer 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, | Moreover we confer upon our renowned Dictator, Don Emilio Aguinaldo, all the powers necessary for the due administration of his Government, including the prerogatives of pardon and amnesty. |
| And, lastly, it was resolved unanimously that this Nation, already free and independent as of this day, must use the same flag which up to now is being used, whose design and colors are found described in the attached drawing, the white triangle signifying the distinctive emblem of the famous Society of the "Katipunan" which by means of its blood compact inspired the masses to rise in revolution; the three stars, signifying the three principal Islands of this Archipelago-Luzon, Mindanao, and Panay where this revolutionary movement started; the sun representing the gigantic steps made by the sons of the country along the path of Progress and Civilization; the eight rays, signifying the eight provinces-Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna, and Batangas - which declared themselves in a state of war as soon as the first revolt was initiated; and the colors of Blue, Red, and White, commemorating the flag of the United States of North America, as a manifestation of our profound gratitude towards this Great Nation for its disinterested protection which it lent us and continues lending us. | And finally, it was unanimously resolved that this Nation, independent from this day, must use the same flag used heretofore, whose design and colors and described in the accompanying drawing, with design representing in natural colors the three arms referred to. The white triangle represents the distinctive emblem of the famous Katipunan Society, which by means of its compact of blood urged on the masses of the people to insurrection; the three stars represent the three principal Islands of this Archipelago, Luzon, Mindanao and Panay, in which this insurrectionary movement broke out; the sun represents the gigantic strides that have been made by the sons of this land on the road of progress and civilization, its eight rays symbolizing the eight provinces of Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna and Batangas, which were declared in a state of war almost as soon as the first insurrectionary movement was initiated; and the colors blue, red and white, commemorate those of the flag of the United States of North America, in manifestation of our profound gratitude towards that Great Nation for the disinterested protection she is extending to us and will continue to extend to us. |
| And holding up this flag of ours, I present it to the gentlemen here assembled | And grasping that flag, I displayed it to the assemblage, |
| Don Segundo Arellano, Don Tiburcio del Rosario, Sergio Matias, Don Agapito Zialcita, Don Flaviano Alonzo, Don Mariano Legazpi, Don Jose Turiano Santiago y Acosta, Don Aurelio Tolentino, Don Felix Ferrer, Don Felipe Buencamino, Don Fernando Canon Faustino, (Hijo), Don Anastacio Pinzun, Don Timoteo Bernabe, Don Flaviano Rodriguez, Don Gavino (?) Masancay, Don Narciso Mayuga, Don Gregorio Villa, Don Luis Perez Tagle, Don Canuto Celestino, Don Marcos Jocson, Don Martin de los Reyes, Don Ciriaco Bausa, Don Manuel Santcs, Don Mariano Toribio, Don Gabriel Reyes, Don Hugo Lim, Don Emiliano Lim, Don Fausto Tinorio (?), Don Rosendo Simon, Don Leon Tanjanque (?), Don Gregorio Bonifacio, Don Manuel Salafranca, Don Simon Villareal, Don Calixto Lara, Don Buenaventura Toribio, Don Zacarias Fajardo, Don Florencio Manalo, Don Roman Gana, Don Marcelino Gomez, Don Valentin Polintan, Don Felix Polintan, Don Evaristo Dimalanta, Don Gregorio Alvarez, Don Sabas de Guzman, Don Esteban Francisco, Don Guido Yaptinchay, Don Mariano Rianzares Bautista, Don Francisco Arambulo, Don Antonio Gonzalez, Don Juan Arevalo, Don Ramon Delfino, Don Honorio Tiongco, Don Francisco del Rosario, Don Epifanio Saguil, Don Ladislao Afable Jose, Don Sixto Roldan, Don Luis de Lara, Don Marcelo Basa, Don Jose Medina, Don Epifanio Cirisia (?), Don Pastor Lopez de Leon, Don Mariano de los Santos, Don Santiago Garcia, Don Claudio Tria Tirona, Don Estanislao Tria Tirona, Don Daniel Tria Tirona, Don Andres Tria Tirona, Don Carlos Tria Tirona, Don Sulpicio P. Antony, Don Epitacio Asuncion, Don Catalino Ramon, Don Juan Bordador, Don Jose del Rosario, Don Proceso Pulido, Don Jose Maria del Rosario, Don Ramon Magcamco (?), Don Antonio Calingo, Don Pedro Mendiola, Don Estanislao Galinco, Don Numeriano Castillo, Don Federico Tomacruz, Don Teodoro Yatco, Don Ladislao Diwa (?), | Segundo Arellano, D. Tiburcio del Rosario, D. Sergio Matias, D. Agapito Zialcita, D. Flaviano Alonzo, D. Mariano Legaspi, D. Jose Auriano Santiago y Acosta, D. Aurelio Tolentino, D. Felix Ferrer, D. Felipe Buencamino, D. Fernando Canon Faustino, Jr., D. Anastacio Pinzon, D. Timoteo Bernabe, D. Flaviano Rodriguez, D. Gavino Masancay, D. Narciso Nayuga, D. Gregorio Villa, D. Luis Perez de Tagle, D. Canuto Celestino, D. Marcos Lacson, D. Martin de los Reyes, D. Ciriaco Bausa, D. Manuel Santos, D. Mariano Toribio, D. Gabriel Reyes, D. Hugo Sim, D. Emiliano Sim, D. Fausto Tirona, D. Rosendo Simon, D. Leon Tanjanque, D. Gregorio Bonifacio, D. Manuel Salfranca, D. Simon Villareal, D. Calisto Lara, D. Buenaventura Toribia, D. Zacarias Fajardo, D. Florencio Manalo, D. Roman Gana, D. Marcelino Gomez, D. Valentin Polintan, D. Felix Polintan, D. Evaristo Dimalanta, D. Gregorio Alvares, D. Sabas de Guzman, D. Estevan Francisco, D. Guido Yap-Finchay, D. Mariano Rianzares Bautista, D. Francisco Arambula, D. Antonio Gonzales, D. Juan Arevalo, D. Roman Delfino, D. Honorio Tionges, D. Francisco del Rosario, D. Epifanio Saguil, Don Ladislao Afable Jose, D. Sixto Roldan, D. Luis de Lara, D. Marcelo Basa, D. Jose Medina, D. Epifanio Cuisia, D. Pastor Lopez de Leon, D. Mariano de los Santos, D. Santiago Garcia, D. Claudio Tria Tirona, D. Andres Tria Tirona, D. Carlos Tria Tirona, D. Estanislao Tria Tirona, D. Daniel Tria Tirona, D. Sulpicio P. Antonio, D. Epitacio Asuncion, D. Catalino Ramon, D. Juan Bordadom, D. Jose del Rosario, D. Proceso Pulido, D. Jose Maria del Rosario, D. Ramon Magcauan, D. Antonio Calingo, D. Mendiola, D. Estanislao Calingo, D. Numeriano Castillo, D. Federico Tomacruz, D. Teodoro Pateo, D. Ladislao Diwa, and also the only foreigner, the North American subject, Mr. L. M. Johnson, Colonel of Artillery, who was present at the ceremony, to which act I certify. (Signed) AMBROSIO RIANZARES. (Also signed by) Mariano Trias, Artemio Ricarte y Vibora, Salvador Estrella, Baldomero Aguinaldo, Mariano Noriel, Pantaleon Garcia Estanislao Viniegra, Esteban San Juan, Felipe Topacio, Rufino Nata, the Captain of Artillery: Francisco Constante, Juan Cailles, Daniel Tirona, Hugo C. Area. |
| and all swore solemnly to recognize it and defend it to the last drop of our blood. | Who solemnly swear to recognize and defend it unto the last drop of their blood. |
| In witness thereof, I certify that this Act of Declaration of Independence was signed by me and by all those here assembled including the only stranger who attended those proceedings, a citizen of the U.S.A., Mr. L. M. Johnson, a Coronel of Artillery. | In witness whereof, I commit the proceedings to writing in this act, which is signed with me by all those concurring in this act, as well as by the only foreigner, a North American subject, Mr. L. M. Johnson, Colonel of Artillery, who attended the meeting, to all of which I certify. |
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