| Independence Day Araw ng Kalayaan |
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Aguinaldo Shrine where Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence |
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| Also called | Araw ng Kalayaan Twelfth of June National day |
| Observed by | Philippines |
| Type | National |
| Significance | Declaring Philippine Independence from Spanish Colonization |
| Date | June 12 |
In the Philippines, Independence Day (Filipino: Araw ng Kalayaan) is an annual national holiday observed on June 12, commemorating the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. It is the National Day of the Philippines.
The declaration of Philippine independence from the colonial rule of Spain concluded the Philippine Revolution. Philippine independence, however, was not recognized either by the United States or by Spain. The Spanish government later ceded the Philippine archipelago to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, and the United States granted independence to the Republic of the Philippines on July 4, 1946 in the Treaty of Manila.[1]
July 4 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, June 12, 1962 a special public holiday throughout the Philippines, "... in commemoration of our people's declaration of their inherent and inalienable right to freedom and independence.[2]" On August 4, 1964, Republic Act No. 4166 renamed the July 4 holiday as "Philippine Republic Day", proclaimed the twelfth day of June as the "Philippine Independence Day", and enjoined all citizens of the Philippines to observe 12 June with rites befitting Independence Day.[3] June 12 had previously been observed as Flag Day, which was moved to May 28.
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On June 12, 1998, the nation celebrated its centennial year of Independence from Spain. The celebrations were held simultaneously nationwide by then President Fidel V. Ramos and Filipino communities worldwide. A commission was established for the said event, the National Centennial Commission headed by former Vice President Salvador Laurel presided all events around the country. One of the major projects of the commission was the Expo Pilipino, a grand showcase of the Philippines' growth as a nation for the last 100 years, located in the Clark Special Economic Zone (formerly Clark Air Base) in Angeles City, Pampanga. Some other important events includes the re-enactment of waving of Philippine Flag at Aguinaldo shrine, and raising of flag at Independence flagpole. [4]
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