Happy Independence Day Philippines!

Today is Philippines 118th Independence Day. Here is a glimpse of our Philippine history.

Philippines was under Spanish rule from 1521 to 1898, also known as Spanish Colonial Era. In those days, countless Filipinos suffered maltreatment from abusive Spaniards.Filipinos like our National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal fought in writing the authoritarian Spanish rule. But anyone caught were sentence to death by Spanish authorities. Andres Bonifacio discretely organized revolutionary movement called Katipunan. The movement gave birth to Philippine Revolution in August 1896.

The Katipuneros did not succeed crippling the well armed Spanish soldiers but surrounding provinces joined the revolution. Mariano Alvarez and Emilio Aguinaldo led revolutionary fighters from a nearby province of Cavite, south of Manila. Emilio Aguinaldo took in full command after the death of Andres Bonifacio in 1897. December 14, 1897 Pak of Biak na Bato, a truce to end hostilities was created between Spanish Governor General Fernando Primo de Rivera and Emilio Aguinaldo.

Emilio Aguinaldo and revolutionaries were given amnesty and monetary indemnity. In return to the gesture of Spanish government it was agreed the revolutionaries have to be exiled in Hong Kong. Despite the exile of Aguinaldo hostilities did not let up. The money given to them was used to buy weapons. American won the Spanish-American war taking back Cuba in April 21, 1898. On May 1, 1898, U.S. Navy Squadron headed by Commodore George Dewey pursued Spanish Navy and defeated them in the Battle of Manila Bay.

Emilio Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines May 19, 1898. He and fellow Filipino revolutionaries pursued the Spaniards. After gaining control of the archipelago with the exception on Manila, Emilio Aguinaldo declared Philippine Independence, June 12, 1898. The unfurling of the first National Flag of the Philippines was done at the ancestral home of Emilio Aguinaldo in Cavite. The first National Flag of the Philippines was crafted in Hong Kong by Marcela Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo and Delfina Herboza de Natividad.