The Philippines and its 114th Independence Day Celebration

June 14, 2012 · Posted in Philippine History

On June 12, 2012, the entire Filipino nation marked their 114th Independence Day celebration from the Spanish colonization over a hundred years ago. This could be one of the most significant dates and events in the Philippines.

Philippine government had made this annual day June 12 a national holiday where all public and private establishments are closed. It means there are no classes in all schools and no office works.

In history, the effectiveness of June 12 Philippine Independence Day was started first during the regime of late President Diosdado Macapagal when he signed the Republic Act No. 4166 regarding this matter on August 4, 1964. The holiday is legalized based upon on the declaration of independence on June 12, 1898 by General Emilio Aguinaldo and Filipino revolutionary forces from the Spanish colonization.

The latter was conceded after the war between Spain and the United States broke up and what they called the 1898 Treaty of Paris. Spain surrendered the entire archipelago comprising the Philippines to the United States. The Philippines started a revolt against the United States in 1899 and achieved national sovereignty on July 4, 1946, through the Treaty of Manila. Philippine Independence Day was officially observed on July 4, the same date with the US Independence Day until the Republic Act No. 4166, which set out to move the holiday to June 12, and was then approved on August 4, 1964.

Last Tuesday, Filipino people had witnessed a much bigger and gigantic celebration of the Philippine Independence Day 2012 which led by his Excellency Pres. Benigno Aquino III.

Although the weather was unfairly not on their side at the very most of the event, but it cooperates when the program formally started.

On the other hand, Vice-President Jejomar Binay and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim both led the flag raising and wreath laying ceremony at Rizal Monument to commemorate the 114th Araw ng Kalayaan ng Pilipinas.