Philippines' Independence Day

Today, June 12, 2021

Independence Day is one of the most important holidays in Philippine history because it commemorates the country's independence from Spanish colonial rule on June 12, 1898. The Filipinos commemorate it every year on June 12th. Independence Day is a federal holiday in the United States. The general public has the day off, and most schools and businesses are closed.

The Philippines were a Spanish territory for over 300 years and are called after King Philip II of Spain. Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the Philippines in 1521 and claimed the islands for Spain. Magellan wanted all of the indigenous leaders to surrender to Spanish dominion, but Lapu Lapu, one of them, stood firm. Magellan attempted, but failed, to crush Lapu Lapu, and was slain as a result.

The Spaniards eventually got a footing in the Philippines when Miguel Lopez de Legazpi led an expedition in 1565. They established Intramuros, which was subsequently renamed Manila, as the country's capital in 1571. After a period of Spanish domination, a feudal system was developed, with the Spaniards owning enormous estates and the Filipinos working for them. The Philippines prospered under the Spanish period, and their authority was relatively peaceful. When the British took Manila in 1762, all of that changed. The city was handed back in 1764 under the provisions of the Treaty of Paris, signed in 1763.

In the nineteenth century, feelings of nationalism began to emerge. With the support of Jose Rizal, an author who produced two novels, “El Filibusterismo” and “Noli Me Tangere,” the uprising spread. These novels generated a sensation, and nationalism swept the Philippines like wildfire. Jose Rizal formed the Liga Filipina movement in 1892, which advocated for change rather than revolt. Rizal was imprisoned and deported to Dapitan, Mindanao, as a result.

Contrary to this, Andres Bonifacio founded the Katipunan, a more radical organization. In August 1896, a revolution began, and Jose Rizal was killed on December 30, 1896, ostensibly for supporting the movement though he did not. His execution, on the other hand, enraged Filipinos and fueled the revolution.

In 1898, the war between Spain and the United States began. On April 30, 1898, the Spanish fleet was beaten by the Americans in Manila Bay. Filipino revolutionaries took advantage of the situation and besieged Manila, declaring independence on June 12 under the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo. When Aguinaldo was captured in 1902, however, American rule took over.

In 1935, the Philippines became a commonwealth and semi-independent under American rule. As a result of the influx of American professors to the Philippines, the literacy rate increased. In 1945, the United States guaranteed that the Philippines would be entirely independent.

Japan attacked the Philippines on December 10, 1941, and took Manila. The Japanese had now taken control of the whole Philippines. American troops returned to the Philippines in October 1944 and regained Manila. On July 4, 1946, the Philippines declared independence. Manuel Roxas was the country's first president after its independence.

On July 4, 1946, the Philippines officially declared independence from the United States. The one on June 12 commemorates the day the islands gained independence from Spanish domination. However, until 1946, American forces occupied the Philippines. The Philippines gained independence on July 4, the same day as the United States, but Filipinos consider June 12 to be the true date of their freedom. On July 4, 1946, the Republic of the Philippines was legally acknowledged as an independent country.