Independence Day in Philippines
Independence Day in the Philippines is observed on the 12th of June every year and is an annual national holiday. It commemorates the country’s declaration of independence from Spain near the end of the 19th century. The Republic of the Philippines is a country located in the western Pacific Ocean and is composed of over 7,600 islands that are divided into three distinct geographical divisions: Mindanao, Luzon, and Visayas.
This holiday is celebrated in all three of these geographic regions of the Philippines and is a day during which people take time to enjoy various celebratory activities both in public and with their loved ones at home.
The History of Independence Day in the Philippines
For over three centuries, the Philippines was a Spanish colony. It was even named after King Philip II of Spain. In 1571, the city of Intramuros was built and later became the capital, Manila. The Spanish then instituted a feudal system where estates were owned by the Spanish, and the labor was provided by Filipino workers.
During the 19th century, nationalism began to develop in the country. In 1892, Jose Rizal founded the Liga Filipina movement, which called for reforms in the country. He was arrested and then exiled to Dapitan. Andres Bonifacio created the Katipunan organization, and this organization started a revolution in 1896.
In December of that year, Jose Rizal was executed on the pretext that he had supported the revolution. This inflamed public outcry, and the revolution grew. In 1898, the Spanish-American War began, and the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay was defeated by America.
Filipino revolutionaries decided to use this event to surround Manila and declare the Philippines as independent on June 12th of that year. In 1902, Emilio Aguinaldo was captured, and American rule began in the country.
The Philippines then became a commonwealth and semi-independent in 1935. In December of 1941, Japan invaded the Philippines and captured Manila. This remained so until 1944 when American forces recaptured the city. On July 4th, 1946, the Philippines became independent.
Observing Independence Day in the Philippines
On this day, people raise the flag of the Philippines and take part in a variety of parades and festivals across the islands. People also take time to enjoy great Filipino dishes with their friends and family members. These dishes include sisig, chicharon, balut, torta, lechon, and sinigang. People also use the hashtag #PhilippineIndependenceDay on social media to spread the word about this day.