6 Philippine Independence Day Facts You Probably Didn't Know
Today, we celebrate the 122nd year of the Philippine Declaration of Independence. While we know to hold it special annually, we still have plenty of things to know about the historic day. Below, a few facts about the history of Independence Day.
1| The proclamation of Philippine independence took place on a Sunday.
According to the composer of the music of the Philippine national anthem, Julian Felipe, it took place between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
2| Philippine independence was declared several times—each one different.
Some of the more notable instances include Andres Bonifacio's declaration on April 12, 1895 and another by Emilio Aguinaldo on October 31, 1896.
3| The three stars on the flag represent the islands of Luzon, Panay, and Mindanao.
Back then, Panay was referred to as one of the archipelago's three principal islands.
4| Emilio Aguinaldo visited Marcela Agoncillo in Hong Kong and asked her to make the flag.
"In the house at No. 535, Morrison Hill, where I lived with my family, exiled from our country on account of the national cause, I had the good fortune to make the first Philippine flag under the direction of an illustrious leader General Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy. It took me five days to make the national flag, and when completed, I myself delivered it to General Aguinaldo before boarding the transport McCulloch… General Aguinaldo is the best witness who can give the information whether or not that flag was the first to be displayed in Cavite at the beginning of the revolutionary government against the government of Spain in these islands," she wrote in an account.
5| The very first anniversary of the declaration was celebrated in Angeles, Pampanga.
6| President Diosdado Macapagal declared June 12 as the day of annual observance in 1962.
He reportedly told journalist Stanley Karnow: "When I was in the diplomatic corps, I noticed that nobody came to our receptions on the Fourth of July, but went to the American Embassy instead. So, to compete, I decided we needed a different holiday. "
