Philippine Independence Day

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL FILIPINOES, WHEREVER YOU ARE!

The Philippine Revolution broke out in 1896. Eventually, the Spanish signed an agreement with the revolutionaries and their leader Emilio Aguinaldo went into exile in Hong Kong.
At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Commodored George Dewey sailed from Hong Kong to Manila Bay leading the Asiatic Squadron of the U.S. Navy. On May 1 1898, the United States defeated the Spanish in the Battle of Manila Bay. Later that month, the U.S. Navy transported Aguinaldo back to the Philippines.
On June 12, 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo led the declaration of Philippine independence from the Spanish colonial rule.
Philippines independence was not recognised either by the United States of America or by Spain. The Spanish government later ceded the Philippine archipelago to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris. The Philippines Revolutionary Government did not recognize the treaty. When the Americans sought to execute the terms of the treaty, a three-year conflict, now called the Philippine-American War, ensued.
The US granted independence to the Philippines on 4 July 1946 through the Treaty of Manila.[1]
4 July, the date intentionally chosen by the United States because it corresponds to its Independence Day, was observed in the Philippines as Independence Day until 1962. On 12 May 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Presidential Proclamation No. 28, which declared Tuesday, 12 June a special public holiday throughout the Philippines, "... in commemoration of our people's declaration of their inherent and inalienable right to freedom and independence.[2]" On 4 August 1964, Republic Act No. 4166 renamed the 4 July holiday as "Philippine Republic Day", proclaimed 12 June as "Philippine Independence Day", and enjoined all citizens of the Philippines to observe the latter with befitting rites.[3]
-- thanks Wikipedia for a short version

I headed to Rizal Park this morning, intending to take photos of the bazaar and stalls that were put up for today's celebration. When I got there, preparations were being made to start the day with The Flag Raising, I was just in time for the main celebration. The Knights of Rizal were standing on attention while the National Anthem was being sung, until the Philippine Flag was waving proudly on the air. The Knights then gave a Gun Salute in honor of our independence made possible by one of our heroes, Jose Rizal. The celebration was attended by The Honorable Jejomar Binay, the Vice President of the Philippines; some of Rizal's descendants - the lady with the crown in a Filipiniana outfit, members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, and the actors (with me!) who re-enacted the Independence Day Declaration.

It was a wonderful scene to have witnessed.. Gave us all a sense of who we truly are -- FILIPINOES, in mind, in word, and in action.

Hugs and kisses to everyone!