Act of Independence

by Apolinario Mabini

 
 ACT OF INDEPENDECE 
 (Acta de Independencia)

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The undersigned chief of towns comprising the provinces hereinafter named, elected as such in the manner prescribed by the decrees of the 18th and instructions dated the 20th of June, after having been confired in their respective offices by the President of the government and having been taken the prescribed oath before him, have gathered in full assembly previously called for that purpose, to witness the solemn proclamation of the Philippine Independence.

The undersigned chief of towns comprising the provinces hereinafter named, elected as such in the manner prescribed by the decrees of the 18th and instructions dated 20th day of June, after having been confirmed in their respective offices by the President of the government and having been taken the prescribed oath before him, have met in full asseembly previously called for that purpose, for the purpose of discussing the solemn proclamation of the Philippine independence.

The discussion took place with the prudence and at the length which so important a question demands, and after suitable deliberation the following declarations were unanimously adopted.

The Philippine revolution records, on the one had brilliant feats of arms, and on the other, the no less notable fact that the people after the combat have not entered upon great excesses nor pursued the enemy further, but have treated him on the contrary with generosity and humanity, returning at once to their ordinary and tranquil life.

Such deeds demonstrate in an indisputable manner that the Philippine people was not created, as all believed for the sole purpose of dragging the chains of servitude but that it has perfect idea of order and justice, shuns a savage life, and loves a civilized life.

but what is most surprising in this people is that it goes on giving proofs that it knows how to frame laws commensurate with the progress of the age, to present them and obey them, demonstrating that its natural customs are not repugnant to this progress; that is not ambitious for power, nor honors nor riches, aside from the rational and just aspirations for a free and independent life and inspired by the most lofty idea of patriotism and national honor; and that in the service of this idea and for the realization of that aspiration it has not hesitated in the sacrifice of life and fortune.

These admirable - and more than admirable, - these wonderful deeds necessarily engender the most firm an ineradicable convictions of the necessity of leaving the Philippines free and independent, not only because they desire it, but because they are prepared to defend to the death of their future and their history.

Filipinos are fully convinced that if individuals have need of material, moral, and intellectual perfection in order to contribute to the welfare of their fellows, people require to have fullness of life; they need liberty and independence in order to contribute to the indefinite progress of mankind. It has struggled and will struggle with decision and constancy without ever turning back or retrograding before the obstacles which may arise in its path, and with unshakable faith that it will obtain justice and fulfill the laws of Providence.

and neither will it be turned aside from the course it has hitherto followed by the unjustifiable imprisonment, tortures, assassinations, and other vandal acts committed by the Spaniards against the persons of peaceful and defenseless Filipinos. The Spaniards believe themselves released from every legal obligation toward the Filipinos, for the sole reason that the belligerency of the revolution has not been recognized, taking no account of the fact that over and above every law, whether written or prescriptive, are placed with imprescriptible characters culture, national honor and humanity. No, the Filipinos have no need ever to make use of reprisals, because they seek independence with culture, liberty with unconditional respect for the laws as the organ of justice, and a name purified in the crucible of human sentiment.

In virtue of the foregoing considerations, the undersigned, giving voice to the unanimous aspiration of the people whom they represent and performing the offices received from them and the duties pertaining to the powers which they are vested – Proclaimly, in the face of the whole world, the independence of the Philippines;

Recognize and respect Senor Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy as President of the Revolutionary Government organized in the manner prescribed by decree of the 23rd and instructions of 27th of June, and beg the said President that he will ask and obtain from foreign governments the recognition of its belligerency and independence, not only because this act constitutes a duty of justice, but also because no one is permitted to contravene natural laws nor stifle the legitimate aspirations of a people for its amelioration and dignification.

Given in the province of Cavite the 1st day of August of the year of our Lord 1898, and the first year of the Philippine Independence. Below are the signatures of the local presidents of the Province of Cavite: Mariano Penaflorida, Damian Ermitano, Lorenzo Angeles, Agustin Ramos, Cayetano Aure, Juan Bello, Ciriaco Beltran, Jose Quiamton, Nicolas Gonzales, Mariano Punzalan, Eusebio de Castro, Crisostomo Ruel y Rillo, Sixto Sapinoso, Ramon Palmero Santos, Jose De Leon y Lizardo, Placido Campos, Ciriaco Nazareno, Quiterio Olimpio, Catalino Antico, Ramon Magcauas, Jacinto, Pulido

The following are the signatures of the local presidents of the Province of Pampanga: Ceferino Joven, Antonio Consunji, Simeon Vergara Victing, Paulino Managa, Vicente Babigting, Ladislao Dayrit, Juan Nepomuceno, Marcelo Tiglao y Dizon, Lorenzo Pecson, Victorino J. Cruz, Romulo Mercado, Luciano Vitug, Ponciano Enson, Prudencio Lanzan, Martin Gagui, Martin Mercado, Espridion Fajardo, Domingo Sunga, Cayetano Dalusing, Juan Angulo, Fransisco Tison, Gregorio Evangelista, Quintin Romero.

The following are the signatures of the local presidents of the Province of Manila: Gregorio Basa, Calixto Santos, Eligio Naval, Pedro Lazaro, Ignacio Santos, Catalino Taylo, Ramon Raynaldo, Cipriano de Lara, Cipriano Reberato, Damian Esteban Quiogue, Timoteo Bernabe, Joaquin Rodriguez.

The following are the signatures of the local presidents of the Province of Bulacan: Cayetano Bernardo, Luis H. Del Pilar, Froilan Cajuiat, Sabino Victoria, Albino Camacho, Juan Amisola Cruz, Martin Hilario, Miguel Fuentes, Marino Ramirez, Aguedo Noriega, Martin Villarica, Simon Tecson Ocampo, Manuel Crisostomo, Justo Panis, Feliciano de la Merced, Fransisco Mendoza, Tiburcio Gonzales, Anacleto Reyes, Andres de la Fuente, Pascual Mateo y Mendoza, Hilarion Reyes, Catalino Velarde, Nicolas Cepillo Cruz.

The following are the signatures of the local presidents of the Province of Bataan: Nicolas de la Fuente, Idelfonso Batol, Salvador Linao, Joaquin Rodriguez, Marcos Tangiongco, Toribito Advincula, Mariano Saldano, Cirizco Zialcita, Isaac Tongco, Florencio Valero, Damian Baluyot, Agustin Paguio.

The following are the signatures of the local presidents of the Province of Nueva Ecija: Juan Ortiza, Severino de Mesa, Alipio Juan Manubay, Juan Valino, Mauricio Lungalong, Gaudencio Balarag, Eulalio Itangan, Dionisio Barielo, Juan Sanz, Alfredo Sicuan, Dionision Aison, Calixto Laureta, Raimundo Laureta, Cenon Corrales, Martin Pereria, Fruto Aquino, Casimiro Castro, Estaquio de Guzman, Marcelo Garcia, Vicente de Castro, Publio Ramos, Pablo Medina, Nemensio Apenir.

The following are the signatures of the local presidents of the Province of Laguna: Jose Bella, Epifanio Montes, Telesforo Franco, Ignacio Cabanalan, Pedro Villanueva, Basilio Gonzales, Urbano Galses Jule, Pedro Obordo, Vicente Polistico, Cecilio PEtrosa, Cirilio Ustaris, Luis Patis, Inocente Martinez, Juan Penaflor, Pascual S. De Rosas, Antonio Fals Regalado, Juan Tabella.

The following are the signatures of the local presidents of the Province of Morong: Exequiel Ampil, Apolonio Villaluz, Ceferino Pelegrina, Adanelo Ocampo, Flaviano Estanislao, Tranquilio Olsan, Clemente Antiporda, Estanislao Alcantara, Cirilo Aniezo, Crispulo Custodio, Domingo del Rosario, Brigido Capili, Timoteo Pasay.

The following are the signatures of the local presidents of the Province of Tarlac, Antonio Austria, Artemio Nocum Saliman, Patricio N. Soliman, Felipe Leal Enriquez, Miguel Catajan, Geronimo Velasco, Eulalio Calma, Gabriel Gatchalian, Jose Lorenzana, Manuel Briones, Cecilio Curanes, Pablo Rivera, Cayetano Signa, Agustin Ganet, Gregorio Concepcion, Marcelino Maravilla, Domingo D. Valeriano.

The following are the signatures of the local presidents of the Province of Batangas: Ponciano Hilario, Jacinto Dimaculangan, Teofilo Atienza, Agapito Panganiban, Domingo Medina, Ruperto De Leon, Andres De Jesus, Vicente Almanzor, Fransisco LEjano, Bibiano Romey, Luis Luna, Juan Florida, Jeronimo Hormilla, Celestino Guiterrez, Bernardo Solis, Esteban de Villa, Leon Magtibay, Sixto Castillo, Dalmacio Hernandez, Ciriaco Laurel, Celedonio Dechavez

The following are the signatures of the local presidents of the Province of Mindoro, Tayabas, Zambales, Pangasinan, Union, and Infanta.

The undersigned, Secretary of the interior, certifies that the present document is a literal copy of the original, which is deposited in the secretaryship under his charge; in proof of which he signs it with the approval of the President of the Revolutionary Government in Bacoor the 6th day of August, 1898.

Approved.

LEANDRO IBARRA
Secretary of the Interior

EMILIO AGUINALDO
President of the Revolutionary Government

1. Ratification of Philippine Independence by the Municipal Presidents