Philippines Independence Day is an annual national holiday in the Philippines observed on June 12.
On this date in 1898, the Philippines, named after Spanish King Philip II, declared independence from Spain after more than 300 years of colonial rule.
A commemorative ceremony takes place each year in Kawit, in the province of Cavite, where the Declaration of Independence was first read by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista at the home of General Emilio Aguinaldo, now known as the Aguinaldo Shrine. Besides the public reading of this historic document—in the original Spanish as well as in Tagalog—the first flag raising is re-enacted.
The flag itself is a powerful symbol of the independence movement: blue representing truth and justice, red symbolising patriotism, and white standing for equality. The stars represent Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the three main regions of the Philippines. The eight rays surrounding the sun stand for the first eight provinces that battled against Spain.
Happy Philippines Independence Day to all our colleagues celebrating!