An annual national holiday in our country, Araw ng Kasarian also known as Araw ng Kalayaan is observed on the 12th of June commemorating the declaration of Philippine independence from Spain in 1898 after being under its colonial rule for four centuries.


Freedom is among the rights that have been neglected from the Filipinos during the Spanish rule. It was a struggle for the Philippine revolutionary leaders to achieve independence from foreign power. The Filipinos fought countless battles, resulting to bloody revolutions. The Filipino forces were persistent to achieve independence for the country. A secret group called ''Katipunan' consisting Philippine activists who wanted independence had been uncovered in 1896. This led to the beginning of the struggle for independence.

The most significant achievement of Aguinaldo's Dictatorial Government was the proclamation of Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite. The day was declared a national holiday. Thousands of people from the provinces gathered in Kawit to witness the historic event. The ceremony was solemnly held at the balcony of General Emilio Aguinaldo's residence. The military and civil officials of the government were in attendance.

On June 12, between four and five in the afternoon, Aguinaldo, proclaimed the independence of the Philippines at Cavite el Viejo. For the first time, the Philippine National Flag, made in Hongkong by Mrs. Marcela Agoncillo, assisted by Lorenza Agoncillo and Delfina Herboza, was officially hoisted and the Philippine National March played in public.

Every year on this day Filipinos commemorates and celebrate the country's hard-won freedom. The day the Philippines gained independence is the pinnacle of patriotism, and June 12 holds that symbolic sense of a truly independent Filipino nation, commemorating our heroes who fought for our sovereignty, spreading awareness of the Filipino culture, revisiting history, celebrating the values that the country was founded upon, celebrate freedom from colonization, spread awareness and justice of the struggles of the generations before us and to celebrate our identity as Filipinos.