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<a href="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources/malolos_congress.webp" rel="lightbox">
<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources/malolos_congress_t.webp" class="image_300" 
alt="Opening of the Malolos Congress on September 15, 1898" />
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(Opening of the Malolos Congress on September 15, 1898.)
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<h2>
The Historic Declaration of June 12, 1898
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<p>
The original <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/4/the-declaration-of-philippine-independence" class="news_link">Declaration of Independence</a> was proclaimed on June 12, 1898, at the ancestral home of General <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1028/today-in-philippine-history-march-22-1869-emilio-aguinaldo-was-born-in-kawit-cavite" class="news_link">Emilio Aguinaldo</a> in Kawit, Cavite. The <b class="lt-bold">Acta de la Proclamacion de la Independencia del Pueblo Filipino</b> (Act of the Proclamation of Independence of the Filipino People) was written and solemnly read by <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/799/today-in-philippie-history-december-7-1830-ambrosio-rianzares-bautista-lawyer-and-gen-emilio-aguinaldo-s-confidante-was-born-in-bi-an-laguna" class="news_link">Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista</a>, Aguinaldo's war counselor and special delegate. This pivotal document, which followed the format of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">American Declaration of Independence</a>, asserted the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine islands after 333 years of Spanish colonial rule.
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<p>
The ceremony took place between four and five in the afternoon, witnessing the official unfurling of the Philippine flag for the first time. The flag had been sewn in Hong Kong by <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1637/today-in-philippine-history-june-24-1859-marcela-agoncillo-was-born-in-taal-batangas" class="news_link">Marcela Agoncillo</a>, Lorenza Agoncillo, and Delfina Herboza. As the flag was raised, the <b class="lt-bold">Marcha Nacional Filipina</b> (later known as Lupang Hinirang) was played by the band of San Francisco de Malabon. This stirring musical composition had been created by <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/903/today-in-philippine-history-january-28-1861-julian-felipe-born-in-cavite-city-cavite" class="news_link">Julián Felipe</a>, a pianist and composer from Cavite, just six days before the ceremony upon Aguinaldo's request.
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<p>
The 21-page declaration was signed by <b class="lt-bold">98 Filipinos</b> appointed by Aguinaldo, along with one retired American artillery officer, <b class="lt-bold">Colonel L.M. Johnson</b>, who served as a witness to the historic proclamation.
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<h2>
The Malolos Congress: Asia's First National Assembly
</h2>
<p>
Following the June 12 declaration, elections were held from June 23 to September 10, 1898, to choose representatives for a national legislature. The Malolos Congress, also known as the Revolutionary Congress or National Assembly, was formally convened on September 15, 1898, at the historic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barasoain_Church" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Barasoain Church</a> in <a href="https://kahimyang.com/articles/3151/the-history-of-malolos-bulacan-cradle-of-the-first-philippine-republic" class="news_link">Malolos, Bulacan</a>. This marked the establishment of the first Filipino parliament and represented a monumental achievement in Philippine governance.
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<p>
The Congress was presided over by President Emilio Aguinaldo during its opening session. <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/962/today-in-philippine-history-february-27-1858-pedro-paterno-was-born-in-sta-cruz-manila" class="news_link">Pedro Paterno</a>, a prominent lawyer and statesman, was elected as President of the Revolutionary Congress, with <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/2823/today-in-philippine-history-september-27-1853-benito-legarda-vice-president-of-the-malolos-congress-was-born-in-binondo-manila" class="news_link">Benito Legarda</a> serving as Vice President, and <b class="lt-bold">Gregorio S. Araneta</b> and <b class="lt-bold">Pablo Ocampo</b>Secretaries. The assembly consisted of 136 delegates representing 43 different provinces and territories of the Spanish Philippines.
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<h2>
The Ratification: Legitimizing Independence
</h2>
<p>
One of the first and most significant acts of the Revolutionary Congress was the formal ratification of the June 12, 1898 Declaration of Independence on September 29, 1898. This ratification was crucial because it provided official legislative approval and legitimacy to the independence proclamation, transforming what had been a revolutionary declaration into a legally recognized act of state.
</p>
<p>
The ratification included the granting of fundamental rights to Filipinos, establishing their right to study, vote and be voted for, own properties, express opinions, choose their religion, and exercise other civil rights. This represented a dramatic departure from the restrictions imposed during Spanish colonial rule and laid the groundwork for a democratic society.
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<h2>
The Constitutional Foundation
</h2>
<p>
The Malolos Congress undertook the monumental task of drafting the first constitution for the Philippine Republic. <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1564/july-23-1864-apolinario-mabini-was-born-in-talaga-tanauan-batangas" class="news_link">Apolinario Mabini</a>, known as the "<b class="lt-bold">Utak ng Himagsikan</b>" (brain of the revolution), played a pivotal role as legal and constitutional adviser to the Revolutionary Government. His works, including "<b class="lt-bold">El Verdadero Decálogo</b>" (The True Decalogue) and "<b class="lt-bold">Programa Constitucional de la República Filipina</b>" (The Constitutional Program of the Philippine Republic), became instrumental in drafting what would be known as the <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/7/1899-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-known-as-the-malolos-constitution" class="news_link">Malolos Constitution</a>.
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<p>
After extensive deliberations that lasted from September 1898 to January 1899, the Malolos Constitution was finally promulgated on January 21, 1899. This groundbreaking document established the <b class="lt-bold">First Philippine Republic</b> and made the Philippines the first constitutional and democratic republic in Asia. The constitution was formally inaugurated on January 23, 1899, with Aguinaldo taking his oath as president.
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September 29, 1898: the Malolos Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence