Proclamation History of Philippine Independence Day. Historically, the Philippines witnessed three independence days. However, the nation only celebrates one. The first was on June 12, 1898, when General Emilio Aguinaldo, the revolutionary commander, proclaimed independence at Kawit, Cavite, bringing an end to 333 years of Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines.

The Japanese occupation of the Philippines marked the country’s second independence. The Empire of Japan provided for the Second Republic, which was established on October 14, 1943, with Jose P. Laurel as its president.

The third event was on July 4, 1946. Shortly before the Pacific War ended, the United States regained the Philippines from Japan. Reinstating their authority and upholding their promise of independence, the Americans “granted” the Filipinos their long-awaited independence on July 4, 1946, the date of United States independence day and the date that Philippine independence was declared from 1946 to 1962.

And, in 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Proclamation No. 28, s. 1962, which effectively moved the date of Philippine independence from July 4 to June 12.

Proclamation No. 2105 (2010): Declaring Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy as one of the greatest hereos of the philippine revolution.

Proclamation No. 343 (2003): Renaming the Emilio Aguinaldo room.

Proclamation No. 754 (1996): Declaring March 22, 1996 and every year thereafter as General Emilio F. Aguinaldo day, and designating the department of education, culture and sports to take charge of the annual celebration.

Proclamation No. 2341 (1984): Declaring the twenty-second of March nineteen hundred eighty-four and every twenty-second of March there-aftee as "General Emilio Aguinaldo day" and a special public holiday in the province of cavite and the cites embraced therein.

Proclamation No. 672 (1970): Extending the fund campaign of the General Emilio Aguinaldo national centennial commission to December 31, 1970.

Proclamation No. 566 (1969): Extending the period for the General Emilio Aguinaldo centennial commision to conduct a national fund campaign.

Proclamation No. 492 (1968): Declaring the portion of highway 17 from Zapote, Bacoor, Cavite to Tagaytay city as the General Emilio Aguinaldo highway.

Proclamation No. 410 (1968): Declaring the period from January 1, to december 31, 1969 as General Emilio Aguinaldo centennial year and authorizing the Aguinaldo centennial commission to conduct a national fund campaign.

Proclamation No. 184 (1967): Declaring Wednesday, March 22, 1967, as "Philippine Army day" and "General Emilio Aguinaldo day" and as a special public holiday in the provinces of Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas and in the cities of Manila, Quezon, Pasay, Caloocan, Angeles, Cabanatuan, Palayan, San Pablo, Cavite, Tagaytay, Trece Martires and Lipa.