NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 23R5
of tijc q’
23 JUL26 P3 *13
RF.CEI^tO 5V;
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG RE VILLA, 3R.
AN ACT
DECLARING AUGUST 1 OF EVERY YEAR A SPECIAL WORKING HOLIDAY TO 
BE KNOWN AS THE PROMULGATION OF THE SOLEMN DECLARATION OF 
PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE
EXPLANATORY NOTE
June 12, 1898 is considered in our history as the "true birth date of an 
independent Filipino nation" when the revolutionary forces led by General Emilio 
Aguinaldo proclaimed freedom from the Spaniards by establishing a revolutionary 
government in Kawit, Cavite.
However, recent historical documents show that the original document 
declaring Philippine Independence authored by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista was not 
signed by General Aguinaldo after expressing reservation to the stipulations that the 
country will be under the protection of the American government.
The new document on the Declaration of Philippine Independence was written 
by Apolinario Mabini, which was promulgated and signed by the 200 municipal 
presidents (now town mayors) from 16 provinces of the Philippine at the Bacoor 
Assembly on August 1, 1898 in the town of Bacoor, Cavite - the new seat of 
government. It also proclaimed General Aguinaldo as the President of the first 
Philippine independent government.
Then Secretary of Interior, Leandro Ibarra attested to the existence of the 
original document entitled ACTA (Act of Independence) and was ordered by President 
Aguinaldo to send the document to foreign governments in order for the country to 
be recognized as an independent state.


Subsequently, the Malolos Congress has ratified the document as Acta Agosto 
Uno as the Philippines' Act of Independence.
This historical discovery Is supported by a duly subscribed copy of ACTA that 
was recently found in the custody of the National Historical Commission of the 
Philippines (NHCP).
This measure proposes to provide rightful recognition of the Bacoor Assembly 
that took place on August 1, 1898. The said state should be considered a historical 
milestone in the Philippine history when around 200 "Presidente Mayor" or local chief 
executives, from sixteen (16) provinces namely Cavite, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, 
Laguna, Manila, Bulacan, Bataan, Tarlac, Morong, Batangas, Mindoro, Tayabas, 
Zambales, Pangasinan, La Union and Infanta, ratified the document on the Declaration 
of Philippine Independence.
In view of highlighting the importance of the Bacoor Assembly in our history, 
the approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
^euaK
of m ^!n:;rtar‘v
23 JUL 26 P3-13
SENATE
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
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AN ACT
DECLARING AUGUST 1 OF EVERY YEAR A SPECIAL WORKING HOLIDAY TO 
BE KNOWN AS THE PROMULGATION OF THE SOLEMN DECLARATION OF 
PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. August 1 of every year is hereby declared a special working holiday 
to be known as the "Promulgation of the Solemn Declaration of Philippine 
Independence Day1 in recognition and commemoration of the promulgation of the 
declaration of Philippine Independence during the Bacoor Assembly in Bacoor, Cavite 
on August 1, 1898.
Sec. 2. All laws, orders, presidential Issuances, rules and regulations or part 
thereof Inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette ox in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,