Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine

 Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine

The Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine is a national shrine located in Kawit, Cavite, Philippines. It is the ancestral home of the first Philippine President, Emilio Aguinaldo, and was the site of the declaration of Philippine Independence Day on June 12, 1898. To commemorate the event, now known as Araw ng Kalayaan or Independence Day, a national holiday, the Philippine flag is raised here by top government officials on June 12 each year.

This shrine is the ancestral home of Emilio Aguinaldo,officially the first President of the Philippines, the only president of the First Philippine Republic. The house was built in 1845 made from wood and thatch and reconstructed in 1849. Here, Aguinaldo was born on March 22, 1869.

On June 12, 1898, the independence was proclaimed from the window of the grand hall. The Declaration of Philippine Independence was read by its author, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista The Declaration of Independence was ratified by the Malolos Congress on September 21, 1898.

President Aguinaldo greatly enlarged his home from 1919 to 1921, transforming it into a monument to flag and country. He constructed an elaborate "Independence balcony", which Aguinaldo and top Philippine officials used during independence day celebrations. Many visitors today assume the balcony to be the actual location of the Independence Proclamation. Aguinaldo donated his home to the Philippine government on June 12, 1963, "to perpetuate the spirit of the Philippine Revolution of 1896 that put an end to Spanish colonization of the country".

Called the House of History, Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite is the place where the historic declaration of Philippine independence was publicly read by its author Ambrosio Bautista at the front window of the grand hall on June 12, 1898.

This house is the center of unfolding Philippine history. Its hidden compartments for documents and weapons, concealed doors, camouflaged shelves, secret passageways, tunnels, and its overall structure leave a mark on the sanctity of the house of Filipinos at the beginning of a new century and a revolution that gave the world Asia’s first republic.

It was during this declaration of Philippine independence that the Philippine flag, sewed in Hong Kong by Marcella Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo, and Delfina Herbosa de Natividad, was first officially raised as the local marching band of San Francisco de Malabon — now called General Trias — played Julian Felipe’s composition, “Marcha Filipina Magdalo” — now the Philippine National anthem.

In 1845, Aguinaldo Shrine was constructed using nipa and wood materials. It was reconstructed using a variety of Philippine hardwoods after four years. A major renovation happened in the 1920s when the tower and balcony were constructed. In that year, the house was renovated with architectural details of nationalistic themes: art nouveau, art deco artistic style, and masonic symbols, that were popular during the early 20th century.

Meanwhile, Proclamation No. 374, issued on March 6, 1965, declared May 28 of each year as the National Flag Day, to commemorate the date when the Philippine flag was first unfurled after the historic ‘Battle of Alapan’ in Imus, Cavite in 1898.

Fast forward to 1963, “to perpetuate the spirit of the Philippine Revolution of 1896 that put an end to the Spanish colonization of the country,” Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo donated the mansion and its lot to the Philippine Government.

In 1964, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Republic Act No. 4039 declaring the property a national shrine and placing it under the care of the National Museum of the Philippines.

In 1972, Executive Order No. 370 transferred the shrine under the care and maintenance of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. A few days before the 146th birth anniversary of Aguinaldo, it was reopened as a museum.

Interior Design

As a matter of fact, Aguinaldo himself designed his mansion and divided it into the main house, family wing, and lookout tower areas. It has seven levels, including the mezzanine and turret.

The ground level has a museum that reveals the role of Cavite during the revolution, including the life of Emilio Aguinaldo, the state of Cavite during the Spanish colonization, the revolution against Spain, and the aftermath of the revolution until the war against the United States.

The conference room, Azotea, grand hall, kitchen, notable mesa altar, large dining table, Ah Tay bed, and secret compartments can be seen on the second level. There’s also a bomb shelter to help the general escape to the nearby church or cemetery by going through a tunnel.

One hundred twenty-six years have passed, yet this mansion still shows a clear glimpse of Filipinos who fought to make the Philippines free from the colonizers. Museum shrines like the Aguinaldo Shrine are a constant reminder that they’re significant to the national landscape and are a big part of history.

The remaining displays in the Aguinaldo Shrine, such as the preserved artifacts and tangible objects that survived the century, are significant turning points that serve as shreds of evidence of our glorious past. These are the silent witnesses in the unfolding of the historic declaration of Philippine Independence.

Transportation

The shrine is easily accessible by private and public transportation. If you are coming from Manila, the travel duration is approximately one and a half hours via the Cavitex. Take the Manila-Cavite Expressway (Coastal Road and Cavitex) and exit at Kawit.

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Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit: Unfolding Philippine History - GoodNewsPilipinas.com