About Philippines Independence Day
Philippines Independence Day, known in Filipino as Araw ng Kalayaan ("Day of Freedom"), is the country's national day, celebrated every June 12. It marks the moment in 1898 when General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the islands' independence from Spanish colonial rule at his ancestral home in Kawit, Cavite, south of Manila. At the ceremony the Philippine flag — sewn in Hong Kong — was unfurled for the first time and the national anthem, now called Lupang Hinirang, was played in public.
For decades independence was instead observed on July 4, the date the United States formally recognised Philippine sovereignty in 1946. In 1962 President Diosdado Macapagal moved the national celebration to June 12 to honour the original 1898 declaration and assert a Filipino, rather than American, origin for the nation's freedom. The change was confirmed by law in 1964, fixing June 12 as Independence Day.
Today the date is a public holiday marked by flag-raising ceremonies, a wreath-laying at the Aguinaldo Shrine, parades, and a reenactment of the proclamation in Kawit, all led by the president. Because Independence Day falls on the same date every year, June 12, the live countdown above always tracks the next one. Add it to your own page to count down to Araw ng Kalayaan.
Upcoming dates
| 2027 | Saturday, June 12, 2027next |
| 2028 | Monday, June 12, 2028 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, June 12, 2029 |
| 2030 | Wednesday, June 12, 2030 |
| 2031 | Thursday, June 12, 2031 |
FAQ
When is Philippines Independence Day?
Philippines Independence Day (Araw ng Kalayaan) is celebrated every year on June 12, the date independence from Spain was proclaimed in 1898.
Why is Philippines Independence Day celebrated on June 12?
It marks Emilio Aguinaldo's 1898 declaration of independence in Kawit, Cavite. President Macapagal moved the holiday from July 4 to June 12 in 1962 to honour that date.
How is Philippines Independence Day celebrated?
With flag-raising ceremonies, parades, a wreath-laying at the Aguinaldo Shrine, and a reenactment of the 1898 proclamation in Kawit, led by the president.
Who declared Philippine independence in 1898?
General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed independence from Spain on June 12, 1898, at his home in Kawit, Cavite, where the Philippine flag was first raised.