Aguinaldo Shrine
Today we have revisited one of the most historical sites in the Philippines. This site is where the Philippine independence from Spain was declared after more than 300 years of occupation. This is also the place where the first iconic Philippine flag was flown a century ago. Join us today as I take you with us on a tour to the historical Aguinaldo Shrine of Cavite.
Freedom Park
Just in front of the shrine, you can already feel the historical significance of this location. This place is called Freedom Park. During independence day programs are held here to celebrate the Philippine Independence.
There are huge black marble slabs here with signatories for "Act of Proclamation of Independence of the Filipino People". In total there are 98 signatures to declare independence from Spanish rule and took place on June 12, 1898.
The site has been converted into a museum and has attracted a lot of tourists all over the country. We have been here a couple of times but it never fails to amaze me every time we visit. These days there are not a lot of visitors due to the pandemic but they are still open.
At the entrance, there is a guardhouse and you will need to present your vaccination card before you could enter. Information like your name and address will need to be recorded.
Once cleared we were allowed to enter the shrine. I can't explain it but I still get very excited whenever I come here and the last time we visited was like 4 years ago.
I was about to go straight to the entrance but the guard told us to wait a moment. He needed to radio and notify the staff that there are 3 people about to come in. Once we were cleared we were allowed to proceed.
I think they only allow a specific number of people inside. On the right side, there are chairs, possibly for people that will need to wait until the batch of visitors has cleared out.
The Museum
This is the entrance to the museum and says, "Welcome, Please come in".
Are you ready to go back in time, see all the treasures inside and learn from our history?
First of all, who is Emilio Aguinaldo?
Emilio Aguinaldo is one of the leaders who led the revolutionaries to fight against Spain. Our country has been occupied by Spain for more than 300 years. His frustration with the Spanish rule has fueled his goal of being free from Spanish rule. It was a long struggle but eventually, the centuries of oppression has ended. Once the independence was achieved he was declared as the first Philippine president on January 1, 1899.
In this cabinet, you can see the uniform that he wore in the fight against Spain. His equipment is also on display here.
The mansion also had its bowling alley. A fun way to relax probably after a strategic meeting for battle.
The museum has displayed dioramas to show historical events during this war for independence.
Some old photos of battles that occurred in Cavite. It shows trenches in areas around the province.
The mansion has many secrets and one of those secrets is this tunnel that is used to escape if they are overrun by the enemies. The tunnel leads to a church that is around 400m away. The tunnel is no longer accessible and parts may have already collapsed.
The sword on display belonged to a Spanish General and was kept as a trophy when the Spanish forces retreated in one of the battles.
Here on display is the flag of the Philippines that was spread when the impendence was declared. The flag was designed by Aguinaldo and the colors has a deep meaning for our country.
Red - Blood that has been shed to fight for our country.
Blue - Stands for unity
White - Purity
Eight rays of the sun - The provinces that fought for the independence.
The three stars - Refers to the three divisions of the country. Namely Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
A statue named, "La Republica Filipina" and symbolizes motherland and freedom.
Charms and Amulets
Our country is also filled with mystery and the supernatural. With this was we needed all the help that we could get. Many believed that these relics provided protection during battle. On display are the charms and amulets made from different types of materials like wood, paper, metal and even cloth. They are said to protect you from bullets and other blades and weapons. There are written incantations in Latin and Spanish and these incantations are recited before going to war.
One of the paintings is a depiction of Aguinaldo on his way to his Presidential inauguration.
After the Spanish rule, the United States would not recognize the independence of the Philippines. Another struggle has begun which is the Philippine-American war. The war lasted for three years and Aguinaldo was hunted down and captured on March 23, 1901. Our taste for independence has been short-lived and again we were occupied by another country. Peace was declared with the United States and restricted independence was given. Things turned out right in the end as in 1946 we were finally given complete sovereignty of our country.
Weapons of War
Here are some of the antique weapons during this era. Some of the bladed weapons were given as gifts to Aguinaldo by tribe leaders from across the country.
Aguinaldo's Personal Effects
Here are some more of his property that survived like shoe collection, cigars, and dinnerware that he used on the field.
The Hunt
This section of the museum tells the story of the Philippine-American war until his capture on March 23, 1901.
You would imagine why there is a big rock on display here. We were told that when Aguinaldo was captured by the Americans. This is the rock that he sat on to rest.
Here are some of the local attire during this time. This design is still used by women as traditional formal attire.
A washbasin is used to clean their hands after a day's work.
Emilio Aguinaldo was only 5 feet and 4 inches in height and this photo is a life-sized picture of Aguinaldo.
The National Hymn
Our national anthem entitled "Lupang Hinirang" originally named "Marcha Nacional Filipina". It was performed here first during the declaration of independence on June 12, 1898. There were no lyrics yet when it was played and it was the following year when the lyrics were added.
Lupang Hinirang
Bayang magiliw,
Perlas ng silanganan,
Alab ng puso
Sa dibdib mo'y buhay.
Lupang hinirang,
Duyan ka ng magiting,
Sa manlulupig
Di ka pasisiil.
Sa dagat at bundok,
Sa simoy at sa langit mong bughaw,
May dilag ang tula
At awit sa paglayang minamahal.
Ang kislap ng watawat mo'y
Tagumpay na nagniningning;
Ang bituin at araw niya,
Kailan pa ma'y di magdidilim.
Lupa ng araw, ng luwalhati't pagsinta,
Buhay ay langit sa piling mo;
Aming ligaya na 'pag may mang-aapi,
Ang mamatay nang dahil sa 'yo.
Chosen Land
(English Version)
Land of the morning,
Child of the sun returning,
With fervor burning
Thee do our souls adore.
Land dear and holy,
Cradle of noble heroes,
Ne'er shall invaders
Trample thy sacred shores.
Ever within thy skies and through thy clouds,
And o'er thy hills and seas,
Do we behold the radiance, feel the throb
Of glorious liberty.
Thy banner dear to all our hearts,
Its sun and stars alight,
Oh, never shall its shining fields
Be dimmed by tyrant's might!
Beautiful land of love, o land of light,
In thine embrace 'tis rapture to lie,
But it is glory ever, when thou art wronged,
For us, thy sons to suffer and die.
After centuries of struggle and bloodshed, we finally received our independence. This covers the first floor of the tour and I hope you are wondering what wonders are stored on the second floor. There is still so much to share beyond this point.
Thank you for joining us today on this tour and I do hope you come along again with us for the second part of this amazing discovery of our rich history.
See you soon and stay safe.
All photos are original and taken with
Lumix GX85 and Olympus 45mm f1.8
