The three Manitoba Filipino-Canadian MLAs joined to celebrate the 117th anniversary of Philippine independence. From left, Ted Marcelino, NDP (Tyndall Park), rookie Jon Reyes, PC ( St. Norbert) and Flor Marcelino, NDP (Logan), opposition leader. (photo: Jon Reyes, MLA FB)
Philippine independence from Spain was declared by President Emilio Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898. After ruling the country for 300 years, Spain was defeated by Philippine revolutionaries led by Andres Bonifacio of the Katipunan and later, Emilio Aguinaldo.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Declaration_of_Independence )
But Filipino revolutionaries were not aware that Spain had ceded the Philippines to the U.S. under the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898 for the sum of $20 million.
Thus began the short-lived Philippine-American War which saw close to 10% of the Philippine population killed by American expeditionary forces.
The war ended with the capture of Aguinaldo in Palanan, Isabela on March 23, 1901.
American colonization of the country begun with the establishment of a Commonwealth supposedly ending with the granting of Philippine independence on July 4, 1946.
Filipinos celebrated independence every July 4th until President Diosdado Macapagal changed it to June 12 on August 4, 1964.