On October 31, 1896, Emilio Aguinaldo issued his first two manifestos from Kawit, Cavite. One is entitled “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity”, in which he defined the aim of the revolution as the attainment of independence, and the other denounced the conduct of Spanish soldiers in Nasugbu and Lemery.
In part, the manifesto in Spanish was translated and summarized by the National Historical Institute.
Thus:
“Filipinos, open your eyes, let the innocent blood of your brothers, victims of Spanish hatred, leave in your hearts a lasting impression. Let this, our innocent blood, and the countless tyrannies of our enemies, serve from now on as the insurmountable barrier between Spain and the Philippines. What crime have we committed except the ambition to see ourselves free?
At present the new Revolutionary Government functions three times better than the Government of Spanish tyranny.
The Revolutionary Committee calls on all Filipino citizens, lovers of their native land, to rise up in arms, to proclaim the liberty and independence of the Philippines as ours by right and justice, and to acknowledge the authority of the new Government of the revolution built upon the blood of her heroic sons.”
Reference: Pambansang Komisyong Pangkasaysayan, National Historical Institute
(JR AMIGO/AI/MNM)
