Aguinaldo Shrine, Kawit Cavite

I have been here many times when I was kid as this was always a part of our itinerary during field trips in grade school. I reside in Cavite where I finished my grade school. My high school and university days were spent in Manila and it has been a long time now since I last visited the shrine. Yesterday was the chance to visit as requested by niece in Bicol, who is having a project that requires a relative to have a picture of a historical spot in the Philippines (outside the Bicol region) and to submit it to her teacher. Ang lupit ng project nya. Buti na lang may email. Madali ko lang naipadala sa teacher nya.



my parents... hehe

Emilio Aguinaldo, along with Jose Rizal, is among the least of my favorite national heroes. Pabayaan niyo na ako. Mas gusto ko ang pagiging nationalistic ni Andres Bonifacio eh. =P But Aguinaldo's shrine has been a symbol of Philippine Independence and I always took regard how important the place played a significant role in our country. The shrine is the ancestral home of Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Republic of the Philippines. It was an amazing house. There are so many secret passages plus the indoor pool was incredible, hehehe. Behind the house, Aguinaldo rests in a marble tomb. At first, I was apprehensive if that's where he really was buried but they confirmed that it was him. So there. The house was donated to the Philippine government in 1962.



the front of the shrine



rebulto ni Aguinaldo.. hehe. itinayo ito at the time of Centennial Independence celebration in 1998, along with a freedom park in front of the shrine. nagkaroon din ng diversion road para hindi na daanan ang harapan ng bahay ni Aguinaldo

The Aguinaldo Shrine is a national shrine of the Philippines, located in Kawit, Cavite. The Philippine flag is raised here by top national officials every Independence Day (June 12) to commemorate the event.

Philippine independence from Spain was proclaimed from a window of the home on June 12, 1898. The proclamation of Philippine Independence (subsequently replaced by another declaration written and signed in Malolos, Bulacan) was read, and the Philippine flag formally unfurled, although it had been displayed in battle in late May, 1898. The Philippine national anthem was also played (its lyrics still to be written in 1899) by the music band of San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias, Cavite) on that date. President Aguinaldo, particularly while in retirement after his capture and release by American forces, greatly enlarged his home, building an elaborate Independence balcony which many visitors assume was the actual site of the independence proclamation.

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The Aguinaldo Shrine, open 8 am - 5 pm daily, is well worth a visit. There is no entrance fee but you may make a donation. Available for sale is the attractive and informative book Home of Independence: Emilio Aguinaldo House, by Ino Manalo, published by the National Historical Institute.

GETTING THERE:
The shrine is located in Kawit (which literally means hook--after the "hook" of land it is located on).
Buses that go from Baclaran to Cavite City, Tanza, and Naic pass the shrine. By car, take Quirino Avenue (slower but more interesting as you pass woodcarving shops, churches, etc); or the Coastal Road(then Quirino Avenue); or the Southern Luzon Highway, exit at Sucat to pass Las Piñas (for the Church and Bamboo Organ, and Zapote (home of Sarao jeepney factory.