AMBROSIO RIANZARES BAUTISTA: THE UNSUNG AUTHOR OF THE ACT OF PROCLAMATION OF INDEPENDENCE BY THE FILIPINO PEOPLE (June 12, 1898) After three hundred and thirty three years of Spanish colonial rule, the Philippines finally declared its independence on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite, but unlike the composer of the national anthem and the maker of the Philippine Flag, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, the author of the Act of the Philippine Independence itself, is considered to be “one of the unsung and unhonoured great Filipinos” 1 albeit his notable contributions to the cause of Philippine revolution. Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista was born in Biñan, Laguna, on December 7, 1830, to Gregorio Enriquez Bautista and Silvestra Altamira. He finished his law degree at the University of Santo Tomas and practiced his profession in Manila, wherein Dr. Jose Rizal “during his student days in Manila, even sought the advice of Don Ambrosio, whom he called “Tio Bosyong”. 2 Bautista, as a lawyer, was deeply esteemed and respected by his fellow contemporaries. His distinguished colleagues include Chief Justice Cayetano S. Arellano, Chief Justice Florentino Torres, Rafael del Pan and Dr. Pedro Paterno. In the eyes of the public, he was known to be as a stalwart defender of the poor, and labourers; giving them free legal advices and defending their cases in court free of charge. 3 The generosity of Bautista made him so popular with the masses that it quickly spread even to the brigands, and outlaws [caused by Spanish tyranny]. An anecdote relates to this incident in is life: 1 Gregorio F. Zaide. 1970. Great Filipinos in History. Verde Book Store. P.93 2 National Historical Comission. Eminent Filipinos. p.53 3 1950. Biographies of Eminent Filipinos. National Historical institute. no.42