| Administrative History | The Philippines first declared independence (from Spain) in 1898, but this was not internationally recognised, and the United States annexed the Philippines under the Treaty of Paris which brought to an end the Spanish-American War of 1898. The Philippines did not achieve independence from the United States until 1946. President Harry S. Truman issued Proclamation 2695 of July 4, 1946 officially recognizing the independence of the Philippines - the date being chosen to coincide with the American Independence Day. Since 1962, the Philippines has celebrated Independence Day on 12 June. |