Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista

Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista
Born	(1830-12-17)17 December 1830 Biñan, Laguna, Captaincy General of the Philippines
Died
Other names	Don Bosyong
Alma mater	University of Santo Tomas
Occupation	Lawyer
Known for	Author of the Declaration of Philippine Independence

Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista (December 17, 1830 - December 4, 1903), also known as Don Bosyong, was a lawyer and author of the Declaration of Philippine Independence. A distant relative of the Rizal family, Bautista frequently provided advice to Philippine national hero José Rizal during his school days in Manila.

Early life and career

Bautista was born in Biñan, Laguna to Gregorio Enriquez and Bautista Silvestra Altamira. He attended preparatory school in Biñan and studied law at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), obtaining a degree in 1865. He then practiced law in Manila and offered free legal services to poor clients. Whilst practicing law, Bautista, on his way to Malolos, Bulacan, was captured by a group of bandits, who subsequently learned that he had saved many of their friends as a defender of the poor in court cases against rich Filipinos and Spaniards. The bandits apologized to Bautista and set him free.

Political activism

Bautista solicited funds to finance a campaign for reforms in the Philippines, later becoming a member of the La Liga Filipina, Cuerpo de Compromisarios and La Propaganda. In 1896, the Spaniards arrested and imprisoned him at Fort Santiago, as he was suspected of being involved in the Philippine Revolution; Bautista elected to defend himself and was later released from prison.

In 1898, Bautista became the first adviser to President Emilio Aguinaldo and subsequently wrote the Declaration of Philippine Independence.

Contrary to common belief, it was Bautista, and not Aguinaldo, who waved the Philippine flag before the jubilant crowd on June 12, 1898, during the Philippines Proclamation of Independence in Cavite.

On July 14, 1899, Bautista was elected to the position of president in Tarlac's Revolutionary Congress and was later appointed judge of the Court of First Instance of Pangasinan.

In popular culture

• Portrayed by Richard Manabat in the 2012 film, El Presidente.

See also

• Patricio Mariano

Further reading

• Bautista Rianzares Ambrosio. 1830 - 1903 (accessed on September 10, 2007)
• Quirino, Carlos. Who's Who in Philippine History. New York: Home Books. 1995.
• National Historical Institute. Historical Markers: Regions I-IV and CAR. Manila: National Historical Institute. 1993
• "Southern Luzon and Bicol: Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista." Unsung Heroes of the Philippines Revolution - MSC Communications Technologies, Inc.. (accessed September 12, 2007).