Who waved the Philippine flag on June 12, 1898? It's not Emilio Aguinaldo

It is often believed that Emilio Aguinaldo waved the Philippine flag when he declared Philippine independence on June 12, 1898.

But apparently this is not the case.

According to Kuya Kim's report in "24 Oras," it was the lawyer Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista who had the honor of waving the Philippine flag that day.

Bautista is also the author of the Declaration of Philippine Independence.

Another common misconception is the belief that the flag was waved on the balcony of Aguinaldo's house in Kawit, Cavite. Kuya Kim said Bautista actually waved it from a window.

READ: 7 things you didn't know about the Philippine flag

Aguinaldo's descendants are currently looking after the flag at the Emilio Aguinaldo Museum in Baguio.

Emiliana Suntay, Aguinaldo's granddaughter, said they are taking precautions to preserve the historic flag.

"Inside the flag room there's no flash photography. We have temperature control in the room as well as humidifier to make sure that it stays very dry," she said.

The flag was sewn by Marcela Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo, and Delfina Herbosa Natividad.

According to Julio Nakpil and Artemio Ricarte, the flag was designed by Feliciano Jocson, a pharmacist. It was said that Aguinaldo adopted the flag when he was exiled in Hong Kong in 1897.

—MGP, GMA News