Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista y Altamira (December 7, 1830 – December 4, 1903), also known as Don Bosyong, was a Filipino lawyer and author of the Declaration of Philippine Independence. A distant relative of the Rizal family, Bautista often gave advice to José Rizal, a Filipino nationalist, while studying in

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...

Early life and career

Bautista was born in Biñan, Laguna, to Gregorio Enriquez Bautista and Silvestra Altamira. He attended preparatory school in Biñan and studied law at the

University of Santo Tomas The University of Santo Tomas (also known as UST and officially as the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, Manila) is a private, Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded on April 28, 1611, by Spanish friar Migue ...

, 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 La Liga Filipina () was a secret organization. It was founded by José Rizal in the house of Doroteo Ongjunco at Ilaya Street, Tondo, Manila on July 3, 1892. The organization derived from La Solidaridad and the Propaganda movement. The purpose ...

, Cuerpo de Compromisarios and La Propaganda. In 1896, the Spaniards arrested and imprisoned him at

Fort Santiago Fort Santiago ( es, Fuerte de Santiago; fil, Kutà ng Santiago), built in 1571, is a citadel built by Spanish navigator and governor Miguel López de Legazpi for the newly established city of Manila in the Philippines. The defense fortress is lo ...

, 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 Cavite, officially the Province of Cavite ( tl, Lalawigan ng Kabite; Chavacano: ''Provincia de Cavite''), is a province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region in Luzon. Located on the southern shores of Manila Bay and southwest ...

. On July 14, 1899, Bautista was elected to the position of president in

Tarlac Tarlac, officially the Province of Tarlac ( pam, Lalawigan ning Tarlac; pag, Luyag/Probinsia na Tarlac; ilo, Probinsia ti Tarlac; tgl, Lalawigan ng Tarlac; ), is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. It ...

'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''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bautista, Ambrosio Rianzares 1830 births 1903 deaths 19th-century Filipino lawyers Filipino revolutionaries People from Biñan People of the Philippine Revolution University of Santo Tomas alumni Filipino prisoners and detainees 20th-century Filipino judges Spanish-language writers of the Philippines Members of the Malolos Congress

Early life and career

Political activism

In popular culture

See also

Further reading

References