A bronze statue representing Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo proudly stands in front of the Municipal Hall. The local government commissioned no less than National Artist Napoleon Abueva to work on this sculpture as part of the celebration of the town's quadricentennial.
This is the sole marker that reminds everyone that Bayambang became the fifth capital of the First Philippine Republic after Gen. Aguinaldo encamped here on November 12, 1899, bringing with him the fledgling Philippine government and making such a declaration on paper.
Among Aguinaldo's indelible legacy are the Philippine Constitution, a national army, a government organizational structure (with executive, legislative, and judiciary branches), a unifying flag, and a national anthem.
On that fateful visit to the town, the lyrics for the Philippine national anthem were written by Jose Palma reportedly inside a train coach in nearby Bautista, then a barrio of Bayambang.
The Aguinaldo statue is one of the very few ones in the country outside the general's home province of Cavite.
In Bayambang, the revolutionary government disintegrated as its members fled the pursuing elements of the American Army and resorted to combat mode against the foreign invaders. This is the reason why Bayambang town today commemorates November 12 as "SingKapital" Day so as not to forget that day in history when our heroes bravely took a stand for self-determination and spilled copious blood for it, and that is why we enjoy our freedom today and can assume an identity, and nationality, as Filipinos.
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