The 1897 Biak Na Bato Constitution

Name: Cortez, Faith Ann Date: 4/5/22

The 1897 Biak-na-Bato Constitution. Source: Preamble of the Biak-na-Bato

Constitution
The separation of the Philippines from the Spanish monarchy and their
formation into an independent state with its own government called the
Philippine Republic has been the end sought by the Revolution in the existing war,
begun on the 24th of August, 1896; and, therefore, in its name and by the power
delegated by the Filipino people, interpreting faithfully their desires and
ambitions, we the representatives of the Revolution, in a meeting at Biak-na-Bato,
November 1, 1897, unanimously adopted the following articles for the
constitution of the State.

With almost all of Cavite in the hands of the Spaniards, Governor General
Primo de Rivera issued another decree extending the benefit of his pardon
beyond May 17, 1897. His purpose was to win over the Filipinos to his policy of
attraction. A few took advantage of the governor's decree, while the rest
continued their resistance against the enemy. Aguinaldo, meanwhile was in
Talisay, Batangas where he had established his headquarters. The enemy
surrounded the area in the hope of capturing him, but he slipped through the
Spanish cordon on June10 and proceeded with his men to the hilly region of
Morong ( Rizal ). With 500 picked men, he crossed the Pasig to Malapad-na-Bato,
near Guadalupe, and from here he secretly passed through San Juan del Monte
and Montalban, and on to Mount Puray. After a well-earned rest, Aguinaldo and
his men proceeded to Biak-na-Bato, San Miguel de Mayumo, where he
established his headquarters.
News of Aguinaldo's arrival at Biak-na-Bato reached the towns of Central

Luzon. As a consequence, armed men from Pangasinan, Zambales, and Ilocos
provinces, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija, renewed their armed resistance against the
enemy. From Biak-na-Bato, Aguinaldo and his men joined forces with those of
General Mariano Llanera of Nueva Ecija and harassed the Spanish soldiers
garrisoned in the Central Luzon Provinces. With the coming of the rainy season,
Primo de Rivera's campaigns were temporarily halted. Before July 1897,
Aguinaldo and his men had already established a republican government at Biyak-
na-Bato, known as the Biyak-na-Bato Republic. The provisional constitution of this
Republic was prepared by Felix Ferrer and Isabelo Artacho, who copied, almost
word for word, the Cuban constitution of Jimaguayu. The Biyak-na-bato
Constitution was signed on November 1, 1897.
One hundred years ago today, our embattled forefathers sought to bring to
a peaceful end the violence and strife that had swept across the land as our
nation struggled to be born—brave honorable men—patriots all. Gathered here
in this sacred spot were some 52 revolutionaries to seek an honorable, just and
fair peace with Spain, the colonial master. On the second day of November 1897,
the first phase of our revolution came to an end. We were engaged in a struggle
for the independence of our people and for our right as a nation and to take its
rightful place among the free nations of the world.
On this historic site of Biak-na-Bato, where our revolutionary forces were

encamped, our forefathers set themselves the task of drafting a Constitution that
would enshrine the vision and ideals by which the Filipino nation would live. The
assembly, presided by General Aguinaldo, declared to abolish the departmental-
regional system of government by adopting the “Constitucion Provisional de
Republica de Filipinas,” which the delegates then signed.
The government that was established in Biak-na-Bato was the first

constitutional republican government in “Filipinas.” Although its Constitution was
provisional, its preamble stated: “The separation of Filipinas from the Spanish
monarchy and its establishment as an independent and sovereign state with the
name Republica de Filipinas, with its own government, is the goal sought by the
revolution that began in August 1896.”
The day after the Constitution was signed, the assembly met and elected
the supreme council. Those elected were Emilio Aguinaldo, President; Mariano
Trias, Vice President; Isabelo Artacho, Secretary of the Interior; Antonio
Montenegro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs; Baldomero Aguinaldo, Secretary of
Treasury; and Emiliano Riego de Dios, Secretary of War.
Modern constitutionalists will easily discover flaws in the Biak-na-Bato

Constitution. The flaws will be seen mostly in the form of omissions or
incompleteness. Modem Filipinos want their Constitution to cover most
exigencies and details, mainly out of a distrust of their leaders, a distrust owed to
martial-law experience. The redeeming virtue of the Biak-na-Bato Constitution
was that the handful of men who promulgated it took care that it would be
provisional or temporary.
This was the decision of men over whom the people had no means of
control or direct influence, whose authority came from abnormal and
extraconstitutional conditions, but who fixed their authority to two years, leaving
it to the representatives to interpret the people’s verdict.
On the whole, the Biak-na-Bato scheme was an approach to leadership that

moderated the government’s authoritarian origins by self-imposed limitations,
characterized by grace and conscientiousness of genuine patriotism.
In the light of recent events, it would be wise for us to reexamine our

national aspirations in relation to our goals as a nation. Just as our forefathers did
one hundred years ago, so now today, must we carefully and thoughtfully weigh
the consequences of our actions and their benefits to our people.
Analysis:
 Expulsion of the friars and the return of the friar lands to the Filipinos.
 Representation of the Philippines in the Spanish Cortes.
 Freedom of the press and of religion.
 Abolition of the government’s power to banish Filipinos.
 Equality for all before the law.
 On this significant date in our history, let us take the opportunity to reflect
on the quality and character of our forebears and the sacrifices they were
willing to make to win our freedom as a people. Our revolutionary generals,
who fought against superior odds, can stand proud with the national
heroes of any other people.
Source:
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1997/11/02/speech-of-president-ramos-on-
the-centennial-of-the-biak-na-bato republic/#:~:text=The%20government%20that
%20was%20established,sovereign%20state%20with%20the%20name

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Name: Cortez, Faith Ann Date: 4/5/22

The 1897 Biak-na-Bato Constitution. Source: Preamble of the Biak-na-Bato

News of Aguinaldo's arrival at Biak-na-Bato reached the towns of Central

On this historic site of Biak-na-Bato, where our revolutionary forces were

The government that was established in Biak-na-Bato was the first

Modern constitutionalists will easily discover flaws in the Biak-na-Bato

On the whole, the Biak-na-Bato scheme was an approach to leadership that

In the light of recent events, it would be wise for us to reexamine our

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