Republic of the Philippines

𝕷𝖆𝖌𝖚𝖓𝖆 𝕾𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖊 𝕻𝖔𝖑𝖞𝖙𝖊𝖈𝖍𝖓𝖎𝖈 𝖀𝖓𝖎𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖘𝖎𝖙𝖞

THE PHILIPPINES REVOLUTION

The Philippine Revolution (Himagsikang Pilipino or Rebolusyong Pilipino)

-A war of Independence waged by the revolutionary organization Katipunan
against the Spanish Empire from 1896 to 1898
-It was the culmination of the 333-year colonial rule of Spain in the
archipelago. The Philippines was one of the last major colonies of the Spanish
Empire, which had already suffered a massive decline in the 1820s. Cuba
rebelled in 1895, and in 1898, the United States intervened and the Spanish
soon capitulated. In June, Philippine revolutionaries declared independence.
However, it was not recognized by Spain, which sold the islands to the United
States in the Treaty of Paris.

-Led by Andrés Bonifacio, the Katipunan was formed in secrecy in 1892 in

the wake of the nascent La Liga Filipina

-in August 1896 upon its discovery by Spanish authorities in Manila.

-This disparity in success, along with multiple factors, contributed to the
eventual power struggle from within Katipunan's leadership. Two factions
formed: Bonifacio's Magdiwang and Aguinaldo's Magdalo.

-In April 1897, Aguinaldo ordered the arrest of Bonifacio

-On April 21, 1898, after the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor,
the United States declared war against the Spanish Empire, starting the
Spanish-American War.

-On May 19, Aguinaldo, unofficially allied with the United States, returned to
the Philippines and resumed attacks against the Spaniards.

-By June, the rebels had gained control of nearly the entirety of the
countryside, while the cities remained under Spanish control.

-On June 12, Aguinaldo issued the Philippine Declaration of Independence

in Kawit.

-On February 4, 1899, fighting broke out between the Filipino and American
forces, beginning the Philippine–American War.
-In June 1899, the First Philippine Republic formally declared war against
the United States,which ended with the Philippine Organic Act in July 1902.
As a result, the islands become an unincorporated territory of the United
States.
-The country finally became fully independent on July 4, 1946, 50 years after
the start of the revolution.

The First Philippine Republic

The First Philippine Republic, also known as the Malolos Republic, was
established with the proclamation of the Malolos Constitution on January 21,
1899, in Malolos, Bulacan. This government marked a significant shift from
the revolutionary government previously led by Emilio Aguinaldo, who played
a crucial role in the Philippine struggle for independence from colonial rule.

Key Leadership

Emilio Aguinaldo: As the president, Aguinaldo was a pivotal figure in the

revolution and the establishment of the [Link] established the dictatorial
government in May 1898 to show tha capacity of filipinos for self government,
and a month later, the revolutionary government.

Cabinet Members: The government included notable figures such as

Apolinario Mabini and Manuel L. Quezon, who emphasized public service and
reform.

Important Achievements of the Malolos Congress

1. Ratification of Independence: On September 29, 1898, the Malolos

Congress ratified the declaration of Philippine independence made by
Aguinaldo on June 12, 1898.

2. Financial Legislation: A law was passed allowing the government to

borrow P20 million from banks to support governmental operations.

3. Educational Institutions: The establishment of the Universidad Literatura

de Filipinas and other schools promoted literacy and national identity.

4. Constitution Drafting: The Malolos Constitution was adopted, laying the

groundwork for a democratic government with separated powers.

5. Declaration of War: The republic declared war against the United States
on June 12, 1899, in resistance to American annexation efforts.

6. Pursuit of Recognition: The government sought diplomatic recognition

from other nations to affirm its sovereignty.

7. Civil Liberties: The constitution included provisions for civil liberties, such
as freedom of speech and assembly.
End of the Republic
The Malolos Republic came to an end when Aguinaldo was captured on March
23, 1901. This led to the collapse of the republic and the transition to U.S.
colonial rule over the Philippines, which brought significant political and
social changes.

Conclusion

The Malolos Republic symbolizes the Filipino people's aspirations for

independence, democratic governance, and national identity. As the first
democratic republic in Asia, it represents a historic attempt to establish a
sovereign nation free from colonial rule. The legacy of the Malolos Republic
continues to inspire national pride and a commitment to democracy in the
Philippines, serving as a reminder of the struggle for liberty and equality.

PHILIPPINES INDEPENDENCE DAY

Revolution Against Spain (1896): The revolution against Spanish colonial

rule intensified in 1896 under leaders like Andres Bonifacio and later Emilio
Aguinaldo.

Pact of Biak-na-Bato (1897): Aguinaldo and the Spanish government signed

the Pact of Biak-na-Bato in December 1897. The pact involved a temporary
truce, with Aguinaldo agreeing to go into exile in Hong Kong in exchange for
financial compensation.

Exile in Hong Kong (1897-1898): Aguinaldo used his time in Hong Kong to
regroup and strategize for future actions against Spain. During this period,
he bought arms and formed alliances with Filipino revolutionaries.

Spanish-American War (1898): With tensions rising between Spain and the
United States, Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines with American support,
believing that the U.S. would help the country gain independence.

Declaration of Independence (June 12, 1898): On June 12, 1898, Emilio

Aguinaldo declared Philippine Independence from Spain in Kawit, Cavite. The
ceremony was held in his ancestral home, and the Philippine flag was first
raised. The Act of the Declaration of Independence was read by Ambrosio
Rianzares Bautista.

Recognition by the First Philippine Republic (1899): While Aguinaldo

declared independence in 1898, the First Philippine Republic was formally
established on January 23, 1899. Aguinaldo became the president of this
republic, which further solidified the country’s quest for independence .
The Spanish-American War,1898
The Spanish-American War of 1898 ended Spain’s colonial empire in the
Western Hemisphere and secured the position of the United States as a Pacific
power. U.S. victory in the war produced a peace treaty that compelled the
Spanish to relinquish claims on Cuba, and to cede sovereignty over Guam,
Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. The United States
also annexed the independent state of Hawaii during the conflict. Thus, the
war enabled the United States to establish its predominance in the Caribbean
region and to pursue its strategic and economic interests in Asia.

Charge of the 24th and 25th Colored Infantry and Rescue of Rough
Riders at San Juan Hill, July 2nd 1898 (Kurz and Allison)

The war that erupted in 1898 between the United States and Spain was
preceded by three years of fighting by Cuban revolutionaries to gain
independence from Spanish colonial rule. From 1895–1898, the violent
conflict in Cuba captured the attention of Americans because of the economic
and political instability that it produced in a region within such close
geographical proximity to the United States. The long-held U.S. interest in
ridding the Western Hemisphere of European colonial powers and American
public outrage over brutal Spanish tactics created much sympathy for the
Cuban revolutionaries. By early 1898, tensions between the United States and
Spain had been mounting for months. After the U.S. battleship Maine
exploded and sank in Havana harbor under mysterious circumstances on
February 15, 1898, U.S. military intervention in Cuba became likely.
On April 11, 1898, President William McKinley asked Congress for
authorization to end the fighting in Cuba between the rebels and Spanish
forces, and to establish a “stable government” that would “maintain order”
and ensure the “peace and tranquility and the security” of Cuban and U.S.
citizens on the island. On April 20, the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution
that acknowledged Cuban independence, demanded that the Spanish
government give up control of the island, foreswore any intention on the part
of the United States to annex Cuba, and authorized McKinley to use whatever
military measures he deemed necessary to guarantee Cuba’s independence.
The Spanish government rejected the U.S. ultimatum and immediately
severed diplomatic relations with the United States. McKinley responded by
implementing a naval blockade of Cuba on April 22 and issued a call for
125,000 military volunteers the following day. That same day, Spain declared
war on the United States, and the U.S. Congress voted to go to war against
Spain on April 25.
The future Secretary of State John Hay described the ensuing conflict as a
“splendid little war.” The first battle was fought on May 1, in Manila Bay,
where Commodore George Dewey’s Asiatic Squadron defeated the Spanish
naval force defending the Philippines. On June 10, U.S. troops landed at
Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and additional forces landed near the harbor city
of Santiago on June 22 and 24. After isolating and defeating the Spanish Army
garrisons in Cuba, the U.S. Navy destroyed the Spanish Caribbean squadron
on July 3 as it attempted to escape the U.S. naval blockade of Santiago.

Secretary of State John Hay

On July 26, at the behest of the Spanish government, the French ambassador
in Washington, Jules Cambon, approached the McKinley Administration to
discuss peace terms, and a cease-fire was signed on August 12. The war
officially ended four months later, when the U.S. and Spanish governments
signed the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898. Apart from guaranteeing
the independence of Cuba, the treaty also forced Spain to cede Guam and
Puerto Rico to the United States. Spain also agreed to sell the Philippines
to the United States for the sum of $20 million. The U.S. Senate ratified the
treaty on February 6, 1899, by a margin of only one vote.
The McKinley Administration also used the war as a pretext to annex the
independent state of Hawaii. In 1893, a group of Hawaii-based planters and
businessmen led a coup against Queen Liliuokalani and established a new
government. They promptly sought annexation by the United States, but
President Grover Cleveland rejected their requests. In 1898, however,
President McKinley and the American public were more favorably disposed
toward acquiring the islands. Supporters of annexation argued that Hawaii
was vital to the U.S. economy, that it would serve as a strategic base that
could help protect U.S. interests in Asia, and that other nations were intent
on taking over the islands if the United States did not. At McKinley’s request,
a joint resolution of Congress made Hawaii a U.S. territory on August 12,
1898.