The First Philippine Republic

• Inaugurated in Malolos, Bulacan on January 21, 1899.
• After being proclaimed president, Emilio Aguinaldo took his oath of office.
• The constitution was read article by article and followed by a military parade.
• Apolinario Mabini was elected as a prime minister.
• The other cabinet secretaries were: Teodoro Sandico, interior; Baldomero Aguinaldo, war; Gen. Mariano Trias, finance & war; Apolinario Mabini, foreign affairs; Gracio Gonzaga for welfare, Aguedo Velarde, public instruction; Maximo Paterno, public works & communication; and Leon María Guerrero for agriculture, trade & commerce.

President of Revolutionary Government

The Dictatorial Government lasted for only a month, from May 24 to June 23, 1898. At the instance of Mabini, Aguinaldo delivered on June 23 a message, penned by Mabini, giving his reasons for changing the form of government to a revolutionary one. On the same day, Aguinaldo issued a decree setting up the Revolutionary Government. It change the title of the chief of state from Dictator to President and defined the object of the government as the "the struggle for the independence of the Philippines until all nations, including the Spanish, shall expressly recognize it, and to prepare the country so that the true republic may be established."

To help the President in his duties, four departments were created, namely:

• the Department of Foreign Affairs, Navy and Commerce
• the Department of War and Public Works
• the Department of Police and Public Order, Justice, Education and Hygiene
• the Department of Finance, Agriculture and Manufacturing Industry

The department secretaries were not responsible for the decrees of the President, but they were to sign them "with the President to give them authority." The President appointed the department secretaries and personnel of each department.

The decree also provided for the creation of Congress. As has been seen, the decree of June 18 provided for the election of delegates from each province to represent it in Congress. The decree of June 23 provided that in those provinces which had not yet been pacified, that is to say, provinces which had not yet been taken from the Spaniards, the delegates for said provinces were to be appointed by the President. The powers of Congress were defined as follows:

To watch over the general interest of the Philippine people, and the carrying out of the revolutionary laws; to discuss and vote upon the said laws; to discuss and approve, prior to their ratification, treaties and loans; to examine and approve the accounts presented annually by the Secretary of Finance, as well as extraordinary and other taxes which may thereafter be imposed.

Dictator of the Dictatorial Government (1898)

In the wake of his military victories, Aguinaldo decided that it was time to establish a Filipino government. He had with him when he arrived from Hong Kong a draft of a plan prepared by Mariano Ponce for the establishment of a revolutionary government: Consul Wildman, however, had advised Aguinaldo earlier to establish a dictatorial government which later on could be the nucleus of a republican government similar to that of the United States. Probably because the critical times demanded a government with a strong executive, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Aguinaldo's adviser, told him to form a dictatorial government.

Consequently, Aguinaldo made known his intention of establishing such a form of government when he announced, in the morning of May 24, 1898, that he was assuming "command of all the troops in the struggle for the attainment of our lofty aspirations, inaugurating a dictatorial government to be administered by decrees promulgated under my sole responsibility"

Later in the day, he issued a decree formally establishing the Dictatorial Government. The decree nullified the orders issued under the authority of the Biyak-na-Bato republic and asserted that the Dictatorial Government was temporary in nature, "so that, when peace shall have been reestablished and our legitimate aspiration for unrestricted liberty attained, it may be modified by the nation, in which rests the principle of authority."

President of the Biyak-na-Bato Republic

The Republic of Biak-na-Bato was declared by Emilio Aguinaldo in Bulacan in November 1897 together with the first Philippines constitution. With the establishment of the Republic, Aguinaldo issued a proclamation demanding the expulsion of friars and the return of friar lands to the Filipinos, representation of the Philippines in the Spanish Cortes, freedom for the press and of religion, abolition of the government's power to banish Filipinos, and equity for all before the law.

Aguinaldo established his headquarters in Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan province. The news immediately spread throughout the country, and the revolutionaries were once more in high spirits. General llanera, who was in Nueva Ecija, declared his support for Aguinaldo. In July 1897, Aguinaldo established the Biak-na-Bato Republic and issued a proclamation stating the following demands:

▪ 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

The Biak-na-Bato Constitution provided for the establishment of a Supreme council that would serve as the highest governing body of the Republic. It also outlined certain basic human rights, such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and the right to education. Emilio Aguinaldo and Mariano Trias were elected Supreme Council president and vice president, respectively.

The Pact of Biak-na-Bato

Pedro Paterno, a Spaniard born in the Philippines volunteered to act as negotiator between Aguinaldo and Gov. Primo de Rivera in order to end the clashes. Paterno’s effort paid off when on, December 15, 1897, the Pact he signed as the representative of the revolutionaries, and de Rivera as the representative of the Spanish government. The Leaders are: Emilio Aguinaldo-President, Mariano Trias-Vice President, Antonio Montenegro-Secretary, Baldomero Aguinaldo-Treasurer, and Emilio Riego de Dios.

On December 23, 1897, Generals Celestino Tejero and Ricardo Monet of the Spanish army arrived in Biak-na-Bato and became hostages of the rebels. A ceasefire was declared by both camps and an agreement between Aguinaldo and the Spanish forces was made -that the Spanish government will grant self-rule to the Philippines in 3 years if Aguinaldo went to exile and surrender his arms. In exchange, Aguinaldo will receive P800,000 (Mexican Pesos) as remuneration to the revolutionaries and an amnesty. After receiving a partial payment of P400,000, Aguinaldo left for Hong Kong on December 27, 1897. Some Filipino generals, however, did not believe in the sincerity of the Spaniards. They refused to surrender their arms. Nevertheless, the Te Deum was still sung on January 23, 1898.

The Biak-na-Bato Pact Fails

The Filipino’s and the Spaniards did not trust each other. As a result, periodic clashes between the two groups still took place even after Aguinaldo’s departure from the country. The Spanish did not pay the entire agreed amount

President of the Tejeros Convention

The Tejeros Convention (alternate names include Tejeros Assembly and Tejeros Congress) was the meeting held between the Magdiwang and Magdalo factions of the Katipunan at San Francisco de Malabon, Cavite which on March 22, 1897. This is the first presidential and vice presidential elections in Philippine history, although only the Katipuneros (members of the Katipunan) and not the general populace were able to take part.

Position	Name
President	Emilio Aguinaldo
Vice-President	Mariano Trías
Captain-General	Artemio Ricarte
Director of War	Emiliano Riego de Dios
Director of the Interior	Andrés Bonifacio

The Tejeros convention which was held on March 22, 1897 only worsened the rivalry between the two factions of the Katipunan. The aim of the convention was to form a central revolutionary government that would unite the two councils. An election of officers was held in Tejeros. Although he was away fighting the Spaniards in Dasmarinas, Cavite, Emilio Aguinaldo was elected president of the new revolutionary government.  Bonifacio was nominated for the position of director of the interior, but Daniel Tirona of Kawit stood up and questioned his ability to hold that job.

Tirona said that the position needed someone with a law degree. Bonifacio took Tirona’s words as an insult. He declared that, as the leader of the Katipunan, all the acts of the Tejeros convention were unlawful. Hurt and angry, he left with his wife, his two brothers, and some trusted bodyguards.

A day later Emilio Aguinaldo became president of the new revolutionary government, he was sworn into office along with other elected officials, most of whom were Cavitenos. Bonifacio was not present.

LIFE

THE 1ST PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT

• Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy
• Born: March 23, 1869
• Place of Birth: Cavite El Viejo (now Kawit), Cavite province.
• Died: Febreuary 6, 1964 (age of 94)
• Place of Death: Quezon City, Manila
• Father: Carlos Aguinaldo y Jamir - gobernadorcillo (town head); member of the Chinese-Tagalog mestizo minority.
• Mother: Trinidad Famy y Valero
• The seventh of eight children.
• Filipino leader who fought first against Spain and later against the United States for the independence of the Philippines.
• He was a Filipino general, politician, and independence leader.
• He played an instrumental role during the Philippines' revolution against Spain, and the subsequent Philippine-American War or War of Philippine Independence that resisted American occupation.
• He was also the youngest (at age 29) to have become the country's president, the longest-lived president (having survived to age 94) and the only president to have outlived the most number of successors.
• Spouse: (1) Hilaria Del Rosario (1877–1921) ; died of leprosy. They had five children: Miguel, Carmen, Emilio Jr., María, and Cristina.
• (2) María Agoncillo (1882–1963)

EDUCATION
POLITICAL CAREER
LEGACY
PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED
ISSUES

EDUCATION

He received education from his great-aunt and later attended the town's elementary school.

1880 – He took up his secondary course education at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, which he quit on his third year to return home instead to help his widowed mother manage their farm.

Age of 28 he was called “Miong”

He completed his education at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila.

POLITICAL CAREER

The insurgent First Philippine Republic was formally established with the proclamation of the Malolos Constitution on January 21, 1899 in Malolos, Bulacan and endured until the capture of Emilio Aguinaldo by the American forces on March 23, 1901 in Palanan, Isabela, which effectively dissolved the First Republic.

Administration and Cabinet

OFFICE	NAME	TERM
President	Emilio Aguinaldo	1897–1901
Vice-President	Mariano Trías	1897
Prime Minister	Apolinario Mabini	January 21 – May 7, 1899
	Pedro Paterno	May 7 – November 13, 1899
Minister of Finance	Mariano Trías	January 21 – May 7, 1899
	Hugo Ilagan	May 7 – November 13, 1899
Minister of the Interior	Teodoro Sandico	January 21 – May 7, 1899
	Severino de las Alas	May 7 – November 13, 1899
Minister of War	Baldomero Aguinaldo	January 21 – May 7, 1899
	Mariano Trias	May 7 – November 13, 1899
Minister of Welfare	Gracio Gonzaga	January 21 – May 7, 1899
Minister of Foreign Affairs	Apolinario Mabini	January 21 – May 7, 1899
	Felipe Buencamino	May 7 – November 13, 1899
Minister of Public Instruction	Aguedo Velarde	1899
Minister of Public Works and Communications	Máximo Paterno	1899
Minister of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce	León María Guerrero	May 7 – November 13, 1899

Dates and Details

• Age of 17 – became the cabeza de barangay of Binakayan, a chief barrio of Cavite del Viejo. Were he served his town-mates for eight years.
• Age of 26 – became the Cavite Viejo's first Capitan municipal.
• Age of 29 – became the Chief of State.
• Aguinaldo’s presidential term formally began in 1898 and ended on April 1, 1901, when he took an oath of allegiance to the United States a week after his capture in Palanan, Isabela.
• August 1896 – became the local leader of the Katipunan, a revolutionary society that fought bitterly and successfully against Spanish.
• December 1897 – he signed an agreement called the Pact of Biak-na-Bato with the Spanish governor-general.
• January 23, 1899 – the Malolos constitution by virtue of which the Philippines was a republic and which he had been approved by the assembly and by Aguinaldo was proclaimed president.
• 1935 – He ran for president but was decisively beaten.
• 1950 - Aguinaldo was arrested and together with the others accused of collaboration with the Japanese was held for several months in Bilibid Prison until released by presidential amnesty. As a token vindication of his honor, he was appointed by President Elpidio Quirino as a member of the Council of State.
• Latter years of his life - he devoted his major attention to veteran’s affairs, the promotion of nationalism and democracy in the Philippines and the improvement of relation between the Philippines and the United States.

LEGACY

President of the Tejeros Convention

President of the Biyak-na-Bato Republic

Dictator of the Dictatorial Government

President of the Revolutionary Government

President of the 1st Philippine Republic

• He was the leader of the revolution and the first President of the first republic, but he is criticized for ordering the execution of Andres Bonifacio and for his possible involvement in the murder of Antonio Luna, and also for accepting an indemnity payment and exile in Hong Kong. Some scholars view him as an example of the leading role taken by members of the landowning elite in the revolution.
• His term also featured the setting up of the Malolos Republic, which has its own Congress, Constitution, and national and local officialdom -- proving Filipinos also had the capacity to build.
• On 18 June, Aguinaldo issued a decree formally establishing his dictatorial government. On June 23, another decree signed by Aguinaldo was issued, replacing the Dictatorial Government with a Revolutionary Government, with himself as President.
• Aguinaldo is best remembered for the proclamation of Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898, in Kawit, Cavite.
• The Philippine National Anthem - Aguinaldo commissioned Julian Felipe, a composer from Cavite province was asked to write an an instrumental march for the proclamation of independence ceremony. The original title was "Marcha Filipina Magdalo". This was later changed to "Marcha Nacional Filipina". The lyrics was added in August 1899 based on the poem titled "Filipinas" by Jose Palma. The original lyrics was written in Spanish, then to English then later, was translated to Tagalog, which underwent another change of title to “Lupang Hinirang”, the Philippine National Anthem. Continue to Filipino-American Hostilities.

PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED

ECONOMY  (Fiscal Reform) 

• The Malolos Congress continued its sessions and accomplished certain positive tasks. The Spanish fiscal system was provisionally retained.
• The same was done with the existing taxes, save those upon cockfighting and other amusements.
• War taxes were levied and voluntary contributions were solicited.
• Customs duties were established.
• A national loan was launched.

POLITICAL (Local Government Reorganization)

• Aguinaldo issued two decreed, dated 18th and 20th June, reorganizing the provincial and municipal governments.
• In these documents, Aguinaldo made it clear that although was circumstances had forced him to become a dictator, his constant desire was to surround himself with the most representative men of every province and who, by their conduct, should merit the confidence in their province-mates, in order that, knowing, through them, the needs of every one of these places, he might adopt the best measures to attend it them.
• The municipal government was established along these lines: all 21-year old residents were entitled to elect a Popular Council composed of a President, Vice-President, barrio chiefs, delegate of justice and civil registry, delegate of police and internal order and delegate of taxes and properties.
• Where: a Governor and three councilors, to compose, together with the municipal resident of the provincial capital, the Provincial Council. Also, provincial military commanders were provided for each to take charge of recruiting soldiers for the national army.
• Suspension of Article Five of the Malolos Constitution providing the separation of Church and State. In the mean time the municipalities that might need the spiritual ministry of a Filipino priest, were to provide funds for his necessary support.
• The proposal was accented on 23rd December and became Transitory Article No. 100 of the national constitution.

SOCIAL SERVICES (Education)

• Aguinaldo ordered schools open. Elementary education was made compulsory and free.
• The Filipino educator, Enrique Mendiola, founded the “Instituto de Burgos” and was appointed by the Director of Public Instruction. It offered courses in agriculture, surveying, and commerce, as well as a complete A.B course.
• October 1898 – a government decree fixed the opening date of the "Universidad Literia". While the courses offered were Medicine, Surgery, Pharmacy, and Notary Public.
• Professors were appointed by the President of the Philippines.

FOREIGN POLICIES

• Upon the inauguration of the First Philippine Republic, President Emilio Aguinaldo granted executive clemency to all Spanish civilians being held prisoners.
• He also granted permission for all foreigners, including Spaniards, to freely engage in business in the Philippines.

ISSUES

• Even during his younger years, Emilio Aguinaldo already expressed his unselfish interest to serve his country. When his father died he succeeded as the breadwinner and at a young age of just 17 he started serving as head of the barangay before he became a municipal captain (equivalent to mayor today) in Kawit, his hometown.

• After Andres Bonifacio appointed him, Aguinaldo was very instrumental in enticing the Katipuneros to join the revolutionary forces against the Spaniards. He led that revolution in 1896.

• The Tejeros convention was headed by Andres Bonifacio and it was agreed that the Katipunan be abolished and a new Revolutionary Government be established. An election for president followed. Aguinaldo was elected and Bonifacio became the External Affairs secretary.

• One of the members of the Revolutionary forces, Daniel Tirona, expressed his dissenting opinion against the election of Bonifacio as the External Affairs secretary because of questions regarding his qualifications as Bonifacio was not a lawyer. Bonifacio was hurt with the actuation of Tirona. Along with 25 members, they left the convention hall. This action of Bonifacio resulted to the weakening of the revolutionary forces and Emilio Aguinaldo ordered the killing of Bonifacio.

• The Spaniards made a peace pact with Aguinaldo at Biaknabato. On that agreement, war was to be ended. The Spaniards promised to recompense the revolutionary forces and Aguinaldo will be exiled to Hongkong. But when the Spaniards did not honor their commitment, Aguinaldo again led his forces to a new war.