THE

MALOLOS CONGRESS AND THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN HOSTILITES

Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines from Hong Kong with a plan to form a Filipino
Government. He established a Dictatorial Government in May and the Revolutionary Government in
June to show the capacity of the Filipinos for self-government.

The Dictatorial Government

⨳ Aguinaldo, arriving from Hong Kong, had a draft of plan prepared by Mariano Ponce for
the establishment of a Revolutionary Government.
⨳ On May 24, 1898, Aguinaldo announced his intention to form a dictatorial government
and later that day, he issued a decree formally establishing the Dictatorial Government.
⨳ Consul Wildman advised Aguinaldo to establish a dictatorial government which later
could be the nucleus of a republican government similar to that of the US.
⨳ Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Aguinaldo’s adviser, told him to form a dictatorial
government because critical times demanded a government with a strong executive.
⨳ The dictatorial government is temporary in nature.
⨳ When peace will be reestablished and the aspiration for the unrestricted liberty is
attained, the grunt can be modified by the nation.

The Treatment of Enemy

⨳ In general, Filipinos treated Spanish prisoners with justice but there are times when
some Filipinos maltreated the Spaniards.

⨳ Aguinaldo issued a circular on May 29, 1898 urging Filipinos to stop disgraceful
treatment of Spanish prisoners

⨳ On June 1, 1898, Aguinaldo issued another order that all classes of crimes were to be
tries by competent military tribunals

The Declaration of Independence

⨳ With a government in operation, Aguinaldo thought that it was necessary to declare

independence. It would inspire the people to fight more eagerly against the Spaniards
and at the same time lead the foreign countries to recognize the independence of the
country.

⨳ Apolinario Mabini, Aguinaldo’s unofficial adviser objected on the idea. This is because
for Mabini, it was more important to reorganize the government to convince foreign
powers that Philippines’ government is competent and stable.

⨳ On June 5, 1898, Aguinaldo issued a decree setting June 12 as the proclamation of the
Philippine Independence

⨳ Julian Felipe, a composer from Cavite, prepared a composition to be played at the

ceremony which became the official march of the Philippines (draft entitled “Marcha
Filipina Magdalo” changed to “Marcha Nacional Filipina)
 ⨳ June 12, 1898, independence was proclaimed at Cavite el Viejo (Kawit)

⨳ The Philippine National Flag was made in Hong Kong by Mrs. Marcella Aguinaldo,
assisted by Lorenza Agoncillo and Delfina Herboza

⨳ “Act of the Declaration of Independence” was prepared and read by Ambrosio Rianzares
Bautista

Apolinario Mabini

⨳ In 1896, revolution broke out and the Spaniards arrested him, suspecting he was
somehow involved in the disturbance but then, he was released thereafter.

⨳ In 1898, Aguinaldo (who is in Cavite) called for him to help him in his work. He then
became Aguinaldo’s official adviser.

⨳ Enemies called him, “Dark Chamber of the President” but his admirers considered him,
“Brains of the Revolution”

The Reorganization of the Local Government

⨳ The decree on June 18, 1898 provided for the reorganization of the local government in
provinces already freed from Spanish control.

⨳ Mabini wanted Aguinaldo to be surrounded by representatives close to the people and

who knew their needs so that the head of the state can address these needs

⨳ Made electors were inhabitants who are to elect the town chief, the headman for each
barrio, and three delegates namely; delegate for police and internal order, delegate for
justice and civil registry and delegate for taxes and property

⨳ The town chief, the headmen of the barrios and the three delegates constituted the
Popular Assembly.

⨳ Townchief – President

⨳ Headman of the poblacion/town proper – Vice President

⨳ Delegate for Justice and Civil Registry – Secretary

⨳ The provincial chief, the chief of the capital of the province and the three councilors
constituted the Provincial Council whose chief duty was to propose measures for the
general welfare of the inhabitants in the province.

⨳ The decree also provided the election of delegates from each province who would
constitute the Revolutionary Council (to be elected by the chiefs of the towns)

⨳ The proportion of delegates of the congress was made as follows:

⨳ City of Manila (3 delegates)

⨳ Province of Cavite (3 delegates)

 ⨳ Province of the first class (2 delegates each)

⨳ The rest of the provinces (1 delegate each)

⨳ The main function of the Revolutionary Council is to propose measures concerning the
preservation of internal order and external security of these islands

⨳ To secure maximum efficiency in the implementation of the rules regarding the holding
of elections, the decree provided for the appointment of a commissioner of the Central
Government for each province.

⨳ Military commanders who liberated any town from the Spaniards became automatically
commissioners by “virtue of their office.”

⨳ To secure maximum efficiency in the implementation of the rules regarding the holding
of elections, the decree provided for the appointment of a commissioner of the Central
Government for each province.

⨳ Military commanders who liberated any town from the Spaniards became automatically
commissioners by “virtue of their office.”

The Administration of Justice

⨳ The administration of justice was outlined in a supplementary decree of June 20, 1898
which provided that the Spanish Penal Code was to remain in force for the time being
when not in contrary to the decree of the government

⨳ The town chief was automatically the judge of the town

⨳ In criminal cases, the verdict is made by Provincial Council which can be appealed to the
Commission of Justice of the Revolutionary Congress

⨳ In civil cases, the decision was made by the Popular Assembly which can be appealed to
the Provincial Council

⨳ The Dictatorial Government only lasted for a month (May 24 – June 23)

⨳ On June 23, 1898, Aguinaldo issued a decree setting up the Revolutionary Government
which changed the title of the chief of state from Dictator to President.

⨳ To help the President in his duties, 4 departments were created:

⨳ Department of Foreign Affairs, Navy and Commerce

⨳ Department of War and Public Works

⨳ Department of Police and Internal Order, Justice, Education and Hygiene

⨳ Department of Finance, Agriculture and Manufacturing Industry

⨳ The President appointed the department secretaries and personnel of each department.
 ⨳ The decree provided for the creation of Congress. The decree of June 23 provided that
in those provinces which had not been taken from the Spaniards, the delegates were to
be appointed by the President

⨳ DFA role was to seek recognition from foreign countries, acquire weapons and other
needs of the Ph government and continue lobbying for support from other countries.

⨳ The powers of the Congress were defined as follows:

⨳ To watch over the general interest of the Philippine people and carrying out
revolutionary laws

⨳ To discuss and vote upon laws

⨳ To discuss and approve, prior to their ratification, treaties and loans

⨳ To examine and approve accounts presented annually by the Secretary of

Finance as well as other taxes which may be hereafter imposed.

The Revolutionary Government

✣ On July 15, 1898, Aguinaldo made his first cabinet appointments:

⨳ Secretary of War and Public Works – Baldomero Aguinaldo

⨳ Secretary of the Interior – Leandro Ibarra

⨳ Secretary of Finance – Mariano Trias

⨳ Cayetano Arellano was offered the secretaryship of foreign affairs but he declined.

⨳ He reasoned out he was ill, but he was actually sympathizing the Americans therefore
he will not give his services to the Filipinos.

⨳ Later, Mabini accepted the position and on September 28, Aguinaldo increased the
number of departments to six namely;

✣ Foreign Affairs Welfare

✣ War Interior

✣ Justice Treasury

The Malolos Congress

• In accordance to the decrees of June 18 and 23, Aguinaldo convoked the Revolutionary Congress
at Barasoain, Malolos.
• September 4, Aguinaldo appointed fifty delegates to the Congress.
• September 10, increased by 10
• September 15, in the morning the Basilica of Barasoain was filled with delegates and spectators
for a Ceremony.
• Banda Pasig was the one who played the National Anthem.
• When Aguinaldo was introduced the cries of “Viva!” reverberated.
• Aguinaldo read his message first in Tagalog and then Spanish.
• Felipe Buencamino wrote Aguinaldo’s speech.
• September 15, in the afternoon the congress elects its officers namely:
- Pedro A. Paterno – president
- Benito Legarda – Vice President
- Gregorio Araneta – first secretary
- Pablo Ocampo – Second Secretary
• September 17, in a congress meeting the delegates created the Permanent Commission of
Justice
• In the afternoon, 8 committees of Congress were constituted:
- Committee of Felicitation
- Committee on Message
- Committee on Internal regulations
- Reception Committee
- Budget Committee
- Committee on Festivities
- Committee on Style
• Committee for drafting the constitution
• September 29, first significant act of the congress was ratification of the independence
proclaimed in Kawit on June 12.
• Aguinaldo’s office and official residence were located at the convent of Malolos Church.
• Aguinaldo arrived at Barasoain where Congress was holding sessions, amidst the “vociferous
acclamations of the people and the strains of music.”
• After congratulating Paterno for the presidency of Congress, Aguinaldo partly sain in Tagalog:
• “… now we witness the truth of what the famous President Monroe said to the effect that the
US was for the Americans; now I say that the Philippines is for the Filipinos.
• Malolos Constitution
• Mabini envisioned the Congress to be an advisory body of the President.
• -a committee to draft the constitution was created with Felipe G. Calderon as the most
prominent member.
- They set aside Mabini’s Constitutional Program. they also set aside Paterno’s
constitutional plan, which smelled strongly of the Spanish Constitution of 1869.
 • -Cayetano Arellano a brilliant but unreconstructed mestizo advised Calderon in drawing up his
plans for a constitution, inspired from the constitutions of Mexico, Belgium, Guatemala, Costa
Rica, Brazil, and France.
• In the session of October 8, Calderon presented the draft of his constitution.
• October 21, printed copies of the draft of the constitution was made.
• October 25, discussions began.
• Tumultuous discussions occurred when the provision making Catholicism the religion of the
State came up.
• After heated debates, congress voted on it. First the result was a tie and on the second voting it
resulted on the separation of the Church and the State.
• Won the separation by only one vote that of Pablo Tecson.
• The provision on the subject of state religion was then amended to read:
- Article 5. The State recognizes the freedom and equality of all religions, as well as the
separation of the Church and State.
• On January 21, 1899, Aguinaldo promulgated what is now known as the Malolos Constitution.

Question: What do you think are the reasons for the protracted discussions on whether or not
Church and State should be united?

Answer:
- The Protracted discussions on whether or not Church and State should be united
showed:
• Filipinos as a people, though up in arms against Catholic Spain, were not anti-Catholic but
merely anti-clerical
• Many of the delegates learned from the bitter lesson of Philippine History in voting against the
Union of Church and State which, under Spain was the Fundamental basis of Spanish Colonial
System.

The Constitution

• -Malolos Constitution is the first important Filipino document ever produced by the people’s
representatives.
• -It is anchored in democratic traditions that ultimately had their roots on Americans soil.
- It created a Filipino State whose government was “popular, representative and
responsible”
• Branches of the Constitution
- Executive
- Legislative
- Judicial
• The constitution provided for safeguards against abuses and enumerated the national and
individual rights not only of the Filipinos, but also of the aliens.
• + Legislative power were exercised by the Assembly of Representatives by delegates elected
according to law.
 • + In order to make the function of Congress continuous, the document provided for a
Permanent Commission will sit as a law-making body when Congress was not in session.
• + The Assembly elected the President of the Republic.
• + Cabinet is composed of Secretaries of the different Department of the government. They are
responsible not to the President, but to the Assembly.
• +Administration of Justice was vested in the Supreme Court and in inferior courts to be
established according to law.
• +the Chief Justice of Supreme Court was to be elected by the Assembly with the concurrence of
the President and the Cabinet.
• Malolos Constitution is unique because:
- Provisions making the Assembly or the legislative branch superior to either the
executive or the judicial branch
- Provided for a Permanent Commission to sit as a legislative body when the Assembly
was not in session
- Established a unicameral legislature
• Question: Why do you think that Calderon provided a strong legislative arm?
• Answer: Calderon feared the predominance of the ignorant military elements which were solidly
behind Aguinaldo or the executive branch. To counteract their ignorance, Calderon Purposely
provided for a strong legislative arm so that Aguinaldo would not be able to create an oligarchy
composed of ignoramuses.
• + Calderon made provision for the creation of a Permanent Commission, composed of Assembly
delegates, which would sit as legislative body when the Assembly was not in session.
• Question: What is Calderon’s purpose in doing so?
Answer: To check the powers of the executive even when the Assembly was in recess.

• +By this method, the executive could not usurp the powers that could make him powerful
enough to institute an “oligarchy of ignoramuses.”
• +For the unicameral legislature, there were not enough competent Filipinos to fill the seats of a
Bicameral Legislature
• +The Constitution as a whole is a monument to the capacity of the Filipinos to chart their own
course along democratic lines.
• +In period of storm and stress, it symbolized the ideals of a people who had emerged from the
Dark Ages to light of Reason.

The Philippine Republic

• On January 21, 1899, Aguinaldo finally promulgated the Constitution.

• On January 2 he formed his Cabinet as follows:
• Apolinario Mabini – President of the Cabinet and Secretary of Foreign Affairs
• Teodoro Sandico – Secretary of the Interior
• Baldomero Aguinaldo – Secretary of War
• Mariano Trias- Secretary of Finance
 • Gracio Gonzaga – Secretary of Welfare, including Public Works, Communications, Agriculture,
Industry and Commerce
• The Council of Government, or the Cabinet, according to Mabini, “belongs to no party, nor does
it desire to form one; it stands for nothing save the interests of the fatherland.”
• On January 23, 1899, the Philippine Republic was inaugurated at Malolos in colorful ceremonies.
• Aguinaldo took his oath of office after proclaimed as the President of the Republic.
• Malolos Constitution was read article by article
• The army took its oath of loyalty before the President.
• Review of troops and procession followed.
• Aguinaldo issued a decree granting pardon to all Spanish regular army and, at the same time.
Granting Spaniards and other aliens the right to engage in business within the limits of the
Republic.

Revolutionary Periodicals

• El Heraldo de la Revolucion – official organ of the Revolutionary Government whose first

number came out on September 29, 1898.
• Subsequently its name was changed to Heraldo Filipino, then to Indice Oficial, and finally, to
Graceta de Filipinas, whose last number came out on October 14, 1899.
• La Independencia – edited and partly owned by General Antonio Luna. Its first number came out
on September 3, 1898.
• Other Nationalistic Newspapers
• La Republica Filipina –founded in Mandaluyong by Pedro A. Paterno. Its first number came out
on September 15, 1898
• La Libertad – came out on June 20, 1898 under the editorship of Clemente Jose Zulueta
• Kaibigan nang Bayan (The People’s Friend) – Malolos, 1898
• Columnas Volantes (Fly Sheets) – Lipa, Batangas, 1899
• La Federacion - Kabatuan, Iloilo, 1899
• La Revolucion – Jaro, Iloilo, 1898
• Patria – Jaro, Iloilo, 1899
• La Oportunidad – Tagbilaran, Bohol, 1899

EDUCATION

• On August 29, 1898, the Secretary of the Interior ordered the provincial governors to reestablish
the schools that had been abandoned before.
• Aguinaldo included in the budget for 1899 an item for public instruction amounting P35 000.
• On October 24, a decree was issued outlining the curriculum of the Burgos Institute.
• The Curriculum included:
• Latin Grammar
• Universal geography and history
• Spanish literature
 • Mathematics
• French
• English
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Philosophy
• Natural Laws
• Higher Education was provided. In a Decrees of October 19, 1898, Aguinaldo created the Literary
University of the Philippines. Professors of Civil and Criminal Law, Medicine and surgery,
Pharmacy, and notariat were appointed.
• Dr. Joaquin Gonzales – appointed as first President of the University
• Succeeded by Dr. Leon Ma. Guerrero, who delivered the commencement address on September
29,1899.

DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITIES

• On June 24 and August 10, 1898, Aguinaldo issued two decrees providing for the establishment
of the HongKOng Junta whose members were to represent the Philippines in diff. countries.
• Diplomatic Agents:
- Felipe Agoncillo – United States
- Mariano Ponce and Faustino Lichauco – Japan
- Antonio Regidor – England
- Juan Luna and Pedro Roxas – France
- Eriberto Zarcal – Australia
• In France, The Paris Committee was established by the prominent Filipino residents of the city
• In Spain, the Madrid committee was founded with aims similar to those of the Paris committee
namely:
• To work for the recognition of Philippine independence by the Foreign Powers.
• Agoncillo with his secretary Sixto Lopez went to:
• United States to work for American recognition of Philippine independence, his attempts for an
official audience with Pres. McKinley Failed.
• Europe to appeal to the American Peace Commissioners to give the Filipinos a chance to be
heard on a question deeply affected their future failed.
• Washington to fight the ratification of the Treaty of Paris by the senate, but the Filipino-
American hostilities forced him to flee for his life
• TREATY OF PARIS
• In accordance with the Protocol of Peace signed on August 12, 1898, Five American and Five
Spanish commissioners were appointed to meet in Paris to discuss the final peace terms
between Spain and the US.
• The American Commissioners were:
- Cushman Davis
- William P. Frye
- Whitelaw Reid
 - George Gray
- William R. Day - resigned as Secretary of State to become Chairman of the American
Peace Commission
• The Spanish Commissioners were:
- Eugenio Montero Rios - Chairman
- Beunaventura Abarzuza
- Jose de Garnica
- Wenceslao Ramirez de Villa- Urrutia
- General Rafael Cerero
• The Peace Commission met in Paris from October to December, 1898.
• December 10, 1898, The Treaty of Paris was signed. It provided that Spain would cede the
Philippines to the United States in return for which she would receive $ 20 000 000 from the US
as payment for improvements made in the colony.
• US agreed to give the Spaniards the right to sip commodities to the Philippines for a period of 10
years on the same terms as those of the US.
• On February 4, 1899, an unfortunate rupture of Filipino – American hostilities led many
opponents of ratification to vote affirmatively.
• On February 6, the vote was taken and the treaty was ratified by two-thirds majority.
• The American Propaganda, directed mainly by the instruments of imperialists, won and
thereafter Philippines became a territory of the US.

American Apostasy

⨳ By the time the treaty of Paris was signed, Spain actually controlled only a few isolated
outposts in the country. The victorious people were now truly one nation, having won
their sovereignty on the battlefield.

⨳ The Malolos government was the symbol of their unity. They viewed its existence as the
culmination of their struggles and gave it their wholehearted support and allegiance.

⨳ In September, Aguinaldo led a popular parade with Paterno on his right and Legarda on
his left.

⨳ A dispute arose between Apolinario Mabini on one hand and the leaders of congress
with the other.

⨳ Felipe Calderon prepared the draft that was approved, and which drew heavily from the
constitutions of Belgium, France, and several South American Republics.

⨳ This draft still contained a provision for the union of State and Church.

⨳ On Jan. 23, 1899, the First Philippine Republic was inaugurated. Aguinaldo took his oath
of office as President wearing a top hat, white gloves, and a bow tie, carrying a tasseled
gold-knobbed cane. The banquet was European, and the menu was written in French.

⨳ Aguinaldo’s first two decrees pardoned Spanish prisoners and gave Spaniards and all
other foreigners the right to engage in business in the Philippines.
 ⨳ The new government exhibited other serious indications of its elite orientation.

⨳ The revolutionary government confiscated friar estates but not for the distribution to
the oppressed peasantry. It also passed a law giving “men of means” and “local chiefs”
the opportunity to get these estates for cash or bonds.

⨳ “to live under the democratic regime of the Philippine republic, free from the yoke of
any foreign domination” – Aguinaldo in his inaugural speech

McKinley’s “Benevolent Assimilation” Proclamation

⨳ December 21, 1898 President McKinley issued his “Benevolent Assimilation”

Proclamation

⨳ “not as invaders or conquerors, but as friends”

⨳ Instructed the American military commanders to extend the sovereignty of the United
States over the whole country, by force if necessary

⨳ Gen. Elwell Otis deleted certain provisions in the version that was made public on
January 4 for tactical reasons

⨳ The original text was accidentally sent to the America command in Iloilo which released
it in full

Attempts to Relax the Tension

⨳ Denouncing the “aggressive seizure of a portion of its territory by a nation which has
arrogated to itself the tile ‘champion of oppressed nations” – Aguinaldo in his manifesto,
which also expressed the hurt feeling of a man whose trust in America had been
betrayed

⨳ “It was taken for granted that the American forces would necessarily sympathize with
the revolution which they had encourages and which had saved them much blood and
great hardships; and, above all, we entertained absolute confidence in the history and
traditions of a people which fought for its independence and for the abolition of slavery;
we felt ourselves under the guardianship of a free people.”

⨳ Elaborate preparations for the Promulgation of the Constitution on Jan 21and the
inauguration of the Philippine Republic on January 23

⨳ Aguinaldo instead chose to appoint a commission for the “adjustment of conflicting

interests” of Americans and Filipinos.

⨳ Aguinaldo sent commissioners to meet with Gen Otis’ representatives; commissioners

Florentino Torres, Ambrosio Flores, and Manuel Arguelles. Torres was a well known pro-
American sympathizer.

The San Juan Bridge Incidents

⨳ February 4 – An American patrol shot a Filipino Soldier on the bridge at San Juan. In less
than 2 hours, the Americans had mounted an offensive

⨳ On the next day, Gen. MacArthur ordered his troops to advance without even bothering
to investigate the incident.

⨳ “the firing on our side the night before had been against my order” – Aguinaldo said and
he voiced a wish that the fighting might be stopped

⨳ “it must go on to the grim end” – Gen. Otis

⨳ February 6 – The US Senate ratified the Treaty of Paris without hesitations due to the
timely hostilities. The Americans now had a free hand to subdue their new colony.

⨳ End of February – Iloilo and Cebu were in American hands

⨳ March 4 – The rich hacienderos of the Republic of Negros welcomed the Americans with
open arms, wanting to protect their sugar estates.

⨳ March 30 – The American troops were at Malolos; the Philippine government had
evacuated to San Isidro, Nueva Ecija.

⨳ April 4 – the First Philippine Commission, popularly known as the Schurman Commission
(named after its chairman, president Jacob G. Schurman of Cornell University) issued a
proclamation that began with:

⨳ “The supremacy of the United States must and will be enforced throughout every part
of the Archipelago and those who resist it can accomplish no end other than their own
ruin.”

⨳ Mabini, who was then Premier of Aguinaldo’s cabinet issued a manifesto urging people
to continue the struggle.

⨳ He later sent Colonel Arguelles to Manila with a proposal for an armistice to give the
government time for a consultation.

⨳ May 5 – Schurman Commission reiterates its autonomy proposal; Mabini rejected the
offer.

⨳ The day after the Schurman Commission offered autonomy, the remaining 15 or 16
members of the Malolos Congress met, and unanimously agreed to accept the offer.

⨳ Upon his replacement, Mabini wrote a pro forma reply containing congratulatory words.

⨳ His real feelings were expressed in two letters written immediately after his sudden
dismissal.

⨳ In a letter to a Sr. Lino,

 ⨳ “It seems that the present cabinet is now negotiating with the Americans on the basis of
autonomy, and I laugh at all this because those who get tired after months of struggle
will be of no service except to carry the yoke of slavery.”

Assassination of Luna

• Of all the Filipino soldiers of the Philippine-American war period, General Antonio Luna de San
Pedro y Novicio Ancheta, commonly known as Heneral Luna, was the best prepared to fight the
American enemy, and was also regarded as the fiercest generals of his time.
o Note in PPT: Was the successor of Artemio Ricarte as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces
of the Philippines.
• He was well-educated here in the Philippines, and in Europe, and studied a little of military
science and tactics.
o Note in PPT: He also studied literature and chemistry at the University of Santo Tomas.
He also studied pharmacy. Acquired a licentiate at Universidad de Barcelona, and
doctorate at Universidad Central de Madrid.
• His temper caused some (if not, most) to abhor him.
• When the armed clash broke out, he felt the need to instill discipline into the minds of the men
as most of them were peasant or men with no training or education at all.
• He had a brilliant plan to recapture Manila, but lack cooperation from the Kawit Company, who
insisted that they took orders only from General Emilio Aguinaldo.
o Note in PPT: Kawit Company, according to the biopic Heneral Luna, only takes orders
from a fellow Caviteño. This led to disastrous results. He recommended to Aguinaldo
that the Kawit Company be disarmed for military insubordination, but Aguinaldo did not
follow his advice.
• He ordered that houses currently occupied by the Americans be burned.
• He ordered the shooting of civilians who violated military rules.
• And more so, was his order to arrest the members of the Cabinet who disagreed with him in
political matters.
o Note in PPT: There was a time when he slapped Felipe Buencamino, Sr. (Secretary of
Foreign Affairs) due to a huge disagreement during a Cabinet Meeting, and accused his
son, Joaquin, of cowardice during a battle. Even Mabini, who was a very peaceful man,
complained against Luna and suggested to Aguinaldo to have him replaced.
• June 1899 while Luna was in Bayambang, Pangasinan to prepare the defenses, he received a
telegram coming from El Presidente asking him to immediately go to Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija to
discuss an urgent matter.
o Note in PPT: He immediately set off the following day with his aide, Colonel Francisco
Roman, Captain Eduardo Rusca, and some soldiers, arrived in Cabanatuan early in the
afternoon of June 5, 1899.
• When he proceeded inside the headquarter, he ran into the commander of Kawit Company that
he recommended to be punished, and slapped the sentry because of their sloppy looks, then
proceeded upstairs.
 • When he got inside the office of Aguinaldo, he found Buencamino, and exchanged heated words.
He was told that Aguinaldo had left for San Isidro, Pampanga, to inspect the troops there to
ensure the line of defense.
o Note in PPT: Luna was enraged and asked why he wasn’t informed that the meeting was
cancelled.
• During a heated exchange between Luna and Buencamino, he heard a rifle shot and Luna rushed
downstairs to upbraid the soldier who fired the shot.
o Note in PPT: While asking the guards who fired the shot, the commander of Kawit
Company, Capt. Pedro Janolino, swing his bolo at Luna.
• Members of the Kawit Company then ganged Luna up, and fired at him. Some even stabbed him
with daggers.
o Note in PPT: Luna tried to retreat to the street, took his pistol out and fired, but missed
his target. His aide, Colonel Roman, was also mowed down.
• Luna fell on the convent yard, shouting: “Mga duwag! Traydor! Mga mamamatay tao!”. He
received no less than 40 wounds.
• He was buried the next day with honors due his rank.
o Note in PPT: His assassins were never investigated, nor punished. Aguinaldo denied his
involvement.

American Conquest of the Visayas

• General Otis instructed General Miller to attack Iloilo and demanded its surrender.
• Filipino patriots in Iloilo, headed by General Martin Delgado, refused and instead decided to
fight.
o Note in PPT: Despite against heavy odds, Delgado ordered the burning of the city to
prevent the Americans from using it as a base of operations.
• Series of defeat in the province of Iloilo:
o February 14 – Sta. Barbara
o February 19 – Oton
o February 20 – Jaro and Mandurriao
§ Note in PPT: Having captured Iloilo, Miller sent an American warship to Cebu to
demand its surrender.
• On February 22, Cebu surrendered to the Americans, and Lt. Col. Thomas H. Hamer, was
appointed as military governor of the province.
• The occupation of Cebu was never peaceful as it seemed. Americans had a hard time
administering Cebu.
o Note in PPT: Dissatisfied guerrillas murdered Filipinos who surrendered Cebu without a
fight and harassed the American soldiers by guerrilla tactics. Guerrilla Leaders, General
Arcadio Maxilom and General Leandro Fullon, threatened with death all those who
collaborated and would collaborate with the enemy.

The Negros Constitution

• While the Americans had a hard time administering Cebu, their occupation in Negros was easy.
• When they learned that Iloilo was taken, the Negrenses sympathized with the Americans and
consequently raise the American flag.
• A committee composed of prominent Negrenses arrived in Manila on February 21 to ask
General Otis to allow them to arm a battalion for the maintenance of peace and order in the
island.
o Note in PPT: Otis took advantage of the unusual act of collaboration, granted them their
request, but informed them that the island would be placed under an American military
governor.
• On March 1, General Otis issued an order providing the creation of the Visayas Military District,
composed of the islands of Panay, Cebu, and Negros.
• The Negrenses were allowed to meet in convention to draft their own constitution, and the
Negrenses obediently followed.
o Note in PPT: The constitution was called “Negros Constitution” and was submitted to
President McKinley on July 20. However, President McKinley, did not take it seriously.

The Bates Treaty

• The Americans were very diplomatic in dealing with the Muslims. The Americans appointed
General John C. Bates to negotiate a treaty with the Sultan by which the Muslims and the
Americans could co-exist peacefully.
o Note in PPT: No attempt on the part of the Americans to conquer the Muslims, for they
knew that they would have a big fight on their hands should they make an attempt.
• General Bates patiently negotiated with the Sultan of Jolo.
• The Sultan claimed that the Americans should not be allowed to occupy any point of Jolo except
the town of Jolo and that the Sultan should continue to collect duties at points not occupied by
the Americans.
• After a patient negotiaton, General Bates, and the Sultan, Raja Muda, Datu Attik, Datu Calbi, and
Datu Joakanain, signed a treaty on August 20, 1899.
• Bates Treaty provisions included:
o “The sovereignty of the United States over the whole archipelago of Jolo and its
dependencies is declared and acknowledged,”
o that the “rights and dignities of His Highness the Sultan and his datos shall be fully
respected,”
o that the Muslims “shall not be interpreted with on account of their religion,”
o and that no one shall be persecuted on account of his religious beliefs.
• Domestic products of the archipelago of Jolo, when carried on by the Sultan and his people
within any part of the Philippine Islands, and when conducted under American flag, shall be free,
unlimited, and undutiable.
o Note in PPT: American Government agreed to pay the Sultan and his leading men
monthly salaries in Mexico dollars.
 • In conclusion of this treaty, the Americans succeeded in neutralizing the Muslims in their drive
to pacify the Christian Filipinos.

Aguinaldo Flees to the Mountains

• With the assassination of Luna, bulks of the Filipino troops become demoralized.
o Note in PPT: Luna had some followers in the revolutionary camp.
• Otis took advantage of the confusion in the Filipino ranks, by trapping Aguinaldo in Angeles,
Pampanga.
o Note in PPT: He sent troops to Lingayen Gulf to cut off Aguinaldo’s retreat. At the same
time, ordered MacArthur to force Aguinaldo to move north into the waiting arms of the
American forces.
• Aguinaldo finding himself in a precarious situation, moved his capital to Tarlac, then to
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.
• With the American forces going out in all directions to trap him, Aguinaldo decided to flee to the
north.
o Note in PPT: Together with his family and some members of the Cabinet, they boarded a
train to Calasiao.
• Aguinaldo realized the disadvantage of having women with them, decided to surrender them.
o Note in PPT: December 25, 1899, the women were escorted by some army officers to
surrender to the American Army. After that, Aguinaldo continued his march to Tierra
Virgen, Cagayan.
• On September 6, 1900, they reached Palanan, Isabela.
o Note in PPT: It was a difficult place to approach due to its mountainous terrain, and all
points leading to the town were guarded by Aguinaldo’s loyal men.

The Battle of Pasong Tirad

• While they were on the move, Aguinaldo’s rear guard commander, General Gregorio del Pilar,
noted the advantageous terrain of Pasong Tirad.
o Note in PPT: He suggested to stay behind and make a last stand at the Pass as he
thought that such a battle would necessarily delay the Americans and give Aguinaldo a
huge distance between him and the American forces.
• Pasong Tirad was 4,500 feet high and commanded a good panoramic view for miles around.
o Note in PPT: The trail leading to it was so narrow that only one man at a time could
clamber up the hill.
• Del Pilar ordered sixty of his men to build trenches on both shoulders of the Pass where they
could see the movement down below.
• The Americans under Major March pursued Aguinaldo relentlessly, knowing that only the
capture of the Filipino leader could end the Filipino resistance.
• December 2, March marched with his 300 men to Pasong Tirad.
o Note in PPT: From atop the pass, the Filipinos defended fired at the advancing enemy,
who could barely pinpoint their exact location.
• Through Januario Galut, a Christian Igorot, the Americans found a secret trail to the top and
using it to surprise Del Pilar and his men.
 o Note in PPT: In a matter of minutes, the Filipinos were overcome by the enemy.
• Del Pilar was about to escape, as he mounted his horse he got shot through the neck.
o Note in PPT: The Americans rushed to his body and looted his dead body for souvenirs.
• The afternoon of the battle, Aguinaldo receive the fatal news.

The Capture of Aguinaldo

• With the Philippine army left without a leader and symbol, many Filipino soldiers and officers
thought that it would be convenient to surrender to the enemy.
• Colonel Frederick Funston, stationed in Nueva Ecija, was planning the capture of Aguinaldo.
• Cecilio Segismundo, Aguinaldo’s messenger, surrendered to Funston’s men.
o Note in PPT: Funston’s men decoded some letters of Aguinaldo to his field generals.
• Knowing that the road to Palanan, Isabela was dangerous, he employed some Macabebes and
two former officers in the Filipino army, Lazaro Segovia and Hilario Tal Placido.
o Note in PPT: With the reluctant blessing of General MacArthur, Funston sailed to
Palanan on the American warship Vicksburg.
• Funston ordered the forging of the signature of General Urbano Lacuna, to whom Aguinaldo
wrote an order to send reinforcements to Palanan, and made it appear that Lacuna was sending
the needed reinforcements to Aguinaldo.
• Days after days, Funston and his American companions, pretending to be captives of the
Macabebes, arrived at Palanan on March 23, 1901.
o Note in PPT: Aguinaldo and his men met the Filipinos joyfully and even gave them food
and shelter.
• Without any warning, the Macabebes turned against their countrymen, and Tal Placido grabbed
Aguinaldo from behind.
• Aguinaldo tried to escape, and Funston and his men entered the room and arrested Aguinaldo in
the name of the United States Government.
• He was brought to Manila and on April 1, he took his oath of allegiance to the United States.
o Note in PPT: In a proclamation he issued on April 19, he appealed to all Filipinos to
accept the “sovereignty of the United States”

Barbarous Acts

• War has always been uncivilized, and although its weapons have vastly improved with the
advancement of science, its techniques have not changed radically from those of less civilized
ages.
• Brutality as an instrument to weaken an enemy’s resistance is practiced on both sides.
• Filipino brutality was not justified as a defensive measure, but simply to explain why the
Filipinos had to be brutal to the Americans who came to the Philippines purportedly to help
them win their independence from Spain, but who actually had imperialistic plans on their
country.
 • The sources for a knowledge of these brutalities came from Filipino participants and
eyewitnesses and from the Americans themselves.
• Balangiga massacre was one of the bloodiest events during the Philippine-American War.
• The massacre was caused by the uprising plotted by Valeriano Abanador. On September 28,
1901, Abanador initiated the first strike by shooting an American sentry after chatting with him.
o Note in PPT: When the church of Balangiga rang its bells, signaling the start of the attack,
the men dressed as women pulled out their weapons and attacked US troops.
• The following day, American forces decided to retaliate. General Jacob H. Smith vowed that he
would turn the town into a “howling wilderness”.
• Smith said, “I want no prisoners. I wish you to kill and burn. The more you kill and burn the
better it will please me. I want all persons killed who are capable of bearing arms in actual
hostilities against the United States,” and to “kill everyone over 10.”
• After the end of the bloody campaign, Smith was court-martialed and retired from service.

End of the Resistance

• Though thousands of Filipino soldiers surrendered, some military commanders refused to lay
down their arms.
• General Miguel Malvar took over the leadership of the Filipino Government or what remained of
it and harassed the American by his guerrilla tactics.
• In Samar, General Vicente Lukban resorted to ambushing American soldiers and withdrawing
after killing and wounding them.
o Note in PPT: Angered at this tactic, General Smith ordered the massacre of all men and
children below ten years.
• Campaign of the Americans led to the capture of Lukban on February 27, 1902.
o Note in PPT: With his capture, the resistance in Samar collapsed.
• Two months later, on April 16, General Malvar of Batangas surrendered to the Americans.
• Macario Sakay, continued the resistance and even established a Tagalog Republic with
headquarters in the Sierra Madre.
o Note in PPT: But his resistance was not serious enough to endanger the American Rule,
as he and his group was labeled as banditos by the Americans.
• The capture of Aguinaldo ended an era and opened another.
o Note in PPT: Behind him was the past of a fanatical struggle of an enslaved people to
win freedom and independence through blood and tears.