The Philippine Revolution

The Biak-na-Bato Republic of 1897

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 June 10 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. Its preamble states:
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 Biac-na-bato, November 1, 1897, unanimously adopted the following articles for
the constitution of the State.
In accordance with Article 1, the Supreme Council was created on November 2, with the following as officers:
Emilio Aguinaldo President
Mariano Triad Vice-President
Antonio Montenegro Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Isabelo Artacho Secretary of the Interior
Emiliano Riego de Dios Secretary of War

The Biak-na Bato Republic

Emilio 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.

A charter based on the Cuban Constitution was also drafted by Felix Ferrer and Isabelo
Artacho. It was signed on November 1, 1897. 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 sign the Pact 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. Continue to The Spanish-American War.

From whom is that chocolate mousse from