The Biak

na Bato
Republic
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.

Source: philippine-history.org/biak-na-bato.htm