READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

UNIT 1

WEEK 3

MARESTEL C. SIVESIND OCTOBER 06, 2021

BSN 1

PRIMARY ACCOUNT

I, Emilio Aguinaldo—though the humble servant of all, am, as President of the Philippine Republic,
charged with the safeguarding of the rights and independence of the people who appointed me to such
an exalted position of trust and responsibility—mistrusted for the first time the honour of the Americans
… no other course was open to me but to repel with arms such unjust and unexpected procedure on the
part of the commander of friendly forces. … I need not dwell on the cruelty which, from the time of the
commencement of hostilities, has characterized General Otis’s treatment of the Filipinos, shooting in
secret many who declined to sign a petition asking for autonomy. I need not recapitulate the ruffianly
abuses which the American soldiers committed on innocent and defenseless people in Manila, shooting
women and children simply because they were leaning out of windows; entering houses at midnight
without the occupants’ permission—forcing open trunks and wardrobes and stealing money, jewelry
and all valuables they came across… … Are we, perchance, less deserving of liberty and independence
than those revolutionists? Oh, dear Philippines! Blame your wealth, your beauty for the stupendous
disgrace that rests upon your faithful sons. You have aroused the ambition of the Imperialists and
Expansionists of North America and both have placed their sharp claws upon your entrails! … …So, I trust
in the rectitude of the great people of the United States of America, where, if there are ambitious
Imperialists, there are defenders of the humane doctrines of the immortal Monroe, Franklin, and
Washington; unless the race of noble citizens, glorious founders of the present greatness of the North
American Republic, have so degenerated that their benevolent influence has become subservient to the
grasping ambition of the Expansionists… Distressing, indeed, is war! Its ravages cause us horror. Luckless
Filipinos succumb in the confusion of combat, leaving behind them mothers, widows and children.
America should not continue a war in contravention of their honourable traditions as enunciated by
Washington and Jefferson. … The veracity of these facts rests upon my word as President of this
Republic and on the honour of the whole population of eight million souls, who, for more than three
hundred years have been sacrificing the lives and wealth of their brave sons to obtain due recognition of
the natural rights of mankind—liberty and independence.