El Presidente

The event is narrated in flashbacks as Emilio Aguinaldo expresses gratitude to

the US administration for allowing him to witness the full restoration of Philippine

independence on July 4, 1946. 

The Beginning

An old woman delivers strange prophecies to Aguinaldo and his childhood

companion Candido Tirona in 1886 when they were assigned to collect tax . The story

jumps to 1901, when he is captured by Philippine and US forces led by Frederick

Funston. 

The First Revolution (August 30,1898)

Ten years later Aguinaldo became mayor of Cavite El Viejo and led the

Katipunan's Cavite chapter after joining the Katipunan on (March 14,1895, Tondo

Manila). When chaos erupts in Manila in late 1898, Aguinaldo tries to reassure the

Spanish provincial government that he will not intervene and secretly marshals his

forces despite a lack of weapons. After learning that the Spanish have concentrated

their forces in Manila, Aguinaldo finally mobilizes his troops and attacks Spanish troops

in Cavite. As the insurgents gained ground in Cavite and other provinces, the Magdalo

and Magdiwang factions meet to form a provisional government (Nov 4, 1896,

Binakayan, Cavite)
The First Election, The First President, and The First Republic 

On December 29, 1896 Bonifacio visited Aguinaldo in Cavite and led the

first meeting. Andres Bonifacio is in charge of the Tejeros Convention, which

chooses Aguinaldo as president, Mariano Trias as vice president, and himself as

interior minister. When Daniel Tirona objects to his election, he storms out of the

convention. (March 22,1897, Hacienda Tejeros)

Crispulo, Aguinaldo's brother, informs him of his accession and persuades him

to leave his troops at Pasong Santol, where he was attempting to defend against

the Spaniards. Crispulo is killed after the rebels are defeated. President

Aguinaldo attends the oath taking in Hacienda Recoletos (March 23,1897, Sta

Cruz de Malabon, Cavite) 

The Death of Supremo 

Meanwhile, an enraged Bonifacio forms his own revolutionary

government. He conducts a secret meeting planning to capture and kill

Aguinaldo.  Bonifacio and his brother are arrested. Aguinaldo is concerned about

Bonifacio's actions and wishes to exile him, but the War Council recommends

that he be executed. Bonifacio faces the trial (April 30, 1897, Naic Cavite) and on

July 4 ,1897 the decision is made. Andres Bonifacio and his brother Procarpio

Bonifacio died in Mt. Tala, Maragondon, Cavite on May 10, 1897. 

Biak na Bato and Agreement 

A while later, Aguinaldo leaves Cavite with most of his powers flawless and

comes to Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan, where he signs the Settlement of

Biak-na-Bato and sets out toward Hong Kong. The Spanish friar and army

departed the Philippines (December 29, 1897) 

Independecia (Independence Day)

While Aguinaldo is in Hong Kong, he meets with US authorities who approach him

with offers of help and acknowledgment of another Philippine Republic in the midst of

the Spanish-American Conflict.Aguinaldo gets back to the Philippines and officially

proclaims autonomy from Spain (June 12, 1898, Kawit Cavite)

The Conflict 

    As the Malolos Congress gathers, Felipe Agoncillo attempts to address the new

country at the Arrangement of Paris talks, yet gets stalled every step of the way even as

US powers slowly show up in the Philippines. The Philippine-American Conflict breaks

out in February 1899 and Antonio Luna is designated leader of every Filipino troop. He

is killed three months after the fact and the Filipino soldiers are bit by bit steered by the

Americans. Subsequently, Aguinaldo's powers travel all over northern Luzon to get

away from the Americans. General Gregorio del Pilar led a few soldiers in holding them

off at Tirad Pass, easy to move away. Many of Del Pilar’s troop and himself died in the

battle with American forces. (December 2,1899, Tirad Pass)

The Finale

His devoted dispatch is subsequently caught by the Americans while

getting some medication for his child. Presently mindful of Aguinaldo's hideaway,

Funston plans his catch. Having been made to acknowledge US rule over the

Philippines. Aguinaldo carries on with a peaceful life, which is defaced by

Hilaria's passing in 1921. He met and married Felipe Agoncillo's niece Maria in

1930.

 Over the course of the following couple of many years, the couple observe

Philippine history unfurl again as he is crushed in the 1935 official decisions,

Japanese occupation, and the rebuilding of full freedom. In 1962, an older

Aguinaldo and his better half solace each other over President Diosdado

Macapagal's pronouncement to reestablish the genuine date of the Philippine

statement of autonomy. In his last hours, a similar lady who gave him his

prescience appears to him once again.