The Pact of

Biak-na-Bato
Now called - Biak-na-Bato National Park is a
protected area of the Philippines located almost
entirely within Barangay Biak-na-Bato in San Miguel,
Bulacan from where it derives its name.
 Why is it called Biak-
na-Bato?
• Biak-na-Bato is a Tagalog word for
"cleft rock“. It is the name of a place in
the mountains of Bulacan Province
where, in 1897, the insurgent forces
under Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo retreated
from the advancing Spanish army. Here
a peace treaty was signed between the
Filipino insurgents and the Spaniards
that placed the Philippine Revolution
on hold.
 QUESTION: In all places near
Cavite, why they chose to stay
in Biac-na-Bato?
 The Pact of Biak-na-bato

The flag of the Republic of Biak-na-Bato

Signed on December 14, 1897,

created a truce between Spanish
colonial Governor-General Fernando
Primo de Rivera and the
revolutionary leader Emilio
Aguinaldo to end the Philippines
Revolution
 The Biak-na-Bato Constitution
provided for the establishment of a
Supreme council that would serve as
the highest governing body of the
Purpose of Republic. It also outlined certain basic
Biak-na-Bato human rights, such as freedom of
religion, freedom of the press, and the
Constitution right to education. Emilio Aguinaldo
and Mariano Trias were elected
Supreme Council president and vice
president, respectively.
 Members in the Congress
of Biak-na-Bato
Emilio Aguinaldo
Position: Supreme Council President (Pangulo)

Mariano Trias
Position: Vice-President (Ikalawang Pangulo)

Antonio Montenegro
Position: Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Kalihim ng
Baniyagang Kapakanakan)

Emiliano De Dios
Position: Secretary of War (Kalihim sa Pandirigma)

Isabelo Artacho
Position: Secretary of the Interior (Kalihim sa Panloob)

Baldomero Aguinaldo
Position: Financial Secretary (Kalihim sa Panlalapi)
General Mariano 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.

Don Pedro Alejandro Paterno, a Spaniard born in the

Philippines volunteered to act as negotiator between Aguinaldo
and Gov. Primo de Rivera. On December 14, 1897, the Pact of
Biak-na-Bato was signed by General Emilio Aguinaldo and
Spanish Governor-General Fernando Primo de Rivera to
provisionally stop the armed conflict between the Filipinos and
Spaniards. Don Pedro Alejandro Paterno was appointed by the
Spanish Governor-General as sole mediator in the discussion of
the terms of peace.
 The Pact of Biak-na-Bato:
A Chronology
Dec. 14 The departure of Isabelo Artacho with the
Convention of Peace approved by his Excellency, the
Governor General

Dec. 16 Transmittal of orders of pacification by Emilio

Aguinaldo

Dec. 23 Departure from San Miguel de Mayumo of Pedro

Paterno as well as enemy generals Celestino Fernandez
Tejeiro and Ricardo Monet, staff and nephew of the
Governor General Lt. Col. Miguel Primo de Rivera

Dec. 24 Arrival at Biak-na-Bato(of the above enemy,

officers, the negotiator) Paterno who would be met on the
way by Isabelo Artacho and Jose Salvador Natividad (and
escorted to Aguinaldo’s hideout headquarters at Bat Cave of
Biak-na-Bato)
 The Pact of Biak-na-Bato:
A Chronology
Dec. 25 Departure of Aguinaldo, his men, and the
hostages “for Lingayen, where the Spanish Government will
have a merchant steamer to take them to Hong Kong; the
persons on board make their revolvers and the two rifles
asked for by Don Emilio Aguinaldo. On the departure of
these gentlemen from Biak-na-Bato, the Spanish
government will give to Don Baldomero Aguinaldo, through
Don Pedro Paterno, a draft payable to the order of the
Spanish Philippine Bank upon some bank in Hong Kong, for
the sum of P400,000, the cost of exchange being charged to
the Spanish government.
 The Treaty of Biak-na-Bato
From “True Version of the Philippine Revolution”
By Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy
Don Pedro Alejandro Paterno (who was appointed by the Spanish Governor-General as
the sole mediator in the discussion of the terms of peace) visited Biak-na-Bato several
times to negotiate the terms of the Treaty, which, after negotiation extending over five
months, and careful consideration had been given to each clause was finally completed
and signed on the 14th December 1897, the following being the principal condition:

(1) That I would, and any of my associates who desired to go with me be free to live in
any foreign country. Having fixed upon Hongkong as my place of residence, it was
agreed that payment of the indemnity of $800.000(Mexican) should be made in three
installments, namely, $400,000 when all the arms in Biak-na-bató were delivered to the
Spanish authorities; $200,000 when the arms surrendered amounted to eight hundred
stand; the final payment to be made when one thousand stand of arms shall have been
handed over to the authorities and the Te Deum sung in the Cathedral in Manila as
thanksgiving for the restoration of peace. The latter part of February was fixed as the
limit of time wherein the surrender of arms should be completed.
(2) The whole of the money was to be paid to me personally, leaving the disposal of the
money to my discretion and knowledge of the understanding with my associates and other
insurgents.

(3) Prior to evacuating Biak-na-bató the remainder of the insurgent forces under Captain-
General Primo de Rivera should send to Biak-na-bató two General of the Spanish Army to
be held as hostages by my associates who remained there until I and a few of my
compatriots arrived in Hongkong and the first installment of the money payment (namely,
four hundred thousand dollars) was paid to me.

(4) It was also agreed that the religious corporations in the Philippines be expelled and an
autonomous system of government, political and administrative, be established, though by
special request of General Primo de Rivera these conditions were not insisted on in the
drawing up of the Treaty, the General contending that such concessions would subject the
Spanish severe criticism and even ridicule.
General Primo de Rivera paid the first installment of $400,000 while the two Generals
were hold as hostages in Biak-na-Bato.

We, the revolutionaries, discharged our obligation to surrender our arms, which were
over 1,000 stand, as everybody knows, it having been published in the Manila newspaper.
But the Captain General Primo de Rivera failed to fulfill the agreement as faithfully as we
did. The other installments were never paid, and the Friars were neither restricted in their
acts of tyranny and oppression nor were any steps taken to expel them or secularize the
religious Orders; the reforms demanded were not inaugurated, through the Te Deumwas
sung. This failure of the Spanish authorities to abide by the terms of the Treaty caused me
and my companions much unhappiness, which quickly changed to exasperation when I
received a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Don Miguel Primo de Rivera (nephew and
private Secretary of the abovenamed General) informing me that I and my companions
could never return to Manil
 Was the procedure of this special representative of Spain “Just”?

Filipino revolutionaries exiled to Hong Kong. Sitting on Emilio Aguinaldo's right is Lt. Col.
Miguel Primo de Rivera, nephew and aide-de-camp of Fernando Primo de Rivera and
father of José Antonio Primo de Rivera, who was held hostage until Aguinaldo's indemnity
was paid. Standing behind Aguinaldo is Col. Gregorio del Pilar. Standing behind Miguel
and to his right is Pedro Paterno.

The Filipino negotiators for the Pact of Biak-

naBato. Seated from left to right: Pedro Paterno
and Emilio Aguinaldo with five companions.
 Distribution of the P200,000
given to the Biak-na-Bato rebels
From “Malolos The Crisis of the Republic” By Teodoro A. Agoncillo
 (Sgd.) Pio del Pillar Baldomero
Aguinaldo, Urbano Lacuna. In the
absence of Pedro A. Paterno, M.
Paterno signs from him. This copy
of the settlement is to be given to
Don Baldomero Aguinaldo

(Sgd.) Primo de Rivera. Manila

April 6, 1898

General Aguinaldo and other revolutionary leaders at the Port of

Sual in Pangasinan boarding launches for the steamer Uranus
 The Biak-na-Bato Pact Fails

1. 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.

2. The Spanish did not pay the entire agreed amount.

3. Some Filipino generals, however, did not believe in the sincerity of the
Spaniards. They refused to surrender their arms.