Republic of Biak na Bato

I. Establishment of the Republic of Biag-na-Bato

• Emilio Aguinaldo escaped the Spanish who tried to capture him and headed 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.
• In July 1897, Aguinaldo established the Biak-na-Bato Republic and issued a proclamation
stating the following demands:
1. Expulsion of the friars and the return of the friar lands to the Filipinos
2. Representation of the Philippines in the Spanish Cortes
3. Freedom of the press and of religion
4. Abolition of the government’s power to banish Filipinos
5. Equality for all before the law.

The government that was established in Biak-na-Bato was the first

constitutional republican government in “Filipinas.”
II. The Biak na Bato Constitution
• Was signed on November 1, 1897
• Prepared by Felix Ferrer and Isabelo Artacho
• Was based on the Cuban constitution of Jimaguayu
• 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.

• On November 2 the Supreme Court was created with the following officers:
President Emilio Aguinaldo
Vice President Mariano Triad
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Antonio Montenegro
Secretary of Interior Isabelo Artacho
Secretary of War Emiliano Riego de Dios
Secretary of Treasury Baldomero Aguinaldo
 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.

III. Extinguishment of the Republic of Biag-na-Bato

• The clash between the Filipinos and Spaniards ended through a condition.
How?
- Pedro Paterno volunteered to act as a negotiator between Emilio Aguinaldo
and Governor General Primo de Rivera. This led to a ceasefire that was
declared by both camps and an agreement between Aguinaldo and the
Spanish Forces was made. Both parties came up with a condition.
Condition:
- The Spanish government will grant self-rule to the Philippines in 3 years if
Aguinaldo went to exile in Hong Kong and surrendered his arms. Aguinaldo
will receive Php 800,000 (Mexican Pesos) as remuneration to the
revolutionaries and an amnesty.

• The Filipino’s and the Spaniards did not trust each other
- The Spaniards gave the partial payment of 400,000 to Aguinaldo and he left for
Hong Kong. However, some Filipino generals did not believe in the sincerity of
the Spaniards. They refuse to surrender their arms.