FREEDOM

AND 1898 - 1899

INDEPENDENC
E
 THE
DICTATORIAL
GOVERNMENT
When Aguinaldo was in Hong Kong, he asked
Mariano Ponce to prepare a constitution that
for a republican form of government.
CONSUL WILDMAN

Had earlier advised. He was to

establish a dictatorial form of
government because such
was very effective in a critical
period. There were many
problems that needed to be
addressed like financing, a
new government, food for the
people, reconstruction of
destroyed buildings and
house, including roads and
bridges.
 AMBROSIO RIANZARES
BAUTISTA
Lawyer of good standing, to
prepare the machinery for the
establishment of a dictatorial
government.

On May 24,1898 – Aguinaldo,

upon the advice of Bautista,
formally establish the Dictatorial
Government. “ To be
administered by decrees
promulgated under my
(Aguinaldo) sole responsibility).”
 MABINI ENTERS THE SCENE

Before he left for the

Philippines Felipe Agoncillo,
who had left the Philippines in
1895 because some friars were
after him, gave him some good
advice to look for a certain
dedicated and patriotic men.
APOLINARIO MABINI
OF
TANAWAN BATANGAS

He was according to the

informant, a bright man who
could be relied upon in times of
crisis.

When Mabini was brought

before Aguinaldo in his office ,
the General looked at the man
before him. He was thin and
obviously sick. He was paralyzed
from the waist down to his lower
limbs, a sickness which he must
have contracted since birth.
 THE
DECLARATION
OF
INDEPENDENCE
He believed the people would work hard to protect that independence and
thus, contribute to the stability of the newly established government. But
Apolinario Mabini who was not yet Aguinaldo’s official adviser at the time.
He said that the more important thing to do was to reorganize the
government first, to make it popularly based and thus more stable than a
dictatorial government.
Julian Felipe
On June 5, Aguinaldo
ordered that June 12 be set
aside for the proclamation
of Independence. To make
the event memorable.

Julian Felipe – a musician

from Cavite, to compose a
march which would be
played during the
independence day
ceremonies. It was entitled
“Marcha Filipina Magdalo”.
Upon hearing the
music, Aguinaldo decided to
make it the official march of
the Philippines.
On June 12, between 4 and 5 in the Afternoon. Aguinaldo
proclaimed the independence of the
Philippines from the window of his home in Kawit.

Mrs. Marcela Agoncillo, Delfina Herbosa and Lorenza Agoncillo –

who designed the Philippines Flag and sewn in Hong Kong, was
officially hoisted for the first time to the
accompaniment of the “Marcha Filipina”

The Act of the Declaration of Independence – was prepared and

read in Spanish by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista. This was his
last official act.
The Declaration of Independence was
signed by ninety-eight persons. U.S Admiral
Dewey declined the invitation to the
ceremonies. Instead, an American army
officer by the name of Colonel L. M.
Johnson attended on his behalf. It was until
August 1 that many words of Luzon
promulgated the proclamation of
independence.
 LOCAL
GOVERNMENT
REORGANIZED
June 12, 1898 - He set to work immediately by
preparing a decree for Aguinaldo’s signature in which
it was stated that “the first duty of the government is
to interpret faithfully the will of the people”.
June 18, 1898- Mabini prepared the decree which
provided for the reorganization of the government in
provinces that were already taken from the Spaniards.

Right to vote – was given to men of high moral character

and good standing in his community. Mabini thought
there should be a Revolutionary Congress. To prepare for
this, he included in the June 18 decree provision stating
that each province should elect its delegates to
Congress. The main function of the Congress was to
propose… measures, concerning the preservation of
internal order and external security of these islands.
 THE
ADMINISTRATION
OF JUSTICE
In supplementary decree of June 20,
Mabini provided for the administrators
of justice in areas under the Filipino
government.
Spanish Penal Code was adopted except for those
provisions which were contrary to the decrees of the
Filipino government. Under the set up, the town chief
was automatically assigned as the town in judge.

In criminal case, the papers relating to a case had to

be sent to the Provincial Council. This in turn, would
order the accused to appear before the Provincial
Council to stand trial. In civil case, the decisions
were made by the Popular Council. All decisions were
to be considered temporary and may be changed by
a court of higher jurisdiction.
THE
REVOLUTION
GOVERNMENT
June 23, 1898 – Upon the advice of Mabini,
Aguinaldo changed the form of government from
dictatorial to revolutionary.

The decree, prepared by Mabini, changed the title of

the Chief of State from Dictator to President.
4 Departments were created

1. Department of Foreign Affairs, Navy and Commerce

2. Department of War and Public Works
3. Department of Police and Internal Order, Justice,
Education and Hygiene
4. Department of Finance, Agriculture and
Manufacturing Industry.

June 23 Decree also provided the creation of Congress.

Congress was not a law making body but an advisory one. It would
advise the President on matters pertaining to the organization of the
Revolutionary army and the raising of funds to support it – not just the
vague statement: “the welfare of the country”.
THE MALOLOS
CONGRESS
Following the provisions of the decrees
of June 18 and 23, Aguinaldo called the
Congress to meet at Barasoain Church
in Malolos Bulacan.
On September 4, 1898 – Aguinaldo
appointed fifty delegates of Congress .

On final count, ninety – two delegates

came. Thirty-five delegates were
elected, while fifty-seven were
appointed.
September 15, 1898 – The Basilica of
Barasoain was filled with people on the
morning. The Banda Pasig played the
“Marcha Filipina” at the churchyard. The
March is now our National Anthem.
In the afternoon, the members of Congress elected the following
officers

President: Pedro A. Paterno V-Pres: Benito Legarda

First Secretary: Gregorio Araneta Second Secretary: Pablo
Ocampo
September 29, 1898 – Congress ratified the
proclamation of independent in Kawit on June 12.

‘Now we witness the truth of what the famous

President Monroe said to the effect that the
United States was for the Americans; and I say
the Philippines is for the Filipinos.’

Admiral Dewey continued to be uncommitted to

the idea of an independent Philippines.
MALOLOS
CONSTITUTION
What Mabini provided in the decrees
of June 18 and 23 was for Congress to
function as an advisory group to the
President; he meant for it not to act as
a law making body.
Mabini prepared a draft of the constitution called “Constitutional
Plan of the Philippine Republic” and submitted it to the
Congress. Congress did not like it because it was based on the
statues of Universal Masonry.
- is a descendant of a Franciscan friar of
Felipe G. Calderon Santa Ana, Manila, prepared his version
of the constitution with the advice of
Cayetano Arellano, a brilliant lawyer.

Calderon and Arellano – borrowed from

the constitutions of many countries like
Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Belgium,
France and Brazil.

January 21, 1899 – The final version of

the Constitution was promulgated by
Aguinaldo.
THE
CONSTITUTION:
IT’S IMPORTANCE
It was divided into Three branches.

1. Executive 2. Legislative 3. Judicial

 The President was elected by the Assembly, which took the place of
Congress. The department secretaries – the secretary of foreign affairs,
secretary of justice, among others – were responsible not to the President, but
to the Assembly.

Malolos Constitution is unique for three reasons:

1. The Assembly or the legislative branch was more powerful than the
executive or the judicial branch.

2. It provided that when the Assembly was not in session, a Permanent

Commission, composed of members of the Assembly, would be sit as
legislative body;

3. The Constitution e stablishes a unicameral legislature.

Calderon explained later that the reason behind the superior rank of the
legislative branch over the executive or the judicial branches of government.
 THE FIRST
PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC
President of the Cabinet Secretary of the Interior:
and Secretary of the Foreign Teodoro Sandico
Affairs : Apolinario Mabini
Secretary of War: Secretary of the Finance:
Baldomero Aguinaldo Mariano Trias
Secretary of welfare, Public Instruction, Public Works,
Communication, Agriculture, Industry and Commerce :
Gracio Gonzaga
 This Cabinet was also called the Council of
Government, Mabini, in a last effort to include
the “Ignorant masses” that the Cabinet “belong
to no party, nor does it desire to form one, it
stands nothing save interests of the fatherland.

January 23, 1899 – At the inauguration of the

Republic of the Philippines took his oath of
office as President of the Philippines.
 EDUCATION
Aguinaldo included an item for education
amounting to P35,000. Then a decree provided for the
improved of the curriculum of the Burgos Institute.

In October 1898 - a decree was issued creating the

Literary University of the Philippines.
 Dr. Joaquin Gonzales – was appointed as the first
president of the university and was later succeeded by
Dr. Leon Maria Guerrero.

On September 29, 1899 - Dr. Leon Maria Guerrero

delivered the commencement address of the school.

The University did not last very long, The Philippine-

American War broke out and led to the disbandment of
the professors, who in their own way, worked for their
country in the fight against a new enemy.
PERIODICALS OF THE
REVOLUTION
Revolutionary Government funded its official organ. El He raldo de la
Revolucion which came out on September 29, 1898. Later its name was
changed to Heraldo Filipino, the n to Indice O fficial and finally to Gaceta de
Filipinas.

The most famous of these newspapers was La Independencia, Editor was

Ge. Antonio Luna.

September 3, 1898 - great Filipino writers in Spanish wrote in its columns

like Cecilio Apostol, Fernando Ma. Guerrero, Jose Palma, Rafael P alms,
Epifanio de los Santos, Jose Abreu, Mariano V. del Rosario, Salvador V. del
Rosario, Rosa Sevilla and Florentina Arellano.

Nationalistic Newspape r that were circulated were La Republica Filipina in

Mandaluyong; La Libertad in Manila; Ang Kaibigan nang Bayan in Malolos;
Columbus Volantes in Lipa, Batangas; La Federacion in Cabanatuan, Iloilo; La
Revolucion in Jaro, Iloilo; La Oportunidad in Tagbiliran, Bohol and many others.
THE TREATY
OF P RIS
In order to convince the foreign that the Filipinos were
civilized and capable of maintaining stable government,

Filipino diplomats - were Felipe Agoncillo for the

United States; Mariano Ponce and Faustino Lichauco for
Japan; Antonio Ma. Regidor for England; Juan Luna and
Pedro Roxas for France; and Eriberto Zarcal for Australia.
 On December 10, 1898 - The Spanish and
American peace commissioners signed the Treaty of
Paris. By this treaty, Spain turned over the Philippines
to the United States for the sum of P 20,000, 000 as
payment for the improvements made by the Spain in
the Philippines.

Memorial to the Senate – Agoncillo submitted a

memorandum, stating the reasons why Spain had no
right to transfer the Philippines to the United States.
Anti-Imperialist League – which was very vocal
against the move of the United States to
colonize the Philippines.

February 4, 1899 – The American War started,

The American newspapers said it was the
Filipinos who started the war.

February 6, 1899 – The senate voted the tide

for the approval of the Treaty of Paris.