Republic of Biak-na-Bato

From WikiPilipinas: The Hip 'n Free Philippine Encyclopedia

The Republic of Biak-na-Bato was declared by Emilio Aguinaldo in Bulacan in November 1897 together with the first Philippines constitution. With the establishment of the Republic, Aguinaldo issued a proclamation demanding the expulsion of friars and the return of friar lands to the Filipinos, representation of the Philippines in the Spanish Cortes, freedom for the press and of religion, abolition of the government's power to banish Filipinos, and equity for all before the law.

1 History
2 Government
3 Biak-na-Bato National Park
4 See also
5 References
6 Citation

[edit] History

Aguinaldo went from Talisay, Batangas to Biak-na-Bato, San Miguel de Mayumo, to establish his headquarters. News of Aguinaldo's arrival in Biak-na-Bato reached the towns of central Luzon and as a consequence, armed men from Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and Ilocos provinces, renewed their armed resistance against the Spaniards. From Biak-na-Bato, Aguinaldo and his men joined forces with General Mariano Llanera of Nueva Ecija and fought the Spanish soldiers garrisoned in the Central Luzon provinces.

By the end of 1897, Governor-General Primo de Rivera accepted the impossibility of stopping the Filipinos from revolting against Spain and desired to make peace with Aguinaldo. The governor-general sent emissaries to Aguinaldo, but nothing was accomplished until Pedro Paterno acted as a mediator.

On 9 August 1897, Paterno proposed to Aguinaldo a peace agreement based on reforms and amnesty. This effort led to the creation of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, which consisted of three documents. The first two were signed on 14 December 1897 and the third was signed on 15 December, effectively ending the Republic of Biak-na-Bato.

[edit] Government

Aguinaldo and his men established a republican government at Biak-na-Bato, known as the Biak-na-Bato Republic. The Biak-na-Bato Constitution, which was based on the Cuban charter of Jimaguayu, was prepared by Felix Ferrer and Isabelo Artacho and was signed on 1 November 1897.