Biak N Bato

The Philippine Revolution
The Biak-na-Bato Republic of 1897
With almost all of Cavite in the hands of the Spaniards, [ Governor General ] Primo de Rivera issued
another decree extending the benefit of his pardon beyond May 17, 1897. His purpose was to win
over the Filipinos to his policy of attraction. A few took advantage of the governor's decree, while
the rest continued their resistance against the enemy.
Aguinaldo, meanwhile was in Talisay, Batangas where he had established his headquarters. The
enemy surrounded the area in the hope of capturing him, but he slipped through the Spanish cordon
on June 10 and proceeded with his men to the hilly region of Morong ( Rizal ). With 500 picked men,
he crossed the Pasig to Malapad-na-Bato, near Guadalupe, and from here he secretly passed
through San Juan del Monte and Montalban, and on to Mount Puray. After a well-earned rest,
Aguinaldo and his men proceeded 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.
Before July 1897, Aguinaldo and his men had already established a republican government at Biyak-
na-Bato, known as the Biyak-na-Bato Republic. The provisional constitution of this Republic was
prepared by Felix Ferrer and Isabelo Artacho, who copied, almost word for word, the Cuban
constitution of Jimaguayu. The Biyak-na-bato Constitution was signed on November 1, 1897. 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.
In accordance with Article 1, the Supreme Council was created on November 2, with the following as
officers:
Emilio Aguinaldo President
Mariano Triad Vice-President
Antonio Montenegro Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Isabelo Artacho Secretary of the Interior
Emiliano Riego de Dios Secretary of War

Baldomero Aguinaldo Secretary of the Treasury
The Biak-na Bato Republic
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. 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.
The Pact of Biak-na-Bato
Pedro Paterno, a Spaniard born in the Philippines volunteered to act as negotiator between
Aguinaldo and Gov. Primo de Rivera in order to end the clashes. Paterno’s effort paid off when on,
December 15, 1897, The Pact of Biak-na-Bato was signed.as the representative of the
revolutionaries, and de Rivera as the representative of the Spanish government. The Leaders are:
Emilio Aguinaldo-President, Mariano Trias-Vice President, Antonio Montenegro-Secretary,
Baldomero Aguinaldo-Treasurer, and Emilio Riego de Dios.
On December 23, 1897, Generals Celestino Tejero and Ricardo Monet of the Spanish army arrived in
Biak-na-Bato and became hostages of the rebels. A ceasefire was declared by both camps and an
agreement between Aguinaldo and the Spanish forces was made -that the Spanish government will
grant self-rule to the Philippines in 3 years if Aguinaldo went to exile and surrender his arms. In
exchange, Aguinaldo will receive P800,000 (Mexican Pesos) as remuneration to the revolutionaries
and an amnesty. After receiving a partial payment of P400,000, Aguinaldo left for Hong Kong on
December 27, 1897. Some Filipino generals, however, did not believe in the sincerity of the
Spaniards. They refused to surrender their arms. Nevertheless, the Te Deum was still sung on
January 23, 1898.
The 1897 Constitution of Biak-na-Bato[edit]

Wikisource has original
text related to this
article:
Provisional
Constitution of the
Philippines (1897)
The Memorial at Biak-na-Bato National Park
The Katipunan's revolution led to the Tejeros Convention where, at San Francisco de
Malabón, Cavite, on March 22, 1897, the first presidential and vice presidential elections in
Philippine history were held—although only Katipuneros (viz., members of the Katipunan) were
able to take part, and not the general populace. A later meeting of the revolutionary government
established there, held on November 1, 1897 at Biak-na-Bato in the town of San Miguel de
Mayumo in Bulacán, established the Republic of Biak-na-Bato. The republic had a constitution
drafted by Isabelo Artacho and Félix Ferrer and based on the first Cuban Constitution.[citation needed] It
is known as the "Constitución Provisional de la República de Filipinas", and was originally written
in and promulgated in the Spanish and Tagalog languages.[11]

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Biak N Bato

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The Philippine Revolution

The Biak-na-Bato Republic of 1897

Emilio Aguinaldo President

Mariano Triad Vice-President

Antonio Montenegro Secretary of Foreign Affairs

Isabelo Artacho Secretary of the Interior

Emiliano Riego de Dios Secretary of War

The Biak-na Bato Republic

▪ 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.

The Pact of Biak-na-Bato

The 1897 Constitution of Biak-na-Bato[edit]

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