Emilio Aguinaldo

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Template:Infobox Philippine president Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy (March 22, 1869—February 6, 1964) was a Filipino general, politician, and independence leader. He played an instrumental role in Philippine Revolution against Spain, as well as the Philippine-American War in opposition to American occupation.

In the Philippines, Aguinaldo is recognized as the country's first president, though his office had not been recognized in the international arena. He remains the youngest Philippine President.

1 Early life and career
2 Philippine Revolution
- 2.1 Biak na Bato
- 2.2 Spanish-American War
3 Philippine-American War
4 Presidency of the First Republic of the Philippines
- 4.1 Aguinaldo cabinet
5 U.S. Occupation
6 Post-American era
7 See also
8 External links
9 References

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Early life and career

The seventh of eight children of Carlos Aguinaldo and Trinidad Famy, he was born into a Chinese-mestizo family on March 22, 1869 in Cavite El Viejo (now Kawit), Cavite province. His father was gobernadorcillo (town head), and, as members of the Chinese-mestizo minority, they enjoyed relative wealth and power.

As a young boy, Aguinaldo received basic education from his great-aunt and later attended the town's elementary school. In 1880, he took up his secondary course education at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, which he quit on his third year to return home instead to help his widowed mother manage their farm.

At the age of 17, Emilio was elected cabeza de barangay of Binakayan, the most progressive barrio of Cavite El Viejo. He held this position serving for his town-mates for eight years. He also engaged in inter-island shipping, travelling as far south as the Sulu Archipelago.

In 1893, the Maura Law was passed to reorganize town governments with the aim of making them more effective and autonomous, changing the designation of town head from gobernadorcillo to capitan municipal effective 1895. On January 1, 1895, Aguinaldo was elected town head, becoming the first person to hold the title of capitan municipal of Cavite El Viejo. His first marriage was in 1896 with Hilaria Del Rosario (1877-1921), and they had five children (Miguel, Carmen, Emilio Jr., Maria and Cristina). His second wife was Maria Agoncillo.

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Philippine Revolution

Image:Aguinaldo.jpg In 1895, Aguinaldo joined the Katipunan brotherhood, a secret organization then led by Andrés Bonifacio dedicated to the expulsion of the Spanish and independence for the Philippines. He joined as a lieutenant under Gen. Baldomero Aguinaldo and rose to the rank of general in a few months. With the Katipunan, he helped the Philippines erupt in revolt against the Spaniards in 1896. He won major victories in Cavite Province, temporarily driving the Spanish out of the area. When Bonifacio came out of hiding in March 1897, he tried to reassert his leadership of the revoltionary movement, which he lost to Aguinaldo on a ballot. Bonifacio refused to accept the result and recognize the Revolutionary Government under Aguinaldo and threatened to set up his own form of government. Bonifacio was found guilty of treason by a military tribunal and Aguinaldo eventually ordered Bonifacio's execution on May 10, 1897.

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Biak na Bato

Spanish attacks intensified, eventually forcing the Katipunan forces to retreat to the mountains. On December 14, 1897, the Pact of Biak-na-Bato was concluded. Under the pact, indemnities were to be paid in the amount of 400,000 pesos, and Aguinaldo along with 34 other leaders of the rebellion were to go into voluntary exile in Hong Kong. Aguinaldo took the money offered, but instead of remaining in exile he used the money to buy more weapons for the Filipino revolutionists. The following were the officers of the Supreme Council that oversaw the pact. Emilio Aguinaldo was President and Mariano Trias, the Vice President. Other officials included Antonio Montenegro for Foreign Affairs, Isabelo Artacho for the Interior, Baldomero Aguinaldo for the Treasury, and Emiliano Riego de Dios for War.

Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines in May 1898. He immediately resumed revolutionary activities against the Spaniards, now receiving encouragement from the United States.

Image:Emilio Aguinaldo delegates.jpg

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Spanish-American War

In 1898, the Spanish-American War started and Aguinaldo contacted American officials in hopes that they would aid in his struggle for independence. He initially received mixed signals, but fought in alliance with the Americans to oust the Spanish, including turning over 15,000 captured Spanish troops over to Admiral Dewey. However, relations with the Americans became increasingly strained when they showed no desire to recognize Philippine independence and sovereignty, and instead began occupying the country as the Spanish had. Aguinaldo declared Philippine independence on June 12, 1898 [1]. The Philippine Constitutional Convention elected him President on January 1, 1899.

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Philippine-American War

On the night of February 4, 1899, a Filipino was shot by an American sentry as he crossed the San Juan bridge. This incident is considered the beginning of the Philippine-American War, and open fighting soon broke out between American troops and pro-independence Filipinos. Superior American firepower drove Filipino troops away from the city, and the Malolos government had to move from one place to another.

Aguinaldo led resistance to the American occupation, then retreated to northern Luzon with the Americans on his trail. On June 2, 1899, a telegram from Aguinaldo was received by Gen. Antonio Luna, an arrogant but brilliant general and looming rival in the military hierarchy, ordering him to proceed to Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija for a meeting at the Cabanatuan Church Convent. Three days later (June 5), when Luna arrived, he learned Aguinaldo was not available at the appointed place. As Gen. Luna was about to depart, he was shot, then stabbed to death by Aguinaldo's men. He was later buried in the churchyard.

Less than two years later, Aguinaldo was captured in Palanan, Isabela on March 23, 1901 by US General Frederick Funston, with the help of Filipino trackers/traitors who had gained access to Aguinaldo's camp by pretending to surrender to the Filipinos.

Taking him into custody, Funston noted his "dignified bearing," "excellent qualities," and "humane instincts." He accepted an offer that his life would be spared if he pledged allegiance to the United States. He pledged allegiance on April 1, 1901, effectively ending the First Republic and recognizing the sovereignty of the United States over the Philippines. Nevertheless, many others (like Miguel Malvar and Macario Sakay) continued to resist the American occupation and the war would continue for many more years.

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Presidency of the First Republic of the Philippines

Aguinaldo appointed two premiers in his tenure. These were Apolinario Mabini and Pedro Paterno.

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Aguinaldo cabinet

Apolinario Mabini - Foreign Affairs,
Gen. Mariano Trias - Finance and war
Teodoro Sandico - Interior
Baldomero Aguinaldo - War
Gracio Gonzaga - Welfare
Leon Ma. Guerrero - Agriculture, Industry and Commerce (formerly part of Welfare)
Hugo Ilagan - Finance
Felipe Buencamino - Foreign Affairs
Severino de las Alas - Interior
Aguedo Velarde - Public Instruction (formerly part of Welfare)
Maximo Paterno - Public Works and Communications (formerly part of Welfare)

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U.S. Occupation

During the United States occupation, Aguinaldo continued to pursue his goal of a free and independent Philippines. He staunchly supported groups that advocated immediate independence, and helped veterans of the struggle. He organized the Asociacion de los Veteranos de la Revolucion (Association of Veterans of the Revolution), which secured pensions for its members and made arrangements for them to buy land on installment from the government.

When the American government finally allowed the Philippine flag to be displayed in 1919, Aguinaldo transformed his home in Kawit into a monument to the flag, the revolution and the declaration of Independence. His home still stands, and is known as the Aguinaldo Shrine.

Aguinaldo retired from public life for many years. In 1935, when the Commonwealth of the Philippines was established in preparation for Philippine independence, he ran for president but decisively lost the election to fiery Spanish mestizo Manuel L. Quezon. Aguinaldo protested his defeat. The two leaders formally reconciled in 1941, when Quezon moved Flag Day to June 12, to commemorate the proclamation of Philippine independence.

Aguinaldo again retired to private life until the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in World War II. He was used by the Japanese as an anti-American tool, forced to make speeches, sign articles, and make infamous radio addresses in support of the Japanese — including a radio appeal to Gen. Douglas MacArthur on Corregidor to surrender in order to spare the innocence of the Filipino youth.

After the Americans retook the Philippines, Aguinaldo was arrested along with several others accused of collaboration with the Japanese. He was held in Bilibid prison for months until released by presidential amnesty. In his trial, it was determined that his broadcasts were made under great duress (the Japanese had threatened to murder his entire family), and his name was cleared.

Aguinaldo lived to see his lifelong goal of independence for his nation achieved on July 4, 1946, when the United States Government marked the full restoration and recognition of Philippine independence. During the independence parade at the Luneta, the 77-year old general carried the flag he raised in Kawit on June 12, 1898, the date he believed to be the true Independence Day.

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Post-American era

Image:Php bill 5 front.jpg In 1950, as a token vindication of his honor, President Elpidio Quirino appointed Aguinaldo as a member of the Council of State, where he served a full term. He returned to retirement soon after, dedicating his time and attention to veteran soldier’s interest and welfare, the promotion of nationalism and democracy in the Philippines and the development of the relationship between the Philippines and the United States.

In 1962, when the United States rejected Philippine claims for the destruction wrought by American forces in World War II, president Diosdado Macapagal changed the celebration of Independence Day from July 4 to June 12. Aguinaldo regarded this as the greatest victory of the Revolution of 1896. He rose from his sickbed to attend the celebration of independence 64 years after he declared it.

Aguinaldo died on February 6, 1964 of coronary thrombosis at the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Quezon City. He was 95 years old. His remains are buried at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite.

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