Philippine Revolution

The Philippine Revolution is the culmination of the more than three

centuries of Spanish colonization of the Philippines. It was the ultimate cause
of the formation of the KKK (Kataasan-taasan, Kagalang-galangang
Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan) or Katipunan.
The Philippine was divided into two phases due to the arrival of a new
colonizer at the end of the Philippine-Spanish War in 1898.
First Phase of the Revolution (1896-1898)
A. First Cry of the Revolution.
The start of the first phase of the Philippine revolution was marked by the first
cry of the revolution, which signaled the start of the Philippine-Spanish war.
Although the National Historical Institute already declared that the first cry
happened on August 23, 1896 in Pugadlawin, there are still some Filipino
historians who believe that it happened on August 24, 1896 in Balintawak.
The first cry of the revolution was brought upon by the meeting called by
Bonifacio to decide on the next moves of the Katipunan after their unexpected
discovery on August 19, 1896 through the words of one their members,
Teodoro Patino.
In the meeting, they reached upon the decision to attack Manila (Intramuros)
on August 30, 1896. Intramuros was the most fortified Spanish headquarter in
the Philippines, which is also the seat of government during the Spanish
period. The capture of Intramuros would mean the control of power in the
Philippines, at least symbolically.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the members of the Katipunan tore their
cedulas while shouting Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! This event is now known as
the first cry of the revolution, which marked the start of the Philippine
Revolution and the Philippine-Spanish War.
B. First Encounter in the Philippine-Spanish War
The members of the Katipunan and the Spaniards first encounter happened
in a place now known as Pinaglabanan in San Juan (Del Monte) on the night
of August 29, 1896. Bonifacio together with Jacinto led more than 1000 men
to San Juan Del Monte to attack the El Polvorin and El Deposito. The El
Polvorin is the gunpowder house of the Spaniards, which stores the
gunpowder. On the other hand the El Deposito is the water deposit that
supplies water to majority of Manila. This battle would be known as the Battle
of El Polvorin or Battle of San Juan Del Monte.
The Katipuneros lost in this battle due to heavy reinforcements sent to San
Juan from Intramuros but the lost only showed the fierce spirit of the Filipinos
to finally and collectively fight for their independence.

Following the first encounter were attacks in different parts of the country
including Manila, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva
Ecija and Tarlac. These attacks made Governor General Blanco declare war
in these places.
C. Problems of the Katipunan during the Revolution
The unexpected start of the revolution only highlighted what Rizal said to Pio
Valenzuela when he was consulted in Dapitan, the unpreparedness of the
Katipunan. It exposed the Katipunans problem during the first part of the
revolution.
1. Lack of resources. The Filipinos lacked resources during the revolution
to support the Katipuneros in the battlefield. In particular, the
Katipuneros lacked weapons and ammunitions. Most Katipuneros were
only equipped with bolos due to limited number of guns. This put the
Katipunan in a disadvantage in terms of military strength. The lack of
weapons also resulted to the lack of training of the Katipuneros.
2. Division within the Katipunan. The existence of the two factions, the
Magdiwang and Magdalo, proved to be an obstacle to the goals of the
Katipunan. The two factions put pressure on the issue of leadership of
the Katipunan and the soon to be government of the Philippines.
3. Disorganization. Unlike the revolts and rebellions in the Philippines, the
revolution involved more places, groups and Filipinos. The leaders of
the Katipunan failed to set up a clear organization to these different
places and groups.
D. Biak-na-Bato Republic
After taking over with the leadership of the Katipunan, Aguinaldo transferred
his headquarter in Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan and on July of 1897 he
established the Biak-na-Bato Republic with a charter based on the Cuban
Constitution. He also issued a proclamation stating the following demands:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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 governments power to banish Filipinos
Equality for all before the law.

E. Pact of Biak-na-Bato
After the death of Bonifacio on May 10, 1897 Aguinaldo took the leadership of
the Katipunan and all the decisions during the revolution. Due to the many
loses and exhaustion of resources, Aguinaldo was pushed to consider a truce
with the Spaniards.

A propagandist, Pedro Paterno, made the truce possible. He convinced

Aguinaldo to enter the agreement with the Spaniards. The truce was signed
on 1897 between the Katipuneros and the Spaniards, which will grant the
Philippines its self-rule if Aguinaldo will go on an exile for three years. The
truce also included a monetary compensation of 800,000 Mexican pesos for
the Filipinos, which would be given in exchange of the surrender of the
weapons of the Katipuneros and the exile of Aguinaldo.
The Pact failed because of the lack of trust from both sides. Continued
skirmishes and clashes happened between the Spaniards and the
Katipuneros even after the departure of Aguinaldo to Hong Kong.
SECOND PHASE OF THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION (1899-1902)
The second phase of the revolution would involve a different nation, the
United States of America. The Americans would get into a war with Spain due
to their involvement in the Cuban Revolution.
A. The Battle of Manila Bay
The first engagement of the Americans and the Spaniards in the Philippines is
in a battle known as Battle of Manila. It was naval battle between the naval
forces of US led by Commodore George Dewey and the Spanish fleet led by
Admiral Patricio Montojo. Dewey fought Montojo in the Manila Bay on May 1,
1898.
Due to US naval forces advantage in military strength, Dewey defeated
Montojo with only one casualty while the Spaniards suffered more than 200
casualties.
B. The Return of Aguinaldo and the Establishment of a Philippine
Government
After the decisive battle in Manila Bay, Dewey returned to Hong Kong to fetch
the leader of the Filipino revolutionaries, Emilio Aguinaldo. Aguinaldo led the
Katipuneros against the Spaniards and was able to control most of Luzon. On
May 24, 1898 Aguinaldo issued a proclamation placing the Philippines under
a dictatorial government.
Still on a war against Spain, Aguinaldo was able to declare independence of
the Philippines from Spain on June 12, 1898 in his house in Kawit, Cavite.
The Philippine flag was raised and the Marcha Magdalo (Lupang Hinirang)
was played. The declaration of the independence was signed and proclaimed.
The absence of Dewey or Merritt in our declaration of independence only
heightened Aguinaldos fear of a new colonizer.
Aguinaldo continued to lead the Katipuneros in the war against Spain while
maintaining its alliance with US. Aguinaldo at the same time continued to work
on convincing the Americans to put on a document or a written agreement
regarding the Philippines self rule but the Americans never issued such

written agreement. Aguinaldos fear and doubts for the Americans continued
to grow.
C. The Battle of Manila
Months after the Battle of Manila Bay, the Spaniards was just desperately
holding on Intramuros. But after the number of Spaniards swelled from 10,000
to 20,000 matched that with dwindling amount of resources, Governor
General Basilio Augustin knew that that it was just a matter of time before
Intramuros fall. Due to Augustins refusal to surrender Intramuros to the
Filipinos, he offered an arrangement with Dewey. The arrangement involved
the surrender of Intramuros to the Americans through a sham or mock battle.
On August 13, 1898 Dewey started the bombardment of Intramuros while the
forces of Merritt entered Intramuros. Not all Americans and Spaniards were
aware with the arrangement resulting to the death of six Americans and
hundreds of Spaniards. The number of Americans and Spaniards who died in
what is supposed to be a sham battle only made it believable to the eyes of
the Filipinos.
After the battle, Intramuros was surrendered to the Americans and the
Filipinos were from then on prevented to enter. After successfully defeating
the Spanish forces, the Filipinos now had to deal with the Americans for the
rights over Manila and other places in the Philippines
D. The Treaty of Paris ad Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation
After the occupation of Intramuros by the Americans, the alliance of the
Americans and the Filipinos was abolished. A border has been established
surrounding Intramuros to prevent the further advance of the Americans into
the Provincia de Manila.
Aguinaldo was able to declare independence on June 12, 1898 and draft a
constitution by September of 1898 and its consequent signing on January 23,
1899, but none of this matter for the Americans desire to occupy the
Philippines.
By December 10, 1898 Spain and US signed the Treat of Paris, which
involved the selling of the Philippines together with other Spanish territories to
the Americans. After more than a week, on December 21, 1898 President
William McKinley issued the Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation, which
justifies the annexation of the Philippines by US.
E. First Shot of the Philippine-American War
After the sham battle in Intramuros, the tension between the Americans and
Filipinos has been heightened. The tension would reach its height on
February of 1899.

On the night of February 4, 1899 Private William Grayson encountered

opposition from two Filipinos while guarding his post in Sta. Mesa Manila.
After giving warning, the Filipinos continued walking towards the position of
Grayson, which prompted Grayson to take the first taking one Filipino down.
The shots of Grayson are considered the first shots of the Philippine American
War or the second phase of the revolution.
F. Aguinaldo during the Second Phase of the Revolution
Aguinaldo would continue to lead the Philippines against the Americans. The
Americans though were more equipped than the Filipinos, which made the
Americans very successful. The success of the Americans in different
encounters made Aguinaldo issued an order to shift to guerilla warfare.
Aguinaldo also transferred his headquarter from one region to another as the
Americans persuaded him.
Unfortunately Aguinaldo would finally fall on the hands of the Americans on
March 23, 1901 through the effort of General Funston and Macabebe soldiers
from Bulacan. He pledged allegiance to the US government on April 1, 1901.