The Malolos Congress

Emilio Aguinaldo issued a decree on July 18, 1898 asking for the election of delegates to the revolutionary congress, another decree was promulgated five days later, which declared that Aguinaldo would appoint representatives of congress because holding elections is not practical at that time. He appointed 50 delegates in all (but this number fluctuated from time to time). In accordance with these two decrees, Aguinaldo assembled the Revolutionary Congress at the Brasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan on September 15, 1898.

The atmosphere was festive and the Pasig Band played the national anthem. After Aguinaldo had read his speech congressional elections were held among the delegates present. The following were among the most important achievements of the Malolos Congress:

1. In September 29, 1898, ratified the declaration of Philippine independence held at Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898 2. Passage of a law that allowed the Philippines to borrow P 20 million from banks for government expenses 3. Establishment of the Universidad Literatura de Filipinas and other schools 4. Drafting of the Philippine Constitution 5. Declaring war against the United States on June 12, 1899

Malolos Constitution

A committee headed by Felipe Calderon and aided by Cayetano Arellano, the constitution was drafted, for the first time by representatives of the Filipino people and it is the first republican constitution in Asia. The constitution was inspired by the constitutions of Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Brazil, Belgium and France. After some minor revisions (mainly due to the objections of Apolinario Mabini), the final draft of the constitution was presented to Aguinaldo. This paved the way

to launching the first Philippine Republic. It established a democratic, republication government with three branches - the Executive, Legislative and the Judicial branches. It called for the separation of church and state. The executive powers were to be exercise by the president of the republic with the help of his cabinet. Judicial powers were given to the Supreme Court and other lower courts to be created by law. The Chief justice of the Supreme Court was to be elected by the legislature with the concurrence of the President and his Cabinet.

First Philippine Republic The first Philippine Republic was inaugurated in Malolos, Bulacan on January 21, 1899. After being proclaimed president, Emilio Aguinaldo took his oath of office. The constitution was read article by article and followed by a military parade. Apolinario Mabini was elected as a prime minister. The other cabinet secretaries were: Teodoro Sandico, interior; Baldomero Aguinaldo, war; Gen. Mariano Trias, finance & war; Apolinario Mabini, foreign affairs; Gracio Gonzaga for welfare, Aguedo Velarde, public instruction; Maximo Paterno, public works & communication; and Leon Mara Guerrero for agriculture, trade & commerce.

The Philippine National Anthem

Aguinaldo commissioned Julian Felipe, a composer from Cavite province was asked to write an an instrumental march for the proclamation of independence ceremony. The original title was "Marcha Filipina Magdalo". This was later changed to "Marcha Nacional Filipina". The lyrics was added in August 1899 based on the poem titled "Filipinas" by Jose Palma. The original lyrics was written in Spanish, then to English (when the Flag Law was abolished during the American period) then later, was translated to Tagalog, which underwent another change of title to Lupang Hinirang, the Philippine National Anthem. Continue to Filipino-American Hostilities. http://www.philippine-history.org/malolos-congress.htm

The Philippine Republic (Spanish: Repblica Filipina, Filipino: Republika ng Pilipinas), more commonly known as the First Philippine Republic or the Malolos Republic was a short-lived insurgent revolutionary government in the Philippines. It was formally established with the proclamation of the Malolos Constitution on January 23, 1899 in Malolos, Bulacan,[Note 1] and endured until the capture and surrender of Emilio Aguinaldo to the American forces on March 23, 1901 in Palanan, Isabela, which effectively dissolved the First Republic. The establishment of the Philippine Republic was the culmination of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule. The Malolos Congress convened on 15 September, and produced the Malolos Constitution.[1] That constitution was proclaimed on 22 January 1899, transforming the government into what is known today as the First Philippine Republic, with Aguinaldo as its president.[2] In the meantime, on December 10, 1898, the Treaty of Paris had been signed, ending the Spanish-American War. Article 3 of the treaty transferred the Philippines from Spain to the United States.[3] The PhilippineAmerican War then ensued. Aguinaldo was captured by U.S. forces on March 23, 1901 and swore an oath accepting the authority of the United States over the Philippines and pledging his allegiance to the American government. On April 19, he issued a Proclamation of Formal Surrender to the United States, telling his followers to lay down their weapons and give up the fight, effectively ending the First Philippine Republic.[4] Subsequently, the U.S. continued its annexation of the islands pursuant to the Treaty of Paris.[3][5] The Philippines was under US sovereignty until 1946, when formal independence was granted by the Treaty of Manila.[6] Contents [hide]

1 History o 1.1 PhilippineAmerican War 2 Cabinet 3 Notes 4 References

[edit] History

Temporary triumphal arch commemorating election of Aguinaldo, 1899 The First Philippine Republic was formed after the Philippine Declaration of Independence and the events of the collapse of the Spanish rule over the Philippines. It adopted the Constitucin Poltica de la Repblica Filipina, drawn up by the Philippine Constitutional Convention in the Barasoain Church in Malolos in 1899 to replace the revolutionary government proclaimed by Aguinaldo on June 23, 1898[7] That revolutionary government had replaced the dictatorial government which Aguinaldo had proclaimed on May 24,[8] and had formally established by decree on June 18.[9]. The constitution was approved by delegates to the Assembly of Representatives on January 20, 1899, and sanctioned by Aguinaldo the next day.[2] The convention had earlier elected Aguinaldo president on January 1, 1899, leading to his inauguration on January 23. Considering that the Philippine-American War which was to soon follow the adoption of the constitution would prevent the legislature from meeting, and considering that the government was not to survive that war, three parts of the constitution which effectively gave president Aguinaldo unrestricted power to rule by decree are of particular interest.[Note 3] [edit] PhilippineAmerican War Further information: PhilippineAmerican War

On February 4, 1899, armed conflict erupted in Manila between Philippine Republic forces and American forces occupying the city subsequent to the conclusion of the Spanish-American War.[11] That day, President Aguinaldo issued a proclamation ordering and commanding that "peace and friendly relations with the Americans be broken and that the latter be treated as enemies, within the limits prescribed by the laws of war."[12] The fighting quickly escalated into the Second Battle of Manila, with Philippine Republic forces being driven out of the city.[13] On March 31, American forces captured Malolos, the initial seat of the Philippine Republic government, which had been gutted by fires set by withdrawing Philippine Republic forces.[14] Emilio Aguinaldo and the core of the revolutionary government had by then moved to San Isidro, Nueva Ecija.[15] Peace negotiations with the American Schurman Commission during a brief cease-fire in AprilMay 1899 failed,[15] and San Isidro fell to American forces on May 16.[16] The Philippine Republic core government had moved by then to Bamban, Tarlac, and subsequently moved to Tarlac town.[17] Aguinaldo's party had already left Tarlac, the last capital of the Philippine Republic, by the time American troops occupied it on 13 November.[18] On 13 November, in a conference in Bayambang, Pangasinan, Aguinaldo decided to disperse his army and begin guerilla war. From that point on, distance and the localistic nature of the fighting prevented him from exercising a strong influence on revolutionary or military operations.[18] Recognizing that American troops blocked his escape east, he turned north and west on 15 November, crossing the mountains into La Union province.[19] Aguinaldo's party eluded pursuing American forces, passing through Tirad Pass near Sagada, Mountain Province where the Battle of Tirad Pass was fought on 2 December as a rear guard action to delay the American advance and ensure his escape. Aguinaldo was captured by American forces on 23 March, 1901 in Palanan, Isabela. Following his capture, Aguinaldo announced allegiance to the United States on April 1, 1901, formally ending the First Republic and recognizing the sovereignty of the United States over the Philippines.

OFFICIALS President Vice President Prime Minister

NAME Emilio Aguinaldo Mariano Trias Apolinario Mabini Pedro Paterno Apolinario Mabini Felipe Buencamino Mariano Tras Teodoro Sandico Severino de las Alas Baldomero Aguinaldo Gracio Gonzaga Len Mara Guerrero Hugo Ilagan guedo Velarde

Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Finance and War Minister of Interior Minister of War Minister of Welfare Minister of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce Minister of Finance Minister of Public Instruction

Minister of Public Works and Communications Mximo Paterno

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Philippine_Republic