EMILIO F.

AGUINALDO
(Born- March 22, 1869, died- February 6, 1964)
President of the First Philippine Republic
(Term: 1898- 1901)

Filipino leader who fought first against Spain and later against the United States for the
Independence of the Philippines.

Born of Chinese and Filipino parentage, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, whom providence had placed as
the supreme leader of his people at the critical period in their history. He was born in Kawit,
Cavite, on March 22, 1869. He was the seventh among eight children of the spouses Carlos
Aguinaldo and Trinidad Famy.

He took up his secondary course at the Letran de Manila where he finished only three years of
high school. His favorite subject was geography. He did not finish the secondary course
education.

At the age of 17, Emilio was elected as cabeza de barangay of Binakayan, the most progressive
barrio of Kawit, Cavite. He served for his town-mates for eight years. He also engaged in inter-
island shipping, travelling as far as Visayas and even Jolo, Philippines. On January 1, 1895, he
was elected capitan municipal of Kawit the first to bear that title in accordance with the Mauro
Law. At that time a capitan municipal received no salary except 3% of taxes he could collect. In
August 1896 he was the local leader of the Katipunan, a revolutionary society that fought bitterly
and successfully against Spanish. In December 1897 he signed an agreement called the Pact of
Biac-na-Bato with the Spanish governor-general. He agreed to leave the Philippines and to
remain permanently in exile on condition of a substantial financial award from Spain coupled
with the promise of liberal reforms. While in Hong Kong and Singapore he made arrangement
with representative of the American consulates and of Commodore George Dewey to return to
the Philippines to assist the United States in the war against Spain.

Aguinaldo return to the Philippines on May 19, 1898 and announced renewal of the struggle with
Spain. Upon the advice of Apolinario Mabini to Aguinaldo he should change the form of
dictatorship to president of revolutionary government. The Filipinos, who declared their
independence of Spain on June 12, 1898, proclaimed a provisional republic, of which Aguinaldo
was to became president, and in September a revolutionary assembly met and ratified Filipino
independence. However, the Philippines along with Puerto Rico and Guam were ceded by Spain
to the United States by the Treaty of Paris, December 10, 1898.

Relation between the Americans and the Filipinos were unfriendly and grew steadily worse. On
January 23, 1899, the Malolos constitution by virtue of which the Philippines was a republic and
which he had been approved by the assembly and by Aguinaldo was proclaimed. Aguinaldo,
who had been president of the provisional government, was elected president.

Aguinaldo formally established the first Philippine republic. He also designated diplomats who
were assigned in the major world capitals to seek recognition of Philippine independence.

In 1935 when the commonwealth government of the Philippines was established in preparation
for independence, Aguinaldo ran for president but was decisively beaten. He returned to private
life until the Japanese invaded the Philippines in 1941. The Japanese used Aguinaldo as an anti-
American tool. They caused him to make speeches, to sign articles, and to address a radio appeal
to General Douglas McArthur on Corregidor to surrender in order to spare the flower of Filipino
youth.

When the Americans returned, Aguinaldo was arrested and together with the others accused of
collaboration with the Japanese was held for several months in Bilibid Prison until released by
presidential amnesty. As a token vindication of his honor, he was appointed by president Elpidio
Quirino as a member of the Council of State in 1950. In the latter years of his life, he devoted his
major attention to veterans affairs, the promotion of nationalism and democracy in the
Philippines, and the improvement of relation between the Philippines and the United States.

Aguinaldo resumed his life of retirement. In June 12, 1963, on the occasion of the celebration of
Philippine independence, Aguinaldo veiled his historic mansion in Kawit, together with all the
relics contained therein, to the Philippine government.

On February 6, 1964, he died at the age of 95 years old.