The American Occupation

American Occupation

The Biak-na-Bato Republic was patterned after the Cuban Constitutuion of Jimaguayu.  It was signed on November 1, 1897.  It demands for the following:

1.     The friars should leave the country and return to Filipinos the lands they had forcibly grabbed.

2.     Representation in the Spanish Cortes.

3.     Freedom of Expression and consent to all religions.

4.     Equal regard and payment to those employed in the civil government.

5.     Abolition of the government’s power to throw people into exile.

6.     Equality in the eyes of the law.

The Pact of Biak-na-Bato

Pedro A. Paterno – negotiator, signed in behalf of the revolutionaries

Emilio Aguinaldo – President of the Philippine Revolutionary Government

Primo de Rivera – representative for the colonial government

Conditions:

1.     Voluntary exile of Aguinaldo and his followers outside the country.

2.     Payment of P800,000 by the Spanish government to the rebels in the following manner:

Ø  P400,000 to Aguinaldo upon leaving Biak-na-Bato

Ø  P200,00 if the arms turned over by the revolutionaries to the government exceeded 700

Ø  The remaining P200,000 once the Te Dem  had been sung and the governor general had proclaimed general amnesty

3.     An additional P900,000 as payment to the families of civilian Filipinos who were harmed in the armed conflict

The pact was signed on December 15, 1897, ending the uprising which Bonifacio had begun.  Aguinaldo left for Hong Kong on December 27 with the P400,000 initial payment.

The Spanish-American War

On February 15, 1898, the warship Maine was blown in Port Havana. On April 25, the US congress formally declared war against Spain.

The Battle of Manila Bay

On May 1, 1898 seven armed ships led by Commodore George Dewey entered Manila and assaulted the Spanish fleet in Sangley Point, Cavite.

Aguinaldo’s Return

May 17 – left Hong Kong

May 19 – arrived in Manila

Secret Agreement between Spain and America

Commodore Dewey and Gen. Wesley Merritt with Gen. Fermin Jaudines

Ø  Mock battle between the Americans and the Spaniards

Ø  Spaniards would surrender to the American troops

Ø  Filipinos would not be allowed to participate in the Spaniards’ surrender

The Mock Battle of Manila Bay

August 13, 9:30 am.  Olympia bombed Fort San Antonio Abad with Gen. Greene attacking from Malate, and Mac Arthur from Singalong.  By 11:20 am, the Spaniards raised the white flag.