Philippine Revolution (1896-1898)
“The Philippine Revolution is one of the most important events in the country’s
history”
common goal: to resist colonialism
Birth of Philippine Nationalism
1. Opening of the Philippines in International trade
2. Opening of Suez Canal
3. Influx of liberal Ideas from Europe
4. Liberal administration of Gov. Gen Carlos Maria Dela Torre
5. Secularization Controversy
6. Cavite Mutiny
7. Execution of Gomburza
Causes of The Philippine Revolution
1. Abuses of The Spanish Officials
2. Failure of Spain to grant the reforms asked by the people
3. Persecution of the oppressed people
4. Racial prejudice and discrimination against the people
5. Desire to regain Independence
THE REVOLUTION BEGINS:
1896 Revolution Started after Spanish authorities discovered the
“Katipunan”
Bonifacio gathered his men in the hills of Balintawak
First Battle of the REVOLUTION
San Juan Del Monte at August 30, 1896
Pinaglabanan – name of place where the bloody battle happened
Bonifacio’s 1,000-armed men vs 100 Spanish riflemen and artilarry
Battle of Pinaglabanan
THE SPREAD OF ARMED RESISTANCE TO SPAIN
Governor General Ramon Blanco – placed eight provinces under martial law
Manila, Laguna, Bulacan, Batangas, Cavite, Pampanga, Tarlac, and
Nueva Ecija
SPANISH REIGN OF TERROR
Great number of Filipinos were executed at Luneta
most notable of them was rizal
KKK: the secret organization that initiated the revolt
Andres Bonifacio - was the Supreme of the Katipunan (KKK)
Inspiration from Dr. Jose Rizal
Rizal’s arrest and deportation to Dapitan paved way for aggressive reform
Rizal refused to participate
Membership grew to an estimated 100,000 by august 1896
A series of bloody revolts
‘Cry of Pugad Lawin’ - nationwide revolt
Battle of Manila 1896 - Planned an attack on Manila but was defeated
Battle of Imus September 1896 - decisive victory for the Filipino
revolutionaries
Battles of Binakbayan, Cavite, (Nov 9-11, 1896) – Greatest Victory of
Filipinos but many died including his friend Candido Tirona
Internal struggles, conflicts, and a surprising turn of events
Alongside the Spanish authorities, Katipuneros were soon fighting amongst
themselves
The Katipunan divided into two councils, namely the Magdiwang and
Magdalo
Aguinaldo vs Bonifacio
Bonifacio lost 29 fights due to lack of military leadership and strategy
Aguinaldo gained popularity and prestige, especially in Binakbayan
Tejeros Convention - March 22, 1897 To settle the leadership dispute
Pamahalaang mapanghimagsik – replace Katipunan; initiated
by the Magdalo
Magdiwang on the other hand wants to retain the Katipunan
Bonifacio lost to Aguinaldo
Bonifacio Defies The Government
Having lost his leadership, Bonifacio insisted that he was still
the leader of the revolution and ignored everything agreed
upon in Tejeros
General Emilio Aguinaldo, as the president, ordered the arrest
of Bonifacio
Bonifacio lost the fight in Limbon and was captured with his
men and his wife while Cicario, his brother, was killed
Execution of Bonifacio
Bonifacio was stabbed in the larynx but was taken alive
Bonifacio was transported to Naic in a hammock
Despite lack of evidence, the brothers werefound guilty of
treason and sedition
Gen Emilio Aguinaldo commuted the sentence of deportation
to Bonifacio but generals Mariano Noriel and Pio Del Pilar went
against his decision
At May 10, the brothers were killed at the foot of mount
Nagpatong buried in a shallow grave marked only with twigs
Biak-na-Bato Constitution/Republic
The succession of defeats of the Katipunan could also be
attributed due to conflict within the organization
Aguinaldo moved northwards from town to town until they
finally settled in Biak-na-Bato
Republic of Biak-na Bato was established with the following
members:
o President – Emilio Aguinaldo
o Vice Pres – Mariano Trias
o Secretary of foreign affairs – Antonio Montenegro
o Secretary of treasury – Baldomero Aguinaldo
o Secretary of war – Emiliano Reigo de Dios
Pact of Biak-na-Bato
Primo de Rivera declared “I can take Biak-na-Bato. Any army
can capture it. But I cannot end the rebellion”. He offered the
branch of peach to the revolutionaries
Pedro Paterno volunteered to be the mediator between the
two and traveled between Manila an Biak-na-Bato for four
months
The pact was signed with the following agenda:
1. The surrender of Emilio Aguinaldo and the rest of the
revolutionary corps
2. Amnesty for those who participated in the revolution
3. Exile to Hong Kong for the revolutionary leadership
4. Payment by the Spanish government to the
revolutionaries in installments: 400,000 pesos upon
leaving the country, 200,000 pesos upon the declaration
of general amnesty
Aguinaldo goes on exile in Honk Kong
Katipunan forces retreated to the mountain in the face of the
Spanish attacks
Aguinaldo entered the accord with the Spaniards, agreeing to
exile in Hong Kong in exchange for 400,000 pesos
The money was used to buy weapon for his troops
The revolution continues
Armed conflicts resumed, this time coming from almost every
Spanish governed province
Aguinaldo and his men were convinced that the Spaniards
would never give the rest of the money as condition of
surrender
They also believed that Spain reneged their commitment on
her promise of amnesty
The exiles renewed their commitment for complete
independence
Role of Filipino women in the revolution
Filipino women played a significant role in the Philippine
Revolution as freedom fighters, war nurses, and makers of the
Philippine flag.
The First Filipino women to loon high in the revolution was
Melchora Aquino or Tandang sora who gained the title of
Grand Old Woman of Balintawak
Notable people includes:
o Gregoria Montoya (Kawit, Cavite) – Joan of Arc of Cavite
o Agueda Kahabagn – Tagalog Joan of Arc
o Teresa Magbanua – Joan of Arc of the Visayas
o Trinidad Tecson (Bulacan) – Mother of Biak-na-Bato
o Nazaria Lagos – Florence Nightingale of Panay
o Patrocinia Gamboa – Heroine of Jaro
References:
Matic T. (n.d.). A History of the Filipino Revolts (From the Tagalog Perspective).
Retrieved from:
https://www.1898miniaturas.com/en/article/history-filipino-revolt/
Valdeavilla R. (2018). The History of the Philippine Revolution. retrieved from:
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/the-history-of-
the-philippine-revolution/
Augustyn et. al. (2016). Philippine Revolution. retrieved from:
https://www.britannica.com/event/Philippine-Revolution
Lacandula, C. M., & Corpuz, L. N. (2010). Philippine History. Plaridel, Bulacan:
TCS Publishing House.
