Malolos sa Pahina ng Kasaysayan

Malolos sa Pahina ng Kasaysayan

Historical Reprints Tungkol sa

Ang Malolos sa Pahina ng Kasaysayan ay serye ng mga mumunting publikasyon na muling nagsasa-imprenta ng mga babasahin ukol sa Malolos mula sa mga pahina ng kasaysayan.

Inisyatibo ito ng Gurong Nagbabalik sa Bayan, Inc. katuwang ang MHPNHS Aklatang Gabriel A. Bernardo Filipiniana.

Ang unang serye ng mga historical reprints na ito ay mula sa mga clippings na masinop na tinipon ng lokal na mananalaysay ng Bulakan na si Antonio B. Valeriano.

Patnugutan

Patnugot: Frederick JA Macale

Tagatipa: Allerick Gelo Villaluz

Tagawasto: Kyla Balatbat

Pangulo, GNB, Inc.: Dr. Reynaldo S. Naguit

Inimprenta 2023, Malolos

The Local is National

Malolos Malolos Malolos

sa pahina ng kasaysayan

Talaan ng Nilalaman

THE MALOLOS CONSTITUTION - 69 YEARS AFTER 1

Ni E. P. Patanñe

The Weekly NATION, Setyembre 18, 1967

REPUBLIC IS BORN AT MALOLOS

Ni F. Delor Angeles

Sunday Times Magazine

3. THE MALOLOS CONGRESS: THE MAKING OF A CONSTITUTION, THE BIRTHING OF A REPUBLIC

4. AN AUTHENTIC HISTORIC EVENT, THE FIRST REPUBLIC IN ASIA

Ni Rodolfo G Tupas

The Sunday Magazine, Hunyo 15, 1969

Ni Romy Mariñas Sunday, Setyembre 13, 1987 5. THE MALOLOS CONGRESS MADE THE MOVE FOR A CHURCH SEPARATE FROM THE STATE

Ni Andres Cristobal

Sunday Times Magazine, Nobyembre 15, 1970 6. DATELINE: MALOLOS (September 10, 1898 - March 31, 1899)

The Weekly NATION, Disyembre 30, 1986 7. TWO GREAT MINDS PARTICIPATE A CONTROVERSY OVER A CONSTITUTION

Ni A Oliver Flores

Sunday Times Magazine, Hunyo 15, 1969 8. THE SAGA OF THE MALOLOS CONGRESS

Ni Dr Francisco Villanueva, Jr

Sunday Chronicle Magazine, Setyembre 24, 1961

This old photo was taken during the proclamation of the First Philippine Republic in Barasaoin, Malolos, Bulacan in 1898.

The Weekly NATION September 18, 1967

THE MALOLOS CONSTITUTION69 YEARS AFTER

Ni E. P. Patanñe

THE beginning of the end for the Aguinaldo government was also a glorious moment in the history of the Filipino people, when in those September days of 1898 the ground was cleared for the laying of the cornerstone of the first democracy in Asia. It was the climax to the Philippines' struggle for freedom.

May 1898 saw the triumph of American naval might over the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay and the return of Aguinaldo and other exiled Filipino leaders from Hong Kong. The following month, June witnessed the proclamation of Philippine independence in Kawit, Cavite and the formation of a dictatorial government quickly succeeded by a revolutionary government

The months of June and July also the landing of American troops on Philippine soil, the United States pursuing the war against Spain to this corner of the world. On August 13, 1898, after a token resistance by the Spanish garrison, American troops captured Manila while Filipino soldiers were conveniently kept out of the fight America's designs on the Philippines were apparent: she coveted the islands.

Following the capture of Manila, American and Filipino troops kept an eye on one another while tension mounted.

The revolutionary government had ordered and convoked a Congress in Malolos, Bulacan, to confront the Americans with a de facto government. Already Filipino diplomats were hard at work preventing cession of the islands.

A protocol of peace signed by the US and Spain in August already indicated the drift of things: a peace treaty was in the making.

Aguinaldo moved his government from Kawit to Bacoor, then in September decided to transfer to Malolos where a Revolutionary Congress was to be convened Site of the Congress was the Barasoain Church

Conditions in the provinces were still unstable and Aguinaldo was forced to appoint the delegates He appointed 50, the number later increased to 60 The delegates to the Revolutionary Congress made up a roster of the country's most outstanding leaders.

Aguinaldo and his party left Bacoor for Caloocan, passing through Parañaque and Pasig, to Marikina skirting around the city of Manila. In Caloocan, he took the train for Malolos, arriving in the Bulacan capital half past midnight Sept. 9, 1898.

Preparations were immediately made for the Congress, and on the bright morning of Sept. 15, 1898, Malolos stirred to history. The Banda Pasig played the national anthem while thousands in uniforms and in their best attire crowded the thoroughfares of the old town, the streets graced by arches and bedecked with the Filipino flag.

An American correspondent then in Malolos, F. D. Millet, described the setting of the historic meeting -

"At the large basilica of Barasoain, we found a large number of the delegates already assembled, and the guards drawn up to receive the expected cortege of the President and his suite. The bald interior of the church was sparsely relieved by crossed palm leaves and wreaths fastened to the columns which divide the nave from the aisles, and on the great bare spaces between the windows In the middle of the nave were two bentwood chairs; on either side and behind these, in the aisles, were seats and benches for spectators To the left of the chanel, a long table, draped with blue and red, was arranged for the secretaries, and opposite it were special seats for invited guests, and in the front one next to the chancel rail we were assigned our places. The chanel was hung with a great white drapery, rudely painted to represent ermine, and a broad border of red cloth with palm leaves and wreaths framed in this curtain

“Crossedinsurgentflagsornamentedthepilastersoneachside,andinthemiddleofthe chancel, under the imitation ermine, was a long table draped with light blue and crimson, andbehindthisthreelargecarvedchairs.

"Whilewewerewaitingforthefunctionariestoarrive,wehadanexcellentopportunityof studying those who had come from islands to assist in the foundation of a republic --- for thiswastheirprofessedpurpose.Everymanwasdressedinafullblackcostumeofmoreor less fashionable cut, according to his means or his tastes Many of them wore full evening dress,someofthemhadsilkhatsofquaintshapeandwell-wornnap,othersbowlersofthe seasonof1890,butall,toaman,wereinblack "

Aguinaldo arrived and proceeded to read the names of the candidates; thenhedeliveredamessage,firstinTagalogandtheninSpanish Theofficers oftheCongresswereelectedthatafternoon.

A permanent commission of justice was created on September 17 and so were eight other committees of the Congress and on September 29, the independenceproclaimedatKawitwasratified.

Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista took over the presiding chair after the inaugural ceremonies and promptly created two committees: one to go over the credentials of the delegates and the other to review the committee on credentials'report.

The officers of the Congress, elected on September 16 were: Pedro A. Paterno, president; Benito Legarda, vice president; Gregorio Araneta, and PabloOcampo,secretaries.

Apolinario Mabini, Aguinaldo's adviser, soon after the inauguration questioned the power of the Revolutionary Congress to draft a Constitution, citing the fact that this power was not found in Articles 15 and 16 of the OrganicDecreeofJune23,1898,whichhehimselfhadwritten

Felipe Calderon took exception to Mabini's contention and argued that "in ordertosecurerecognitionofPhilippineindependencebyotherpowersthey mustproduceafairlymodernandup-to-dateConstitution"

Factions the absolutists under Mabini and the constitutionalists led by Calderon-formed,butintheendCalderonandhisfollowerswonout.

ThreedraftsoftheConstitutionweresubmittedtoacommittee:theMabini Plan, the Paterno Plan, and the Calderon Plan. Mabini drew from the constitutional program of the Philippine Republic drafted in Cavite in 1898 and included the True Decalogue. The Paterno draft was modeled after the Spanish Constitution. Calderon's draft was based on the constitutions of France,Belgium,CostaRica,Brazil,Nicaragua,Mexico,andGuatemala.

TheConstitutionwasdebatedandfinallyapprovedinNovember.

The Treaty of Paris would be signed in December and would cede the Philippines to the United States for $20 million. Then, on February 4, 1899, hostilities would break out between Filipino and American troops. The last of theFilipinogeneralswouldsurrenderin1902.

The Malolos Constitution born of the Revolutionary Congress convened in September 1898 is a document of great political sophistication. Its preamble reads:

"We,therepresentativesoftheFilipinopeople,lawfullyassembledtomake justicesecure,provideforthecommonsafety,promotethegeneralgood,and safeguardthebenefitsoffreedom,imploringtheaidoftheSupremeLawgiver of the Universe, in order to achieve these ends do here by vote, decree and sanctionthefollowing:"

Article 5 was cause for a grand debate among the delegates. This had something to do with religion. It was originally suggested that Catholicism be made the state religion, but a final vote rejected the idea And this was the finalandacceptedstatement:

"TheStaterecognizesthefreedomandequalityofallreligionsaswellas theseparationofChurchandState"

The new Constitution was called the "Political Constitution of the Philippine Republic," and it consisted of a preamble, 14 titles, 101 articles, and"anadditionalarticle"

Someofitssalientprovisions:

TITLE I Of the Republic

ARTICLE I The political association of all Filipinos constitutes a Nation which, organized as a State, is called the Philippine Republic

ARTICLE 2 The Philippine Republic is free and independent

ARTICLE 3 Sovereignty resides exclusively in the people

TITLE III Of Religion

ARTICLE 5 The State recognizes the freedom and equality of all religions as well as the separation of Church and State

TITLE IV Of Filipinos and their Civic and Personal Rights

ARTICLE 19 No Filipino who enjoys full possession of his civic and personal rights may be impeded in the free exercises thereof

ARTICLE 20. No Filipino may be deprived of:

(1) The right to express his ideas and opinions freely, whether by word of mouth or in writing, making use of the printing press or other similar means;

(2) The right of association for any of the purposes of human life not contrary to public morals; and finally,

(3) The right to present petitions, whether individual or collective, to public officials and state authorities The right of petition may not be exercised by any kind of armed force

ARTICLE 21 The exercise of the rights enumerated in the preceding article are subject to the general provisions of law by which they are regulated

ARTICLE 27 Every Filipino has the duty of taking up arms in defense of the Fatherland when so required by law, and to contribute to the expenses of the State in proportion to his means

The present-day Constitution of the Philippines drafted in 1934 in spirit did not depart largely from the constitutions of Biak na Bato and Malolos. A discernible influence, however, is conformity with American constitutional ideas, something which Calderon had eschewed because of a peculiar psychology of the Filipino people.

Worth comparing are the present- day Constitution's Bill of Rights and the provisions of the Malolos Constitution on "civil and personal rights." The parallels are interesting, suggesting almost the same kind of thinking on this important Article.

The 1934 Constitution carries this preamble:

“The Filipino people, imploring the aid of Divine Providence, in order to establish a government that shall embody their ideals, conserve and develop the patrimony of the nation, promote the general welfare, and secure to themselves and their posterity the blessings of independence under a regime of justice, liberty, and democracy, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution."

A mere reading of the events during the last half of 1898 will already show how the Filipino leaders at the time were to succeed in forming a Philippine government and lay the foundations of a republic. But history was to take a new course.

The jubilation at Malolos during those September days was soon to turn into a mood for war. The young Republic was to lose what it had won. MPK

THE REPUBLIC IS BORN AT MALOLOS

Ni F. Delor Angeles

LATE in the night of January 22, exactly 62 years ago today, the electric lights in Malolos glaredon.Thedustyroadswerefullofpeople soldiers shouting orders, civilians carrying bundles of sorts or sucklings for roasting, and carromatas with passengers from nearby townsandprovinces.

Earlier in the day, the trains had unloaded hundreds of government officials, military personnel, and foreign visitors. Bancas of curious folks from nearby towns in Bulacan had likewise entered the town, through the slug-gishcreekwindingbetweenthechurches ofBarasoainandMalolos,disembarkingatthe old Spanish bridge near the plaza. This multitude stumbled into different directions to the Hotel Katipunan, to government quarters, or to the houses of friends. They created a temporary housing problem, consideringthatinMalolostherewerealready more than 6000 troops, besides the officials andemployeesoftherepublicangovernment. The old town, capital of the Philippine Republic, was in festive mood. Bamboo arches. decorated with palm leaves, stood at certainsectionsoftheroadsinthepoblacion. Houses had been cleaned. Floors had been polished And curtains had been hung at windows.

There was a very good reason for all this feverish activity. The Constitution had been completed by the Revolutionary Congress and had been given executive approval. General Aguinaldo had been elected President of the Republic by the Assembly of Representatives. And January 23, the following day, was to be the inauguration of the first government under the Constitution.

LEADER of his people, Emilio Aguinaldo is photographed in his general's uniform.

The Heraldo Filipino, official organ of the republican government, reported that the inaugural ceremonies began "promptly" at 8:30 in the morning at the Barasoain Church, seat of Congress. The newspaper described in Tagalog the enthusiasm of the people, thus: "Nagsasalio ang tugtugan ng marcha nacional sa boong dinaanan Nagsisicsic ang magcabicabila ng daan sa tauong nanunuod Puno ng tauo hanggang patio (sa Barasoain)...di malagot- lagot na sigao na 'Manatili ang ating Republica!"

The inaugural ceremonies opened with the reading of the presidential decree by Pablo Ocampo, secretary of the Revolutionary Congress, promulgating the Constitution of the Republic. Then, Pedro Paterno, President of the Congress, stood up and led the members of the national legislature in the oath of loyalty to the Constitution

The oath taking over, Paterno announced that General Aguinaldo had been elected President of the Republic by the Assembly of Representatives, a fact already known to everyone in the assembly hall.

CONGRESSIONALCOMMITTEE

A congressional committee appointed by Paterno, then, hastened to the presidential quarters, at the convent of what is now the Church of Immaculate Conception, to "inform" the General of his election. Accompanied by his cabinet, military staff and other top brass, provincial governors and the presidential guard, President Aguinaldo rode in a carriage to Barasoain. Brass bands played for the presidential retinue all along the way to the halls of Congress. As the carriage proceeded along a street cordoned by soldiers in blue rayadillo, people cheered wildly. Aguinaldo was in formal black coat, complete with top hat, white gloves, bow tie and gold-knobbed cane. This was the height of his career, a long thorny road that coursed through the battlefields of Cavite, the hideout at Biyak-na-Bato, and to Hong Kong. One wonders how he felt as he watched his people, now pushing, now breaking through the cordon of troops. Pott shouting his name, wishing well- him well, wishing the Republic well, shouting because that day was their day, and shouting as if tomorrow was still theirs. MPK

The Malolos Congress the birthing place of a Republic

The making of a Constitution,

EIGHTY-NINE years ago today, Katipuneros in full battle regalia massed on the streets of Malolos. The hatted officers, their swords unsheathed, and the ranks, also hatted and muskets resting on their shoulders, were awaiting the arrival of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo The municipio and the Katipuneros were welcoming the man to the Malolos Congress which, 48 hours after the general's arrival, would begin working on the first-ever Constitution of the Philippines. The Barasoain Church would be the session hall for the Congress of a Republic.

In the eyes of the island's seven million inhabitants, Aguinaldo was their president The 29-year-old general had been acclaimed rightly so four months before in his hometown of Kawit in Cavite There, on June 12, 1898, the revolutionary government proclaimed independence from Spain, read the Declaration of Independence, unfurled the flag of the First Philippine Republic, and played the national anthem.

In the eyes of US President William McKinley, the foot soldiers and their officers and their president commander-in-chief were insurgents, America having annexed the Philippines exactly a month before, on August 13, when the United States "won" against Spain in the Battle of Manila

GEN. EMILIO FAMY AGUINALDO

The annexation prompted Aguinaldo and his 40,000 strong army to transfer the seat of government from Bacoor, Cavite to Malolos, Bulacan on August 22 He would a few days later issue a proclamation calling for a meeting of delegates to a national assembly in Malolos

Eight days before the flight to Malolos, on August 14, Gen Wesley Merritt had issued a proclamation announcing "the established among you by the United States is a Government of Military Occupation." The day before, McKinley had given explicit instructions to Merritt and Battle of Manila "hero" Adm George Dewey: "There must be no joint occupation with insurgents. Use any means in your judgment necessary to this end."

On August 29, Cen Elwell Otis, who replaced Merritt, reiterated his predecessor's order to shoot on sight any Filipino soldier who dared cross the main bridge into Manila. Bitter over American betrayal, Aguinaldo and his men began retreating to Malolos on September 9 Upon arrival, he declared the town as the new capital of the Republic.

ECLECTICCHAPTER

THE fugitive Republic, left holding the bag by American treachery ilustrado naivete, apparently did not wish to be reminded of anything even remotely associated with McKinley's grand plan for the occupied territory: "the control, disposition, and government of the Philippines," according to a protocol signed in Washington on August 12, 1898.

Felipe Calderon, who Aguinaldo assigned to prepare a working draft of the Constitution, for instance, drew much from South American charters, particularly that of Costa Rica. The draft, as was the final copy approved by Aguinaldo on January 21, 1899, was written in Spanish. These rebuffs, surmised lawyer Rene Sarmiento, a former commissioner of the 1986 Constitutional Commission which produced in October last year the fourth Constitution in Philippine history, may have been dictated composition, by the class generally ilustrado, of the 50-man Congress or by the body's deliberate attempt to spite the Americans Calderon, according to Sarmiento, also got his material from the Constitutions of Guatemala, Peru, Italy, and France.

Sarmiento described the Malolos Constitution as "electric" and steeped in the philosophies of John Stuart Mill, John Locke, and Jean Jacques Rousseau. The French spirit lived for a day, at least on the Congress's dining table, through the sardines tomates, aux salmon hollandais, cotelletes de mouton, and champagne served the delegates on September 23.

Consisting of 101 articles (an additional article called for the restoration to the "Filipino state," effective May 24, 1898 when the dictatorial government of Cavite was constituted, of "all lands, buildings, and other properties belonging to the religious corporations in these islands"), the Malolos Charter was a step ahead of the other Constitutions of the Philippines in some respects.

Article 86 provides that "the public debt which the government may have contracted according to this Constitution shall be under the special guaranty of the nation " The last provision of this article, which unfortunately is not found in the 1935, 1973 (as amended in 1976, 1981, and 1984), and Cory Constitutions, states: "No indebtedness shall be created without voting at the same time for the means by which to pay it." An English translation of the Malolos Constitution was given to each of the 45 members of the 1986 Constitutional Commission.

The Malolos Charter also provided for unicameral legislature which, according to Sarmiento, was dictated by the fugitive republic's need to respond to problems immediately and the concern to reduce expenses. Leafing through the Charter reveals, however, that the provisions (Articles 33 to 53) meant to clip the vast executive powers of Aguinaldo. Under Articles 33 to 53. The general as chief executive and commander-in- chief was answerable only to the Assembly of Representatives, or National Assembly the restoration to the "Filipino which had sole authority to enact laws, choose the President, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, and the Solicitor General, and hold responsible for their actuations all members of government.

Surprisingly, the Charter carried no provisions on states of emergencies necessitating, for instance, the declaration of martial law. But given the "omnipotent power (of the National Assembly)," according to Calderon, the provision would have been academic given, furthermore, the people's hamense trust in Aguinaldo as the man the Filipinos needed to take back the laurel of victory the Yankees stole from the indios.

BLURREDMIRROR

ONE notable exception to an otherwise unanimous approval of the provisions was that on religion, with the Congress after prolonged debate voting against Calderon's proposal to make the Roman Catholic religion the official one for Filipinos. Instead, Tomas del Rosario's proposal to separate the Church from the State was adopted. The opening session of the Congress on September 15 saw thealtaroftheBarasoainChurchcompletelycoveredbyacloth.

The Congress came to a close after resolving the separation issue. Aguinaldo approved the draft and on January 21, 1899. He proclaimed the new Constitution the highest law of the land. Two days later, he was formally installed as President of the Philippines, a parade announcing to the world the establishmentoftheFirstPhilippineRepublic.

Malolos had already become a blur when the Treaty of Paris was signed by Spain and the United States on December 1898. The Malolos Constitution, in Aguinaldo's words, "the most glorious expression of the noble aspirations of the Filipino people, a mirror of their culture, and clear proof before the world of their capacity to govern themselves," closed another chapter in Philippine history on March 23, 1901 when Brig. Gen. Frederick Funston captured the Filipino general in Palanan, Isabela. The general had just turned 32 the day before, his knighthood in flower, his stab at nationhood nipped by ascendant imperialism. MPK

An authentic historic event

THE FIRST REPUBLIC IN ASIA

By Ronald G. Tupas

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE issued by General Aguinaldo and his gallant group of patriots in Kawit on June 12, 1898 was the culmination of the Revolution ignited by Bonifacio and the daring Katipuneros in the suburbs of Manila two years earlier. The Republic that was subsequently established by the revolutionaries was the first in Asia.

On June 12, 71 years ago, General Aguinaldo, in the presence of excited Filipinos, proclaimed the independence of the Philippines in his residence in Kawit, the headquarters of the revolutionary forces.

Among those present in the crowd was an American, Col. L. M. Johnson, the secretary of Admiral George Dewey who was sent to represent the Admiral. At this time, the Filipino revolutionaries were uncertain about the intentions of the Americans in the Philippines.

The Filipino tricolor, fashioned by Marcela M. Agoncillo was, hoisted for the first time on the balcony of General Aguinaldo's residence while the band played "Marcha Nacional Fillpina," composed by Juan Felipe

General Aguinaldo decided to issue the historic proclamation with the aim in mind of securing the loyalty of the Filipino people.

Some of the Ilustrados were torn between their loyalties to Spain and their own country and still hang on to the hope that the Mother Country would still grant them representation in the Spanish Cortes.

General Aguinaldo reasoned that with the initial military victories over the Spaniards and the defection of the Filipino militia under the Spaniards to the revolutionary cause, a declaration of independence would rally the entire nation to the flag of the newly-founded Philippine government

While Aguinaldo, and his revolutionary junta hibernating in Hong Kong, things were coming to a boil in the Philippines. Despite General Fernando Primo de Rivera's sincere desire for reforms for the Filipinos and his political astuteness in handling the military situation, the oppressive conditions that gave rise to the Revolution were still present and more and more clashes flared up in the countryside

At the Cavite naval yard, for instance, after the Spanish officers shot to death eight Filipino corporals in the presence of the Filipino militia for refusing to fight the rebels, the entire 74th Filipino regiment marched angrily out of the barracks and joined the revolutionaries. The return of Aguinaldo from exle in Hong Kong and the rearming of the revolutionaries marked the beginning of the end of the Spanish regime. It gave fresh momentum to the Revolution.

It was reported that by the end of May 1898, the rejuvenated Filipino revolutionaries under the leadership of Aguinaldo had captured 5,000 Spanish prisoners and were now equipped with 10,500 rifles and eight field pieces. More guns purchased in China were on their way to the insurgents.

By the time the Philippine Republic was established in Malolos, Bulacan, the Philippine revolutionary army swelled to 30,000 and tod 9,000 prisoners.

A dictatorial government was organized briefly on May 24, 1898 but it was supplanted by a revolutionary government on June 23 the same year under the advise of Apolinario Mabini, the "brains of the Revolution."

The revolutionary Government, Aguinald and Mabini argued, was founded temporarily to suit the abnormal conditions and as a preparation to the founding of the authentic Republic.

When tension and misunderstanding developed between the Americans and the Filipinos, Aguinaldo moved the seat of the revolutionary government to Malolos, Bulacan, on Sept. 14, 1898. On September 15, the revolutionary Congress was convoked

What Aguinaldo sought was the creation of a representative government and he had in mind making an impression with the foreign powers whom he hoped would recognize the Philippine Republic.

On September 15 the appointive and elective delegates to the Malolos Congress converged at the convent of Barasoain Church.

Addressing the delegates, Aguinaldo said it was not enough that the Filipinos fight injustice but that they write a "solemn document," he Constitution, "expressive of the high aspirations of the country, accompanied by all the prestige and the grandeur of the Filipino race, in order to salute with this the majesty of those nations which are united in accomplishing the high results of civilization and progress."

The Malolos Congress ratified the June 12 Declaration of Independence on September 29 and an enthusiastic Aguinaldo declared: " now we witness the truth of what the famous President Monroe said that the United States is for the Americans'; now I answer that the Philippines is for the Filipinos..." General Aguinaldo's address on September 15 prompted the framing of the Malolos Constitution against the wishes of Mabini who wanted to steer clear of the conservative elements in the Malolos Congress. On January 21, 1899, Aguinaldo promulgated the "solemn document " On January 23, 1899, amidst the wild and joyous shouting of harassed but determined people, Aguinaldo proclaimed the Philippine Republic

Aguinaldo, after taking his office as Chief Executive of the First Republic, announced:

"We are no longer insurgents, we are no longer revolutionists, that is to say, armed men desirous of destroying and annihilating the enemy. We are now Republicans, that is to say, men of law, able to fraternize with all other nations..."

In the months that followed, the First Republic experienced turbulent internal conflicts because of the division of the wealthy conservatives and the "radical" wing led by Mabini and supported by Antonio Luna. In the end, Mabini was tragically forced to resign. Mabini wanted absolute independence while the Paterno-Buencamino group argued for autonomy under the Americans.

But whatever shortcomings the First Republic had, it was the first Republic established in Asia. Fighting continued throughout the archipelago and Spanish garrisons fell to the rebels in Negros, Rizal, Nueva Viscaya, and Nueva Ecija In Baler, Tayabas, heroic Spaniards held the rebels at bay for more than a year before finally surrendering.

The termination of the Philippine-American war in 1902 brought to an end the armed struggle of the Filipinos to be and remain independent. But however brief was the life of the First Philippine Republic, it was the first to rise in Asia and it was established at the height of Western imperialism in this part of the world.

A few Americans gave their honest opinion on the Filipinos at this time. One of them, John Barrett, writing of the Malolos Congress, observed: "By the middle of October, 1898 (Aguinaldo) had assembled at Malolos a congress of one hundred men who would compare in behaviour, manner, and dress and education with the average men of the better classes of other Asiatic nations..."

The foreign powers, themselves imperialists, did not recognize the First Philippine Republic because of considerations for both Spain and the United States but this does not all take away the glory and greatness of the First Republic and the First Revolution in Asia. The fires of freedom had spread through the length and breadth of the Philippine archipelago.

The Philippine Revolution and the establishment of the First Philippine Republic were not mere illusions but authentic historical events. They have left us the legacy of unparalleled heroism in our struggle for freedom and independence Because of this legacy, Filipinos can hold their heads up high. MPK

TheMalolosCongressmadethemovefor

ACHURCHSEPARATEFROMTHESTATE

ByAndresCristobalCruz

ON SEPTEMBER 15, 1898, the Revolutionary Congress of the Philippines was inaugurated in Malolos, Bulacan. It was convened to ratify the independence proclaimed June 12, 1898 by Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite, and to draft a constitution based on republican ideals. One of the issues it discussed was the separation of Church and State.

Felipe Calderon proposed in the Congress that "the nation shall protect the cult and the ministers of the Roman Apostolic religion, which is the religion of the state and shall not utilize its revenues for the support of any other cult " Calderon argued that the Catholic Church, because of its established influence, could serve as a nullifying factor in a country with linguistic and ethnological differences; that unity of Church and State would be honoring the Filipino priests, like Burgos, Zamora, Gomez, and Pelaez who had stood for Filipinization of the clergy; and that church properties and friar lands would go the hands of the Filipino clergy

Manuel Gomez picked up from there and said that Catholic religion should be the official religion of the state because it was the religion professed by Filipinos. In a memorandum to the Congress, a Padre Garces rationalized his petition that Catholic religion be made the state religion, saying that neither society nor good government can exist without morality, order and authority, that is, without law, and therefore without religion Civil society is conceived as a moral person, and as such is obliged to have a religion.

General Aguinaldo arrives in Barasoain, Bulacan on January 23, 1899 for his inauguration

ForSeparation

There were almost as many advocates for the separation as for the unity of Church and State Among the separation advocates were Freemasons Tomas del Rosario who helped draft the Malolos Constitution, and Arcadio del Rosario, a member of Rizal's Liga Filipina. Del Rosario presented the amendment that "The State recognizes the equality of all religious worships and the separation of the Church and State."

Tomas del Rosario argued that it wasn't really the Church alone that unified the country, and in the case of the Philippines, it bred intolerance The other advocates, it could be imagined, discussed the abuses of friars and recalled before the members of the Congress the "antifriarism" of the Propaganda Movement. Reminding the Congress that there were Moslem Filipinos, del Rosario warned that adoption of Catholic religion as state religion might bring about a civil war. He maintained the theory that the state must not protect any particular religion and that no religion should depend on the state Otherwise, it would be to allow a state within a state. Calderon countered that the Filipino clergy would not usurp state powers. Arcadio del Rosario said the danger of usurpation would not come from the Filipino priests but from the Pope. He further argued that "a state religion does not necessarily constitute a more efficient brake on passions," and that to "protect a

religion is to grant a privilege and all privileges are like money loaned at a usurious rate which sooner or later will ruin the state." Like Marcelo H. del Pilar, Arcadio del Rosario also pointed out that in all its 350 years in the Philippines, the Catholic Church hindered rather than advanced the progress of the country. While admitting that the Church was not its ministers, he argued that the ministers might use both Church and State to promote their own interests.

EnterMabini

In his Mis Memorias sobre la Revolucion Filipina, Calderon said Mabini did not accept the form in which the proposed amendment for the separation of Church and State was presented. Mabini was also a Freemason. He was for the separation of Church and State, but he surprised Congress when he proposed that the execution of the 5th article of title 3 be suspended until the meeting of a constituent assembly.

The particular amendment 5th article on the separation of Church and State I had been voted on twice, and twice the votes were tie. The chairman of the committee discussing the amendment, Pablo Tekson on the third voting went along with the amendment of Tomas del Rosario, and the voting was 26 in favor, 25 against. On Mabini's proposal to suspend execution of principle of the separation of Church and State, the contemporary UP scholar, Dr. Cesar Adib Majul (in The Political and Constitutional Ideas of the Philippine Revolution) points out that Mabini's

position was one of political expediency, that Mabini was expecting an outbreak of hostilities between Aguinaldo's Revolutionary government and the American army which was awaiting more reinforcements and would not allow the revolutionaries from entering Manila. Majul concludes that Mabini was fully aware of the prestige of the Filipino clergy and that they could be counted on in case of a Filipino- American war. Majul quotes Mabini's memorandum to Aguinaldo on the separation issue then being discussed. "If you favor one faction then the other will separate itself from the government... It is imperative that you commission a Secretary to inform Congress that unless the time becomes normal, such problems should not be discussed... If you accept the unity of Church and State, these men from whom one could expect more services in critical times, will break with you." In his memorandum to the council of state, Mabini warned that to establish openly the separation of Church and State at the time "may give cause for the withdrawal of the supporters of religion."

TheRevolutionaryGovernmentand theFilipinoClergy

The support of the Filipino clergy had been sought by the Revolutionary Government months before the Malolos Congress. On July 26, 1898, Aguinaldo decreed that governors of provinces under the government should ask the Filipino clergy, in the name of patriotism, to call upon their parishioners to support the government in securing the country's Independence. Again on September 1, 1898, the civil authorities were ordered to avoid conflicts with the clergy

Aguinaldo named Gregorio Aglipay, an Ilocano priest excommunicated by the Church, commissioner, to see to it that parish funds collected by the Filipino clergy do not go to Friar Bernardino Nozaleda, Manila Archbishop, who had continued to appoint Filipino priests. On October 20, 1898, Aguinaldo decreed that these Filipino priests nominated by Nozaleda would not be recognized unless confirmed by Aguinaldo. Aglipay, commissioned by Aguinaldo in 1899, went to the parish churches. Imbued with the nationalism of Burgos, Zamora, and Gomez, the Filipino clergy helped raise funds for the Revolutionary Government and even more so during the FilipinoAmerican war

When the Malolos Constitution article on the separation of Church and State took effect, the Revolutionary Government continued to recognize its need for the Filipino clergy, without however allowing it to become so economically powerful as to repeat the abuses of the friars. The Filipinization of the clergy was one of the demands of the revolution. Earlier, in 1898, the Hong Kong Junta in its first manifesto declared its desire "that the native clergy be those to direct and teach the people from every step of the ecclesiastical hierarchy " However, some priests still recognized the authority of Archbishop Nozaleda, although they were supporting the Revolutionary government. Mabini was for an establishment of a National Church.

He argued that Nozaleda could not exercise jurisdiction in the provinces occupied by the revolutionary Government because Manila, where Nozaleda was, was already occupied by the American forces.

EntertheAmericans

Nozaleda through General Otis of the American army asked the government of Aguinaldo to release Spanish civil officials who were prisoners; Aguinaldo replied that “the Spanish Government and the Pope have proven themselves ignorant of law or justice when one deals with their interests... the Filipinos wish to hold the civil officials in order to obtain the liberty of the prisoners and deported Filipinos." Aguinaldo would also hold Spanish friars in order to obtain recognition of the Filipino clergy by the Vatican.

Aglipay, with the title "Vicario General Castrence de la Republica o Clero Filipino," and only priest delegate to the Malolos Congress rallied the Filipino clergy to support the revolution and reminded them that the revolution sought to preserve the purity of the Catholic religion professed by Filipinos He went as far as proposing the establishment of a National Church and to meet with Vatican representatives to discuss the structure and aims of the Filipino church. On October 23, 1899, in Paniqui, Tarlac, the Filipino clergy met and named a committee to get Papal approval. The outbreak of the war between the US and the Republic of the Philippines shelved the establishment and formal organization of a National Catholic Church.

Majul gives the opinion that the formation of a Filipino church "was... a tool to further the aims of the Revolution... Since the Revolution fought the friars vehemently, the revolutionary leaders tried to avoid being judged anti- religious, by demonstrating that they had no intention of taking away the Faith from the people." Majul concludes that "the formation of a national church may also be viewed as a preventive against control by foreign religious corporations."

After the betrayal of the Revolution by the Americans, the US turn about on its avowed aims, and its takeover of the Philippines through deceit and imperialist force, the separation of Church and State was to be discussed again. An Aglipayan movement was encouraged, but the new missionary forces of the US Protestants and Catholics were already in the land. MPK

AnewspapercorrespondentreportstheRevolutioninthejournalisticidiomoftoday.

DATELINE: MALOLOS

(September 10, 1898 - March 31, 1899)

ByFranciscoCalalang

THIS writer is one of the fortunate people of this country who basks in the glory of history as I spend most of my waking hours in Malolos, the capital of the first Philippine Republic. Every time I travel from Hagonoy, my hometown, to the provincial capitol of Bulacan, I pass by the church and convent of Malolos which were the executive building and presidential palace, respectively, of President Aguinaldo during his sojourn in this town while it was the capital of the first republic.

I also pass by the church of Barasoain, the Legislative Hall of the Revolutionary Congress. Every day I also pass by the different private homes which housed the different departmental offices of the republic It is for this reason I have been inspired to write. adapted to the position If this writer was a reporter when Malolos was the nation's capital, the following would be the dispatches I would have sent to my editor in Manila:

AguinaldoinMalolos

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Sept. 10 - General Emilio Aguinaldo and the members of the cabinet and other high officials of the Revolutionary Government arrived at this town at 12:30 p.m. today. They were met at the Malolos Railroad station at barrio Catmon by companies of the Revolutionary Forces under the command of the young and dashing General Gregorio del Pilar, Commanding General of the brigade operating in Bulacan and Southern Nueva Ecija.

As General Aguinaldo and his aides got off the train the Revolutionary Band played the "Marcha Triumfal." Shouts of Mabuhay from among the thousands of people who also came to meet Aguinaldo filled the air He mounted his white horse and inspected the guard of honor. Many of the top brass who arrived with Aguinaldo were in chaquetillas and other suits adapted to the position they held. After the inspection the parade started toward the center of the town As the parade wound its way thru the villages of Catmon and San Gabriel General Aguinaldo and his staff were greeted by the people lining both sides of the road with shouts of Mabuhay.

The parade ended at the Malolos churchyard, Aguinaldo then proceeded to his executive office, which was the Malolos church. The Malolos convent will be his residence in the capital. The members of Aguinaldo's cabinet were assigned to the following homes, which will also be their departmental offices: General Baldomero, Secretary of War, in the home of Arcadio Ejercito at the corner of Pariancillo and F. Estrella streets: Leandro G. Ibarra, Secretary of Interior, in the home of Erasto Cervantes: Cayetano Arellano, Secretary of the Exterior, in the home of Lino Reyes; General Mariano Trias Closas, Secretary of Finance in the home of Don Antonio Bautista; General Jose Alejandrino, Secretary of Agriculture in the home of Gavino Tantoco; the War Commissary in the home of Ponciano Tiongson.

The Barasoain Convent was selected as the Congressional Hall of the members of the Revolutionary Congress and the Barasoain Convent will house the University of the Philippines. The Public Printing Press will be housed in the Casa Real at the foot of the Malolos bridge

CongressOpens

MALOLOS. Bulacan, Sept. 15 The opening session of the Revolutionary Congress was held this morning in the Barasoain Church Fifty two delegates from different provinces from as far north as Ilocos Norte and as far south as Bohol in the Visayan Islands attended the initial session. It was learned, however, from the acting secretary of the Congress that the total number of delegates to compose the congress will be 92. Delegate Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista was elected provisional president of the Congress. He announced that the delegates were convoked in order to make the Central government more representative and to attract the better educated class of people.

The following is a list of the members of Revolutionary Congress: Mariano Abella, Gregorio Aglipay, Sofio Alandi, Jose Albert Gregorio Aguilera, Jose Alejandrino, Raymundo Alindala, Leon Apacible, Tomas Arejola, Patricio Bailon, Santiago Barcelona, Alberto Barretto. Jose Basa, Ariston Bautista Lim, Felix Bautista, Vito Belarmino, Higino Benitez, Felipe Buencamino, Felipe Calderon, Marcial Calleja, Fernando Canon, Sebastian de Castro, Telesforo Chuidian, Graciano Cordero, Jose Coronel, Mena Crisologo, Mariano Crisostomo, Arsenio Cruz Herrera, Antonio Feliciano, Jose Fernandez, Felix Ferrer Pascual, Melecio Figueroa, Vicente Foz, Perfecto Gabriel, Martin Garcia, Ariston Gella, Manuel Gomez Martinez, Javier G. Salvador, Lucas G Manirang, Joaquin Gonzales, Teodoro Gonzales, Leon Ma Guerrero, Mateo Gutierrez Ubaldo, Santiago Icasiano, Hugo Ilagan, Vicente G. Pagulayan, Jose R. Infante, Sotero Laurel, Benito Legarda, Ceferino de Leon, Jose M Lerma, Mariano Lopez, Justo Lukban, Antonio Luna, Joaquin Luna, Jose Hipolito

Magsalin Juan Manda Juan Nepomuceno, Pablo Ocampo, Jose Oliveros, Ricardo Paras, Trinidad H. P de Tavera, Isidro Paredes, Pedro A. Paterno, del Pilar, Esteban dela Rama, Narciso R Hidalgo, Ambrosio R Bautista, Arcadio del Rosario, Lorenzo del Rosario Mariano V del Rosario Mateo Rosario, Simplicio del Rosario Tomas G del Rosario, Jose Salamanca, Vicente del Prado, Domingo Samson. Teodoro Sandico, Jose Santiago, Vicente Samosa, Pablo Tecson Roque Basilio Teodoro, Isidro Torres, Jose Tuason, Juan Tuason, Aguedo Velarde Ignacio Villamor, Manuel Xeres Burgos, Miguel Zaragosa and Jose Ma. de la Viña.

CongressElectedOfficers

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Sept. 16 - On the second day of session of the Revolutionary Congress, the members elected the officers of the Congress. The following were elected: President - Pedro A. Paterno: Vice President - Benito Legarda: Secretaries Gregorio Araneta and Pablo Ocampo. The session today was a lively ong Observers noted that the members conducted themselves with great decorum and showed a knowledge of debate and parliamentary law and would compare favorably with the Japanese Parliament.

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Sept. 17 Pedro A. Paterno, elected president of the Revolutionary Congress, delivered this morning an impassioned speech before the members of Congress. In the afternoon, the Revolutionary Congress constituted its different committees. The following committees were constituted: committee on felicitations, committee on message, committee on internal regulations, committee on reception, committee on appropriations, committee on festivities, committee on style, and committee to draft the Constitution.

RatificationEve

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Sept. 28 - On the eve of the ratification of the Philippine Independence, which was proclaimed at Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898, the people of Malolos have decorated the streets of the town. Along the streets from the railroad station up to the churchyard of Malolos, several arches were erected at regular intervals. They are gaily decorated with multi-colored paper buntings and numerous Filipino flags. Malolos is more enchanting at night. All homes and arches along the streets and the plaza and the streets bordering the Congressional Hall are lighted with paper lamps of many colors, venetian or crystal so Malolos and Barasoain are veritable dreamlands. Eight bands of musicians from Malolos, Hagonoy, Pulilan, Baliwag, Bocawe, Malabon, Guiguinto, and Betis, Pampanga, played martial music as they paraded along the streets of Malolos and Barasoain attracting people and children and lending festive air.

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Sept 29 - President Aguinaldo declares today an official holiday in all places covered by the jurisdiction of the Philippine Republic to celebrate the ratification of the Philippine Independence at the session Hall of the Revolutionary Congress at the Barasoain Church, Center of festivities are the Malolos and Barasoain areas.

President Aguinaldo will lead the parade which will start at 8 a m from the Presidential Palace up to the Barasoain Church, where the ceremonies covering the ratification of the Philippine Independence will be held. Order of the parade will be as follows: municipal officials of Malolos, Barasoain and Sta. Isabel and other pueblos of the province of Bulacan; Presidential Guard Battalion in gala uniform; members of the Revolutionary Congress; President Aguinaldo accompanied by President Pedro A. Paterno of the R.C.; Vice President Benito Legarda; all department secretaries; generals of the revolutionary forces aides of the President; the float of the Binibining Kalayaan, who will be escorted by soldiers of the revolution; and guests from other countries.

RatificationMarked

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Sept. 30 - The ratification of the Philippine Independence was celebrated yesterday with great pomp and gaiety in all areas covered by the jurisdiction of the Philippine Republic, Center of activities were Malolos and Barasoain. The people of the two places and other towns in Bulacan woke up early, ate their meals early and dressed themselves in their best clothes. All were happy and moved with alacrity Thou- sands trekked to the centers of festivities

To preserve order along the route of the parade soldiers of the Revolutionary Forces in rayadillo and balanggot were assigned to line both sides of the road connecting Malolos and Barasoain.

The parade reached the Congressional Hall at ten o'clock in the morning amidst shouts of the people. The ceremonies started with the speech of President Aguinaldo in Tagalog. He was followed by Don Pedro Paterno, president of the Revolutionary Congress who spoke in Spanish.

The ceremonies ended when the Philippine Independence was ratified by the Revolutionary Congress and approved by President Aguinaldo. The parade wound its way back to the Malolos Church. From the windows of the Malolos Convent, President Aguinaldo, EL Don Pedro Paterno and Don Benito the military parade Two thousand troopers of the Revo- Forces marched and saluted President Aguinaldo.

After the parade a big banquet was held in the Presidential Palace Two hundred guests partook of the sumptuous luncheon offered by President Aguinaldo that noon. The evening of the festivities witnessed again colorful and riotous activities. Bands of music played continuously festive airs and thousands of people filled the churchyards and streets of the centers of festivities to hear the music and witness display of fireworks. The reception hall of the Presidential Palace a grand ball was held It was featured by a rigodon de honor

It was noted that during two days of activities no untoward event happened. An English guest remarked that he did not see any drunken individual, no vices of any kind, theft nor petty quarrel. The gaining of independence was really welcomed with dignity by the people.

CongressatWork

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Oct 1 - The Revolutionary Congress after two days of festivities started to tackle legislative matters. Foremost in the agenda is the consideration of the draft of the Constitution. They started with the section by section consideration of the draft, which was prepared by Don Felipe Calderon

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Oct. 4 - Don Benito Legarda presented today a bill providing for the sale of bonds by the Philippine Republic

CharterDraft

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Oct. 8 - Don Felipe Calderon, the delegate who prepared the draft of the Constitution, began reading the draft of the Constitution for consideration of the body. Chapter III of the draft of the constitution covering religion was the subject of the most heated discussion. so its consideration was put off for a later date. MALOLOS, Bulacan, Oct. 18 Congress approved today the bill presented by Don Benito Legarda regarding the sale of bonds by the government.

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Nov 22 - Delegate Don Arcadio del Rosario delivered a speech the whole morning and five hours more this afternoon to oppose the provision of Article III proposing to unite the church and state.

Voting on the question whether the church and state should be separate was a tie until the secretary of the congress Pablo Tecson of Bulacan was allowed to vote. He voted for the separation of the church and state so those who were for the separation got the upper hand.

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Nov 26 President Aguinaldo approved the bill providing for the sale of bonds by the government.

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Nov 29- The Revolutionary Congress approved the Constitution of the Philippines.

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Dec 13 Apolinario Mabini presented a document belittling the authority of the Constitution.

CabinetRevamp

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Jan. 2, 1899 - The cabinet of the President Aguinaldo was reorganized The members of the new cabinet of President Aguinaldo are: Chairman of the Council of Advisers and Secretary of Foreign Affairs - Apolinario Mabini; Secretary of Interior Teodoro Sandiko; Secretary of War - Baldomero Aguinaldo; Secretary of Finance Mariano Trias; Secretary of Development - Gracio Gonzaga

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Jan. 18- Meeting of the absolutist faction and Constitutionalists faction which was by Aguinaldo, Don Pedro A Paterno and Don Joaquin Gonzales

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Jan. Congress today accepted amend presented by the chief executive and became the provisions of Article 100,101 of the Constitution.

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Jan. 21- President Aguinaldo signed today the Constitution of the Philippine Republic.

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Jan. 22 - The proclamation of the Philippine Republic under the approved Constitution will be held tomorrow. A parade will be held from the church of Malolos to the Church of Barasoain, the seat of the Revolutionary Congress

MALOLOS, Bulacan, Jan. 23 - The Philippine Republic under the approved Constitution was proclaimed this morning following a parade which be- gan at the Malolos churchyard and ended at the Barasoain churchyard. President Aguinaldo officiated at the ceremonies in the session hall of the Revolutionary Congress in the presence of all members of the Congress, members of the cabinet, top brass of the Revolutionary Forces and observers from foreign countries.

Thousands of people from different towns of Bulacan and neighboring - provinces witnessed the parade and the proclamation ceremonies.

Aguinaldo Leaves

MALOLOS, Bulacan, March 29 - President Aguinaldo, members of his cabinet and elite guards from the Revolutionary forces left this town today following reports that the American forces were already in the outskirts of Sta. Isabel. In the wake of the abandonment of Malolos by the Aguinaldo government the church of Malolos including the convent was put to torch by the rear guards led by General Gregorio del Pilar.

MALOLOS, Bulacan, March 31- American forces led by General Arthur MacArthur occupied this town today but found no trace of the erstwhile Philippine Republic which made it its capital for almost seven months MPK

The building which housed the Department of War in the Revolutionary Government is the home of Judge Arcadio Ejercito

CONTROVERSY OVER A CONSTITUTION

ByA.OliverFlores

WHEN Aguinaldo convened the Malolos Congress on Sept. 15, 1898, that Assembly braced itself for what go down in history as its most outstanding achievement: the framing of the Constitution of the First Philippine Republic.

The task of formulating a Charter by which the Republic would henceforth be guided, pitted two of the most brilliant minds of the Congress against each other: Apolinario Mabini and Felipe Calderon.

Calderon, a lawyer from Tanza, Cavite, was selected to head the draft committee. But at the very start Mabini was opposed to the Apolinario Mabini drafting of a constitution. He thought the idea premature. because of the unsettledconditionsofthetime.Thecountrywasvirtuallyinastateofwar referringtotheimpendingconflictbetweentheFilipinosandtheAmericanswho hadignoredFilipinorepresentationintheprojectednegotiationswithadefeated Spain.

Besides, Mabini further argued, the Congress did not have the power to promulgatelaws Thebody'sfunctionwasadvisory,itwasexpectedtogoallthe waywithAguinaldo,asMabinihadenvisioned(accordingtoFilipinohistorian TeodoroAgoncillo)intheDecreeofJune23,1898,whichineffectbestowed upontheRevolutionarygovernmentaprovisionalconstitution.

TwoDrafts

But because Aguinaldo had previously given recognition to the Congress as a "constituting assembly," Calderon went ahead with the plan of drafting a constitution. Seeing that a charter would have to be promulgated just the same, Mabini came forth with his own plan called the Constitutional Program (which was executive-centered) as a foil to Calderon's draft which was "legislative centered." A third plan submitted by Pedro A. Paterno, the Congress president, was summarily shelved by the draft committee because it smacked too much of the Spanish Constitution of 1868 (That, of course, was to be expected of Paterno, since he had always been Spain- oriented, as witness his mediation role in the ill-fated Pact of Biaknabato).

Two great minds participate in a

Mabini's version of a constitution was likewise set aside, since Calderon and followers - ilustrados all were clearly in the majority. (As a matter of fact, the composition of the Congress was overwhelmingly ilustrado the term for the educated and well-off segment of Filipino society at the time) Congress deliberation of the Calderon draft lasted almost a month, as it had to be read and discussed article by article. There was not much argument, though, except on that part which touched on religion Article 5 under Title III stated that "The nation shall protect the cult and ministers of the Roman Catholic Apostolic religion which is the religion of the State, and shall not use its revenues for the expenses of any other cult."

In advocating a state religion, Calderon unconsciously allowed his Catholic sentiments - or prejudices - to surface. Born into a devout Catholic family (his grandesire was a Spaniard), Calderon during the Malolos convention sincerely believed that his colleagues would not resent the idea of a union between State and Church since most of them were Catholics. But when delegate Tomas del Rosario stood to voice his objection in a five- hour speech (probably the first Congressional filibuster on record), the Calderon- sponsored union of laity and clergy was dissolved. The amendment on the subject of religion which was approved by an absolute majority read:

"Article 5- The State recognizes the freedom and equality of all religions, as well as the separation of the Church and State "

Mabini'sCritique

Significantly, Mabini agreed with Calderon's idea of Church-State union - but only temporarily. By no means did it imply that Mabini had religious preferences (he was a Mason); he was only being practical, since he knew (as did Calderon) that it would not be wise at the moment to antagonize the Filipino clergy who were one in supporting Aguinaldo's administration. In the end, Mabini succeeded in inserting into the Calderon draft (after its approval by the Congress) a clause which called for a temporary suspension of the separation of Church and State.

What Mabini objected to was the emphasis in the charter which gave the legislative too much power and reduced the President to a mere figurehead. For instance, it would be the Congress which would elect the President, with the concomittant power to impeach the latter

Then there is the provision which empowers the legislative to create a Permanent Commission (7 members to be elected by the Congress) which would function as a tribunal in brief, this Commission would watch over the actuations of the President and other high government officials and decide whether one is guilty of high treason or not. Furthermore, this Commission could call for a special convocation of the Congress when the latter is not in regular session Even the Presidential Cabinet is responsible to the legislative, and not to the executive. And every Presidential Act was made subject to the concurrence of the Cabinet man involved

Calderon's motive in drawing away powers from the executive and investing them in the legislative sprang from fear of the military which predominated in the Aguinaldo regime. There had been reported cases of abuses by Filipino officers and their men.

TheSagaofthe MALOLOS CONGRESS

By Dr. Francisco Villanueva Jr.

IT was early morning of September 29, 1898. The vestry of the old church of Barasoain, converted into an official public building to house the Congress of the Philippine Revolutionary Government, was teeming with the best brains of the country.

You could see there former friends and companions of Rizal in Europe - Antonio Luna, Benito Legarda, Ceferino de Leon, Jose Albert, Jose Alejandrino and Teodoro Sandiko: lawyers- Felipe Calderon Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Arsenio Cruz Herrera, Felipe Buencamino, Sr., Hipolito Magsalin. Hugo Ilagan, Ignacio Villamor, Isidro Paredes, Perfecto Gabriel, Sotero Laurel, Simplicio del Rosario; artistsMelecio Figueroa and Miguel Zaragoza: writers and scholars-Pedro A Paterno Fernando Canon, Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, Pablo Ocampo, Salvador Vicencio del Rosario; economists and businessmen - Benito Legarda. Esteban de la Rama, Alberto Barretto, Jose Basa, Juan Tuazon, Mariano Lopez, Telesforo Chuidian; physicians - Jose Albert, Justo Lukban, Santiago Barcelona: botanist - Leon Maria Guerrero; and labor leader -Jose Turiano Santiago. Over there also were Gregorio Aglipay, founder and highest Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church; Manuel Xeres Burgos, nephew of Father Jose Burgos, the innocent martyred priest who was sacrificed at the Luneta on February 17, 1872. However, most conspicuous and outstanding in the crowd, was Pedro Alejandro Paterno, poet, lawyer, diplomat and negotiator of the Biak-na- Bato Peace Covenant, who was elected President of the Congress.

The first Philippine Republic of 1898, which lasted for only two years, was shortlived, but phoenix-like, it was to rise from its embers almost fifty years later, stronger than ever enact a new Constitution for the Philippines and to create a new nation and a new republic of, by, and for the Filipinos; and as a legislative body to enact necessary laws and statutes to cope with critical conditions during periods of emergency in the islands.

Weeks before the Congress, there was a bloody encounter between the Americans and the Spaniards in Manila Bay. The well-equipped and large fleet of American Admiral George Dewey bombarded the obsolete cruisers of Spanish Admiral Patricio Montojo. The Spanish warships with dead Spanish and Filipino sailors sank. Prisoners died in jails or were executed in public squares. Their widows and orphans in abandoned homes were crying for mercy. The widows and orphans focused their attention on the Malolos confab, longing and hoping that this constitutional body would enact measures to establish peace and or- to safeguard private homes against illegal ches and to protect private properties against unlawful seizures by the Spanish civil guards.

Independence was signed only by Americans while that of the Philippines was signed by Filipinos as well as by Colonel L. Johnson, artillery officer of the American Army, who was in Cavite then.

PhilippineConstitution

For more than one month, Congress discussed the draft of a constitution written by Attorney Felipe G. Calderon, chairman of a committee of nineteen lawyers. The new Constitution provided for the creation of the new Philippine Republic.

FreedomofWorship

When the charter reached the floor of Congress, it contained the essential elements of a true organic and fundamental law of the land - the division of the powers of government into executive, legislative, and judicial; the bill of rights; and the safeguards for the proper and legal functioning of the new and free Philippine Republic, with its powers and duties, organs and agencies and the rights of the free citizens protected against and promulgation. But Apolinario Mabini, Prime Minister of the Cabinet, advised Aguinaldo to disapprove the new organic charter on the ground that it was against the policies of the national leader of the government.

The new Constitution had established the parliamentary form of government and the supremacy of Congress over the executive and judicial branches of the government. Calderon followed the constitution of France, Belgium, Spain, Costa Ri- ca Colombia, Chile, Mexico, and other Latin- American countries.

Mabini stood in favor of the presidential system, like that of the United States However, the parliamentarians steadfastly rejected the objections and protests of Mabini. The Constitution was returned to Congress for changes and amendments, which were turned down. The Congress upheld the Constitution, as reported on October 8, 1898, and, finally approved it on November 29, 1898.

“THE Sublime Paralytic ” prime minister of the Cabinet of the Philippine Revolutionary Government.

NEGOTIATOR of the Pact of Biakna-bato, President of the Congress of revolutionary government of 1899.

PRESIDENT of the Philippine Revolutionary Government, he is one of few living figures of revolution

There were fears that the constitutional project would be lost forever Would Aguinaldo approve and sign it? Would the Philippine Nation be born? Would the Philippine Republic be saved? For about two months members of Congress and of the Cabinet were seized with fears of a forthcoming failure and disaster

However, prudent and reasonable minds succeeded to convince General Aguinaldo to sign and approve the new Constitution in order to make his revolutionary government truly effective and really representative of the Filipino people.

Thus, President Aguinaldo signed and approved the Constitution and proclaimed it on January 21, 1899. With this providential attitude, Aguinaldo saved the Philippine Nation and the Philippine Republic.

Birth of the Republic

Two days after the signing of the Philippine Constitution, General Emilio Aguinaldo, on January 23, took his oath of office before Pedro Alejandro Paterno, who was the president of Congress. The Philippine Republic was born. It was inaugurated with solemn and pompous ceremonies When the framers of the Philippine Constitution of 1898 enacted this fundamental organic chapter of the land, they put a special emphasis on the substantial preamble which reads thus: "We, the representatives of the Filipino people, legally assembled to establish justice, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty, imploring the aid of the Supreme Legislator of the Universe, in order to attain these ends, have voted, decreed and sanctioned the following constitution."

General Emilio Aguinaldo, as the new and first President of the newly-born Philippine Republic, delivered a very emotional and stirring inaugural address before Congress in which he said: "Great is this day, glorious this date, and forever memorable this moment in which our beloved people are raised to the apotheosis of Independence."

TwoVisayanRepublic

News reached Aguinaldo that two Visayan Republics were created, later fused into one and called The Republic of Visayas. The Visayan leaders sent Francisco Villanueva, Sr., lawyer, scholar, and writer, as their delegate to the Malolos Congress. He conferred with Aguinaldo and Mabini about the proposal of the Visayans that Visayas be joined with Luzon and Mindanao to form a strong united nation that could offer powerful resistance to the invaders of the islands.

Aguinaldo, Mabini, and members of the Congress approved the proposal. Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao were united into a single juridical entity.

It was therefore the first time a Filipino juridical national entity, a legal nation from the Filipino point of view, having jurisdiction over the whole Philippine archipelago, was born It is true that several centuries ago, Datu Sumakwel founded the Confederation of Madya-as, composed of the different barangays or settlements established along the slopes of Madya-as mountain in Panay.

But that was destroyed by the Spaniards who took possession of 7,000 islands of the Philippine archipelago as colonial territories of Spain. Colonialism existed until the Malolos Congress and the Cabinet of Aguinaldo, in accordance with the proposal of Villanueva, fused three important regions of the archipelago which formed and created a free and independent nation, the Philippines.

NationalizationofSchools

The Malolos Congress, as a Legislature, enacted several emergency laws to cope with the critical conditions of towns and provinces, to improve finances and economics of the country, to organize local and provincial governments, to nationalize schools and universities and to establish courts of justice.

When Congress enacted the Philippine School Nationalization Law on October 19, 1898, it also created the first state university in the islands, the Universidad Literaria de Filipina.

Havocs of War

At this juncture news reached Congress that the celebrated painter, Juan Luna Novicio, who was campaigning for Philippine freedom, died in Hong Kong in January, 1899.

Pablo Ocampo, editor of La Patria, and Gregorio Araneta, lawyer, were chosen as secretaries of the chamber.

The Malolos Congress included 110 delegates but only eighty-five were able to attend because of transportation difficulties in the provinces.

WidowsandOrphansatCongress

General Aguinaldo had summoned widows and orphans to come to Malolos and participate in the meetings of the National Congress of the Philippine Revolutionary Government The Congress had two functions as a constitutional body to enact a new Constitution for the Philippines and to create a new nation and a new republic of, by, and for the Filipinos; and as a legislative body to enact necessary laws and statutes to cope with critical conditions during periods of emergency in the islands.

Weeks before the Congress, there was a bloody encounter between the Americans and the Spaniards in Manila Bay. The well-equipped and large fleet of American Admiral George Dewey bombarded the obsolete cruisers of Spanish Admiral Patricio Montojo The Spanish warships with dead Spanish and Filipino sailors sank Prisoners died in jails or were executed in public squares. Their widows and orphans in abandoned homes were crying for mercy. The widows and orphans focused their attention on the Malolos confab, longing and hoping that this constitutional body would act measures to establish peace and order, safeguard private homes against illegal searches and to protect private properties against unlawful seizures by the Spanish civil guards

HavocsofWar

The delegates ratified on September 29, 1898, the Declaration of Philippine Independence, which was previously promulgated in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12 of the same year. It was written by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista.

The document introduced some essential principles of the American Declaration of Independence written by Jefferson.

Was there any essential difference between the Filipino and American documents? Bautista explained that the American Declaration of Independence was signed only by Americans while that of the Philippines was signed by Filipinos as well as by Colonel I.. Johnson, artillery officer of the American Army, who was in Cavite then PhilippineConstitution

For more than one month, Congress discussed the draft of a constitution written by Attorney Felipe G. Calderon, chairman of a committee of nineteen lawyers. The new Constitution provided for the creation of the new Philippine Republic.

FreedomofWorship

When the charter reached the floor of Congress, it contained the essential elements of a true organic and fundamental law of the land - the division of the powers of government into executive, legislative, and judicial; the bill of rights; and the safeguards for the proper and legal functioning of the new and free Philippine Republic, with its powers and duties, organs and agencies and the rights of the free citizens protected against the injustices and abuses of the public officials.

The first oratorical clash occurred when the issue on the freedom of worship and separation between Church and State was brought up. Tomas del Rosario opposed the provision stating that the State must have its religion. It was put to a vote and resulted in a tie which was broken when Pablo Tecson favored freedom of worship

MabinivstheCongress

After the Congress' final approval of the Philippine Constitution on November 29, 1898, it was sent to President Emilio Aguinaldo for ratification and promulgation. But Apolinario Mabini, Prime Minister of the Cabinet, advised Aguinaldo to disapprove the new organic charter on the ground that it was against the policies of the national leader of the government.

The new Constitution had established the parliamentary form of government and the supremacy of Congress over the executive and judicial branches of the government.

Calderon followed the constitution of France, Belgium, Spain, Costa Rica, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, and other Latin- American countries.

Mabini stood in favor of the presidential system, like that of the United States. However, the parliamentarians steadfastly rejected the objections and protests of Mabini. The Constitution was returned to Congress for changes and amendments, which were turned down. The Congress upheld the Constitution, as reported on October 8, 1898, and, finally approved it on November 29, 1898.

Also, the members of Congress learned the tragic news that hostilities between Americans and Filipinos had begun in Manila Congress, upon the advice of President Aguinaldo, declared war against America. Soon bullets, grenades and bombs from roaring cannons and other mechanical equipment of the Americans, superior to those of the Filipinos, rained over the roofs and walls of Barasoain church which was the seat of Congress. The church was closed. Congressmen returned to their respective provinces to continue the fight for freedom. Aguinaldo had to transfer the seat of the central revolutionary government from Malolos to San Isidro and Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija; and from there to Angeles, Pampanga; to Tarlac, Tarlac; to Bayambang, Pangasinan; and, finally, to Palanan, Isabela, where he was captured by American soldiers

Mabini's Political Formula

The Philippine Republic of 1898 lasted two years It had its triumphs as well as its tragedies, ordeals and disasters. The first republic was crushed. But it rose from the embers fifty years afterwards, phoenix-like. Its spirit remained alive and with more strength than ever.

Peace and negotiations were offered by the Americans. Aguinaldo and other Philippine generals either had surrendered or were captured in the battlefields. Paterno proposed an American protectorate of the islands. Felipe Buencamino, Sr , came out with more open peace proposals Trinidad H Pardo de Tavera was very vocal with his bold proposal for the annexation of the Philippines, as a Federal State, to the United States of America.

Only Apolinario Mabini, the brave and crippled savant of Tanauan, became steadfast, relentless and inexorable in his idea of complete and absolute independence for the Philippines. He never faltered; he never wavered. When he was captured, an American sentry pointed his bayonet against the heart of Mabini, urging him to take the oath of loyalty to American sovereignty. But Mabini, with admirable bravery and courage, clearly answered him with a loud voice, "I love my country, the Philippines! I want her complete and absolute independence If you please, you can fire at me right now. I refuse to abdicate and change my loyalty to my country and my people." However, Mabini was not executed by the Americans. He was simply deported, with fifty-three Filipino prisoners, to Guam.

The Americans established their regime in the islands. Peace came. From 1898, when the First Philippine Republic was established, until July 4, 1946, when America granted the Philippines her complete and absolute independence, fortyeight years had already elapsed The Americans followed Mabini's formula In defense of his formula, Mabini suffered untold ordeals. But he was also vindicated. He won. Filipinos who survived him enjoy the blessings of liberty and the fruits of his heroic sacrifices Posterity now remembers how Mabini, with stupendous courage and faith and unfaltering heroism, evolved and defended his formula in that little town of Malolos where for the first time the glorious destiny of the Filipino people was revealed and unfolded before the world MPK

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