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