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