Emilio Aguinaldo

         Emilio Aguinaldo (born March 22/23, 1869, near Cavite, Luzon, Philippines—died February 6, 1964, Quezon City) was a Filipino leader and politician who fought first against Spain and later against the United States for the independence of the Philippines.

         Aguinaldo was of Chinese and Tagalog parentage. He attended San Juan de Letrán College in Manila but left school early to help his mother run the family farm. In August 1896 he was mayor of Cavite Viejo (present-day Kawit; adjacent to Cavite city) and was the local leader of the Katipunan, a revolutionary society that fought bitterly and successfully against the Spanish. In December 1897 he signed an agreement called the Pact of Biac-na-Bató with the Spanish governor general. Aguinaldo agreed to leave the Philippines and to remain permanently in exile on condition of a substantial financial reward from Spain coupled with the promise of liberal reforms. While first in Hong Kong and then in Singapore, he made arrangements with representatives of the American consulates and of Commodore George Dewey to return to the Philippines to assist the United States in the war against Spain.

Achievements of Emilio Aguinaldo

Leadership in the Philippine Revolution and Philippine-American War

Aguinaldo played a crucial role in uniting Filipino revolutionary forces against Spanish rule and later led the resistance against American colonization during the Philippine-American War.

Reference: Zaide, Sonia M. & Gregorio F. Philippine History and Government. All-Nations Publishing, 2004.

Proclamation of Philippine Independence (June 12, 1898)

Emilio Aguinaldo led the declaration of Philippine independence from Spain in Kawit, Cavite. This was the first formal declaration of independence in the country’s history and marked a turning point in the Philippine Revolution.

Reference: Agoncillo, Teodoro A. History of the Filipino People. Garotech Publishing, 1990.

First President of the Philippines (1899–1901)

Aguinaldo became the first president of the First Philippine Republic, which was also the first democratic republic in Asia.

Reference: Constantino, Renato. The Philippines: A Past Revisited. Tala Publishing, 1975. National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).

Establishment of the Malolos Congress and Constitution

Under Aguinaldo’s leadership, the Malolos Congress drafted and ratified the Malolos Constitution, which created the First Philippine Republic with a democratic form of government.

Reference: Guevara, Sulpicio. The Laws of the First Philippine Republic (The Laws of Malolos). National Historical Institute, 1972.

Leadership in the Philippine Revolution and Philippine-American War

Aguinaldo played a crucial role in uniting Filipino revolutionary forces against Spanish rule and later led the resistance against American colonization during the Philippine-American War.

Reference: Zaide, Sonia M. & Gregorio F. Philippine History and Government. All-Nations Publishing, 2004. Linn, Brian McAllister. The Philippine War, 1899–1902. University Press of Kansas, 2000.

Contributions of Emilio Aguinaldo

Proclamation of Philippine Independence (June 12, 1898)

Aguinaldo declared the Philippines’ independence from Spain in Kawit, Cavite, marking a key moment in the country’s history. This proclamation was a symbol of Filipino unity and resistance.

First President of the Philippines

Aguinaldo served as the first president of the First Philippine Republic (1899–1901), making him the first head of state of an independent Filipino government.

Leadership in the Philippine Revolution

He played a central role in organizing and leading revolutionary forces against Spanish colonial rule, unifying different rebel groups and guiding major victories, such as in the Battle of Imus and Battle of Zapote Bridge.

Establishment of the First Philippine Republic

Under his presidency, the Malolos Constitution was enacted, creating the First Philippine Republic — the first democratic republic in Asia.

Resistance Against American Colonization

Aguinaldo also led Filipino forces during the Philippine-American War, striving to defend the nation’s independence against new colonial powers.

References: Agoncillo, T. A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. Garotech Publishing. Constantino, R. (1975). The Philippines: A Past Revisited. Tala Publishing.