GROUP 5-NOTES

Treaty of Peace Between the United States of America and the Kingdom of
Spain (Treaty of Paris) by the President of the United States of America

The agreement between Spain and the United States which resulted in the
cession of the Philippines from Spain to the United States was the Treaty of Paris of
December 10, 1898.

- In this treaty the Philippines ceased to be a colony of Spain and has

become a possession of the United States.
- The treaty was concluded following the victory of the US over Spain in the
Spanish-American War.
- The war resulted in the transformation of the United States from being a
continental power to that one that has overseas possession.
- With the Philippines in its possession the United States can now project
its power throughout Asia and into the Middle East as it establishes
naval bases in the islands.

Armistice negotiations conducted in Washington, D.C., ended with the signing

of a protocol on Aug. 12, 1898, which, besides ending hostilities, provided that a
peace conference be held in Paris by October, that Spain relinquish Cuba and
cede Puerto Rico and one of the Mariana Islands to the United States, and that
the United States hold Manila until the disposition of the Philippines had been
determined.

- By the time that the conference opened on October 1, U.S. President

William McKinley had finally decided that the United States must take
possession of the Philippines.
- The demand was ultimately accepted with great reluctance by Spain, with
the stipulation that the United States should pay Spain $20 million
nominally for public buildings and public works in the Philippines.
- The final treaty also forced Spain to cede all claim to Cuba and to agree to
assume the liability for the Cuban debt, estimated at $400 million.
- As indemnity, Spain ceded Puerto Rico and Guam (in the Marianas) to the
United States. (An attempt by the U.S. commissioners to secure Kosrae in
the Caroline Islands was successfully blocked by Germany, which had
already initiated purchase of the islands.)

The treaty was vigorously opposed in the U.S. Senate as inaugurating a

policy of “imperialism” in the Philippines and was approved on Feb. 6, 1899, by only
a single vote. Two days earlier, hostilities had begun at Manila between U.S. troops
and insurgents led by Emilio Aguinaldo. For more than three years the Filipinos
carried on guerrilla warfare against U.S. rule.
True Version of the Philippine Revolution, by Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy,
President of the Philippine Republic

 These are the various historical accounts of Emilio Aguinaldo’s written works
as part of his memoirs.

I. TRUE VERSION OF THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION

i. The Revolution of 1896

 Spain maintained control of the Philippine Islands for more than three
centuries and a half.
 August 26-31, 1896 – the people of Balintawak, Santa Mesa, Kalookan,
Kawit, Noveleta, and San Francisco de Malabon rose against the Spaniards
and proclaimed the Independence of the Philippines.
 Don Ramon Blanco y Erenas (Captain-General of the Philippines) –
ordered the Spanish troops to attack the revolutionary forces. They had
severe engagements at Bakoor, Imus, and Noveleta, but they were
unsuccessful, making many of them prisoners and large quantity of their arms
and ammunition were captured.
 Lieutenant-General Don Camilo Polavieja – he replaced General Blanco
and he dispatched a large number of Spanish Regulars or Troops to the
Philippines with 16,000 men armed with Mausers (rifles) and one field battery
(cannon). But he had scarcely reconquered half of Cavite province.
 General Don Fernando Primo de Rivera – he had taken over the command
of Spanish forces when Polavieja resigned because of bad health. He
personally led his army and successfully reconquered the whole province of
Cavite and drove the insurgents into the mountains.

ii. The Treaty of Biak-na-Bato

 Don Pedro Alejandro – he was appointed by the Spanish Governor-General
sole mediator in the discussion of the terms of peace or as negotiator to the
Treaty
 4 Principal Conditions – (1) Free to live in any country. (2) The whole money
that was agreed should be paid personally to Aguinaldo. (3) Two General of
the Spanish Army should be held hostages by the associates of Aguinaldo.
(4) Religious corporations in the Philippines be expelled.
 The Spanish authorities failed to abide to the terms of the Treaty

iii. Negotiations
 Commander of the USS Petrel – he asked for a conference in compliance
with the wishes of Admiral Dewey.
  Isabelo Artacho – he was acting as a spy for the enemy, as an agent of
General Primo de Rivera, for he wanted to extinguish the rebellion.
 Admiral Dewey said that the United States would at least recognize the
Independence of the Philippines under the protection of the United States
Navy.
 United States assured that they would grant much greater liberty and more
material benefits to the Filipinos than the Spaniards ever promised.
 Consul Pratt asked Aguinaldo to appoint him as the Representative of the
Philippines in the United States, to zealously advocated official recognition of
the Philippine Independence.
 Consul Rounsevelle Wildman assured Aguinaldo that he would use his best
endeavors to have the fire arms delivered and it reached the Philippines in
due course.
 Admiral Dewey said that the United States had come to the Philippines to
protect the natives and free them from the Spaniards.

iv. The Revolution of 1898

 Aguinaldo met his friends and gave letters directing the people of the province
of Zambales to rise against the Spaniards and vigorously attack them.
 On the 20th of May, revolutionary officer, Sr. Luciano San Miguel (General in
command of a Brigade) executed the orders to him to lead the uprising of the
provinces of Manila, Laguna, Batangas, Tayabas, Bulakan, Morong,
Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and other northern provinces.
 During the 21st-23rd of May Aguinaldo’s headquarters were besieged by
Filipinos who offered their services in the revolution.

v. The Dictatorial Government

 On the 24th of May a Dictatorial Government was established and also the first
proclamation of Aguinaldo’s presidency happened that day.
 Aguinaldo fixed the date of 31st of May as the day when the Revolutionary
Forces should make a general attack upon the Spaniards.

vi. The First Triumphs

 Just when revolutionists were distributing fire arms, 270 Spanish Naval
Infantry appeared in sight and it was the first engagement of the revolution of
1898, where the Filipino Revolutionists ended victorious.
 Because of the said triumph Aguinaldo hoisted the national flag and there
were spontaneous and prolonged cheers for “Independent Philippines” and
“the Generous Nation” for the United States.
  When the 31st of May came to date the general uprising of the whole of the
Philippines rose as one to crush the power of Spain.
 Admiral Dewey and several American Commanders and officers warmly
congratulated Aguinaldo for the triumphs the Philippines have accomplished.

vii. The Philippine Flag

 With Aguinaldo’s order all Philippine vessels hoisted the Philippine flag for the
commemoration of the Independence of the Philippines.

viii. Expedition to Bisayas

 Aguinaldo said that the expedition was a complete success, however the
steamer Bulusan of the Philippines, which sailed for Masbate was attacked by
Spanish vessels. Fortunately, the crew and troops on board saved their lives
by swimming ashore.

ix. The Steamer “L. COMPANIA DE FILIPINAS”

 A Spanish steamer, Compania de Filipinas was captured by revolutionists and
was brought to Cavite.

x. The Proclamation of Independence

 The proclamation of the Independence of the Philippines takes place on June
12, 1898 and the ceremony was held in Kawit, Cavite.
 A Spanish gunboat escaped from the Macabebe river and reached Manila
Bay.
 On the 4th of July the first United States military expedition arrived in the
Philippines, under the command of General Anderson.

XI. THE SPANISH COMMISION

 Aguinaldo explained why the Filipinos seem to not rise against the Spaniards
 Emilio stated that the Spaniard made us believe that we live in peace.
 He told the Admiral that in order to be successful will take time, lives and
weapons.
 The Admiral commended Aguinaldo’s cautiousness and patience.

XII. MORE AMERICAN TROOPS

 General Merritt arrived with American troops and Aguinaldo allowed them to
occupy trenches at Maytubig
XIII. THIRTEENTH OF AUGUST

 Battle Of Manila
 Aguinaldo noticed significant advancements of the Americans to occupy our
land.

XIV. FIRST CLOUDS

 Manila was captured but Aguinaldo remained composed for he believed there
was still hope
 In the light of the capture of Manila, Aguinaldo maintained a friendly attitude
towards Admiral Dewey in hopes of the Admiral understanding where the
Filipinos are coming from.

XV. VAIN HOPES

 Aguinaldo said that Admiral Dewey gave us false hopes for stating that the
assimilation was benevolent
 Aguinaldo exclaimed that their reason was indeed because of our natural
wealth.

XVI. THE AMERICAN COMMISSION

 The Americans placed a Civil Commission in Manila which overpowers the

Filipino Government in terms of handling the rights of the Filipinos.
 This initially led to the abuse and harassment of Americans.

XVII. IMPOLITIC ACTS

 Aguinaldo stated that the General Otis made 2 impolitic acts it was the search
of their telegraph offices that led to the detainment of Sr. Reyna
 The other being the issue of proclamation on the 4th of January 1899.

XVIII. MIXED COMMISSION

 Here, the Filipino Commissioners and American Commissioners had a

conference explaining their sides.

XIX. OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES

 Aguinaldo narrated the fatal and unfortunate days of the Filipinos from the
hands of the Americans.
 Aguinaldo started to question things like “Why does the Filipinos have to
suffer just because of the beauty and wealth of the Philippines?”
PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY’S “BENEVOLENT ASSIMILATION
PROCLAMATION”

 Pres. Mckinley’s Proclamation that was meant to say that the occupation of
the Philippines will be peaceful
 The main objective however, was to gain the trust of the Filipinos.

THE PHILIPPINE BILL 1902

 Enactment of the Cooper Act or the Philippine Bill of 1902

-this piece of legislation was the first organic law for the Philippine enacted by
the United States Congress and named after its sponsor, U.S. Representative
Henry A. Cooper or Wisconsin.
 PH Bill of 1902 Salient Provisions
1. A bill of rights for the Filipino people;
2. Appointment of two Filipino resident commissioners to represent the
country in the US Congress without voting rights;
3. Establishment of the Philippine Assembly to be elected by the Filipinos two
years after the publication of a census and only after peace had been
restored completely in the country;
4. Exercise of executive power by the civil governor who would have several
executive departments; and
5. Conservation of natural resources for the Filipinos.

The Balangiga Massacre

 Took place in September 28, 1901, a few weeks after a company of American
soldiers arrived in Balangiga, Samar.
 One of the bloody incidents in the Filipino-American War.
 Pedro Sanchez, chief of the town, gave signal for the pandemonium event
between American soldiers and Filipino bolomen and guerillas.
 President Theodore Roosevelt ordered the pacification of Samar.
 Within six months, General “Jake” Smith transformed Balangiga into a
“howling wilderness”.

The Resistance Continues

 General Miguel Malvar of Batangas continued the fight.

 Americans committed barbaric acts because of the population’s support to the
guerillas.
 On February 27, 1902, General Vicente Lukban was captured in Samar.
 On April 16, 1902, General Malvar surrendered to General J. Franklin Bell in
Lipa, Batangas.
  Luciano San Miguel, who revived the Katipunan in 1886 in Zambales,
sustained the guerilla war against the Americans in 1902, however, died in a
battle with Philippine Constabulary and Philippine scouts in the District of
Pugad-Baboy in Morong.
 Faustino Guillermo took over the leadership of the new Katipunan movement
when San Miguel was killed.
 General Simeon Ola was the last Filipino general to surrender to the
Americans.
 Sakay, leader of a band of patriotic Filipinos, established the Tagalog
“Republic”. He surrendered on July 14, 1906.

The End of the Filipino-American War

 On July 4, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt declared that the Philippine

Insurrection was over.
 The US government spent about 600 million dollars to quell the Filipino
resistance to the imposition of American sovereignty in the archipelago.

THE AMERICAN OCCUPATION AND THE ENGAGEMENT OF SEPTEMBER 29,

1901 KNOWN AS THE “MASSACRE OF BALANGIGA”

 Chief planner Eugenio Daza, an infantry major in the Filipino army, point of
view.
 During the Filipino-American War, he joined the Filipino Army and
served under General Claro Guevara.
 He planned and executed the attack on Balangiga as native people
could no longer stand the abuses of the American Soldier.
 They used bells to be the signal for the general attack of the
companies.
 The set date for the battle was October 1901 but to prevent the
Americans to anticipate the said plan, they accelerated the day of the
attack.

RETURNED AMERICAN SOLDIERS TELL OF BRUTAL DEEDS COMMITTED IN

THE PHILIPPINES

 There were two companies, K and M stationed at Fort Wright, Spokane.

 Two soldiers from these companies accompanied Lieutenant Bolton on his
scouting trips.
 The returned soldier Private Hines of company K stated that Bolton treated
native Filipino people most cruelly.
 Private Rufus Wilson of company M, refuses to talk about the matter.