A charter based on the Cuban Constitution was also drafted by Felix Ferrer and Isabelo Artacho.

It was signed on
November 1, 1897. The Biak-na-Bato Constitution provided for the establishment of a Supreme council that would
serve as the highest governing body of the Republic. It also outlined certain basic human rights, such as freedom of
religion, freedom of the press, and the right to education. Emilio Aguinaldo and Mariano Trias were elected Supreme
Council president and vice president, respectively.

The Pact of Biak-na-Bato

Pedro Paterno, a Spaniard born in the Philippines volunteered to act as negotiator

between Aguinaldo and Gov. Primo de Rivera in order to end the clashes. Paterno’s
effort paid off when on, December 15, 1897, the Pact he sign the Pact as the
representative of the revolutionaries, and de Rivera as the representative of the
Spanish government. The Leaders are: Emilio Aguinaldo-President, Mariano Trias-
Vice President, Antonio Montenegro-Secretary, Baldomero Aguinaldo-Treasurer, and
Emilio Riego de Dios.

On December 23, 1897, Generals Celestino Tejero and Ricardo Monet of the Spanish army arrived in Biak-na-Bato
and became hostages of the rebels. A ceasefire was declared by both camps and an agreement between Aguinaldo
and the Spanish forces was made -that the Spanish government will grant self-rule to the Philippines in 3 years if
Aguinaldo went to exile and surrender his arms. In exchange, Aguinaldo will receive P800,000 (Mexican Pesos) as
remuneration to the revolutionaries and an amnesty. After receiving a partial payment of P400,000, Aguinaldo left
for Hong Kong on December 27, 1897. Some Filipino generals, however, did not believe in the sincerity of the
Spaniards. They refused to surrender their arms. Nevertheless, the Te Deum was still sung on January 23, 1898.
 With almost all of Cavite in the hands of the Spaniards,
[ Governor General ] Primo de Rivera issued another decree
extending the benefit of his pardon beyond May 17, 1897. His
purpose was to win over the Filipinos to his policy of
attraction. A few took advantage of the governor's decree,
while the rest continued their resistance against the enemy.
Aguinaldo, meanwhile was in Talisay, Batangas where he had
established his headquarters. The enemy surrounded the area
in the hope of capturing him, but he slipped through the
Spanish cordon on June 10 and proceeded with his men to the
hilly region of Morong ( Rizal ). With 500 picked men, he
crossed the Pasig to Malapad-na-Bato, near Guadalupe, and
from here he secretly passed through San Juan del Monte and
Montalban, and on to Mount Puray. After a well-earned rest,
Aguinaldo and his men proceeded to Biak-na-Bato, San
Miguel de Mayumo, where he established his headquarters.
Before July 1897, Aguinaldo and his men had already
established a republican government at Biyak-na-Bato, known
as the Biyak-na-Bato Republic. The provisional constitution of
this Republic was prepared by Felix Ferrer and Isabelo
Artacho, who copied, almost word for word, the Cuban
constitution of Jimaguayu. The Biyak-na-bato Constitution
was signed on November 1, 1897. Its preamble states:
The separation of the Philippines from the Spanish monarchy
and their formation into an independent state with its own
government called the Philippine Republic has been the end
sought by the Revolution in the existing war, begun on the 24th
of August, 1896; and , therefore, in its name and by the power
delegated by the Filipino people, interpreting faithfully their
desires and ambitions, we the representatives of the Revolution,
in a meeting at Biac-na-bato, November 1, 1897, unanimously
adopted the following articles for the constitution of the State. 

News of Aguinaldo's arrival at Biak-na-Bato reached the

towns of Central Luzon. As a consequence, armed men from
Pangasinan, Zambales, and Ilocos provinces, Tarlac and
Nueva Ecija, renewed their armed resistance against the
enemy. From Biak-na-Bato, Aguinaldo and his men joined
forces with those of General Mariano Llanera of Nueva Ecija
and harassed the Spanish soldiers garrisoned in the Central
Luzon Provinces. With the coming of the rainy season, Primo
de Rivera's campaigns were temporarily halted.

In accordance with Article 1, the Supreme Council was created on November 2, with the following as officers:
Emilio Aguinaldo President
Mariano Triad Vice-President
Antonio Montenegro Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Isabelo Artacho Secretary of the Interior
Emiliano Riego de Dios Secretary of War
Baldomero Aguinaldo Secretary of the Treasury