The Revolutionary Government of the Philippines (Spanish: Gobierno Revolucionario de Filipinas) was a revolutionary government established in the Spanish East Indies on June 23, 1898, during the Spanish–American War, by Emilio Aguinaldo, its initial and only president.[1] The government succeeded a dictatorial government that had been established by Aguinaldo on June 18[2] and was dissolved and replaced by this government upon its establishment.[3][4] This government endured until January 23, 1899, when the proclamation of the Malolos Constitution established an insurgent Philippine Republic government that replaced it.[5][6]
Four governmental departments were initially created, each having several bureaus: foreign relations, marine, and commerce; war and public works; police, justice, instruction, and hygiene; finance, agriculture, and industry.[7] A revolutionary congress was established with power "[t]o watch over the general interest of the Philippine people, and carrying out of the revolutionary laws; to discuss and vote upon said laws; to discuss and approve, prior to their ratification, treaties and loans; to examine and approve the accounts presented annually by the secretary of finance, as well as extraordinary and other taxes which may hereafter be imposed."[8]
On August 14, 1898, two days after the Battle of Manila of the Spanish–American War and about two months after Aguinaldo's proclamation of this revolutionary government, the United States established a military government in the Philippines, with General Merritt acting as military governor.[9]
Government
Cabinet
Aguinaldo appointed his first cabinet on June 15, consisting of Baldomero Aguinaldo as secretary of war and public works, Leanardo Ibarra as secretary of the interior and Mariano Trías as secretary of finance; the secretaryship of foreign relations, marine, and commerce was provisionally left in the charge of the presidency. On September 23, the cabinet was reorganized to six departments.[10]
On January 2, 1899, when it became certain that Cayetano Arellano would not accept the role of secretary of foreign relations, the role fell to Apolinario Mabini. Mabini had to that time been Aguinaldo's principal advisor and he was also named the president of the cabinet.[11]
| Department | Secretary | Term |
|---|---|---|
| President of the Cabinet | Apolinario Mabini | January 2, 1899 – May 7, 1899 |
| Secretary of War and Public Works | Baldomero Aguinaldo | June 15, 1898 – May 7, 1899 |
| Secretary of the Interior | Leonardo Ibarra | June 15, 1898 – January 2, 1899 |
| Secretary of Foreign Affairs | Cayetano Arellano | September 23, 1898 – January 2, 1899 |
| Apolinario Mabini | January 2, 1899 – May 7, 1899 | |
| Secretary of Treasury/Finance | Mariano Trías | June 15, 1898 – May 7, 1899 |
| Secretary of Justice | Gregorio Araneta | September 23, 1898 – May 7, 1899 |
| Secretary of Welfare[a] | Fernando Canon | September 23, 1898 – January 2, 1899 |
| Gracio Gonzaga | January 2, 1899 – May 7, 1899 |
- ^ including Public Instruction, Public Works, Communications, Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce
References
- ^ Duka 2008, pp. 167–174
- ^ Elliott 1917, pp. 491–493 (Appendix E: Aguinaldo's Proclamation of June 18, 1898, Establishing the Dictatorial Government)
- ^ Kalaw 1927, pp. 423–429 (Appendix C.)
- ^ Guevara 1972, p. 35
- ^ Guevara 1972, pp. 120–122 (items 28, size=100, view=image 28a and size=100, view=image 28b)).
- ^ Elliott 1917, pp. 493–497 (Appendix F: Aguinaldo's Proclamation of June 23, Establishing the Revolutionary Government)
- ^ Elliott 1917, pp. 493–494 (Appendix F, Chapter I : Of the Revolutionary Government)
- ^ Elliott 1917, pp. 495–496 (Appendix F, Chapter II : Of the Revolutionary Congress)
- ^ Halstead 1898, pp. 110–112
- ^ a b Kalaw 1927, pp. rgn=full+text, size=100, view=image, q1=the+malolos+constitution 117–118
- ^ Kalaw 1927, p. 118
Further reading
- Duka, Cecilio D. (2008). Struggle for Freedom' 2008 Ed. Rex Bookstore, Inc. ISBN 978-971-23-5045-0.
- Elliott, Charles Burke (1917). The Philippines: To the End of the Commission Government, a Study in Tropical Democracy (PDF).
- Guevara, Sulpico ed. 1972. The Laws of the First Philippine Republic (The Laws of Malalos). National Historical Institute, Manila., (published online 2005, University of Michigan Library)
- Halstead, Murat (1898). The Story of the Philippines and Our New Possessions, Including the Ladrones, Hawaii, Cuba and Porto Rico.
- Kalaw, Maximo Manguiat (1927). The Development of Philippine Politics. Oriental commercial.