The Revolutionary Government of the Philippines ( es, Gobierno Revolucionario de Filipinas) was a
revolutionary government established in the
Spanish East Indies
The Spanish East Indies ( es , Indias orientales españolas ; fil, Silangang Indiyas ng Espanya) were the overseas territories of the Spanish Empire in Asia-Pacific, Asia and Oceania from 1565 to 1898, governed for the Spanish Crown from Mexico C ...
on June 23, 1898, during the
Spanish–American War
, partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence
, image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, caption = (clock ...
, by
Emilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy (: March 22, 1869February 6, 1964) was a Filipino revolutionary, statesman, and military leader who is the youngest president of the Philippines (1899–1901) and is recognized as the first president of the Philippine ...
, its initial and only president. The government succeeded a
dictatorial government which had been established by Aguinaldo on June 18, and which was dissolved and replaced by this government upon its establishment.
This government endured until January 23, 1899, when the proclamation of the
Malolos Constitution
The Political Constitution of 1899 ( es, Constitución Política de 1899), informally known as the Malolos Constitution, was the constitution of the First Philippine Republic. It was written by Felipe Calderón y Roca and Felipe Buencamino as ...
established an insurgent
Philippine Republic The term "Philippine Republic" or "Republic of the Philippines" refers to a succession of republics during and after the Philippine Revolution in the Philippines.
The current government of the Philippines recognizes five "Philippine republics" in ...
government which replaced it.
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. A Revolutionary Congress was established with power "
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."
On August 14, 1898, two days after the
Battle of Manila of the
Spanish–American War
, partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence
, image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, caption = (clock ...
and about two months after Aguinaldo's proclamation of this revolutionary government, the United States established a
military government
A military government is generally any form of government that is administered by military forces, whether or not this government is legal under the laws of the jurisdiction at issue, and whether this government is formed by natives or by an occup ...
in the Philippines, with General
Merritt acting as military governor.
Government
Cabinet
Aguinaldo appointed his first cabinet on June 15, consisting of
Baldomero Aguinaldo
Baldomero Aguinaldo y Baloy (February 27, 1869 – February 4, 1915) was a leader of the Philippine Revolution. He was the first cousin of Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippines, as well as the grandfather of Cesar Virata, a f ...
as secretary of war and public works, Leanardo Ibarra as secretary of the interior and
Mariano Trías
Mariano Trías y Closas ( : October 12, 1868 – February 22, 1914) is considered to be the first ''de facto'' Philippine Vice President of that revolutionary government established at the Tejeros Convention - an assembly of Philippine revolu ...
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.
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
Apolinario Mabini y Maranan (, July 23, 1864 – May 13, 1903) was a Filipino revolutionary leader, educator, lawyer, and statesman who served first as a legal and constitutional adviser to the Revolutionary Government, and then as the first ...
. Mabini had to that time been Aguinaldo's principal advisor and he was also named the president of the cabinet.
References
Further reading
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* , (published online 2005, University of Michigan Library)
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Philippine Revolutionary Government
Former countries in Philippine history
Philippine–American War
Philippine Revolution
States and territories established in 1898
States and territories disestablished in 1899