Rafael María de Aguilar y Ponce de León

Rafael María de Aguilar y Ponce de León
56th Governor-General of the Philippines
In office 1 September 1793 – 7 August 1806
Preceded by	Félix Berenguer de Marquina
Succeeded by	Mariano Fernández de Folgueras
Personal details
Died	8 August 1806
Awards	Order of Alcántara
Military service
Allegiance	Spain
Service/branch	Spanish Army
Rank	Field Marshal

Rafael María de Aguilar y Ponce de León was a Spanish military officer who served as the 56th Governor-General of the Philippines, the longest serving governor during the Spanish colonial period.

There is not much known about the early life and career of Aguilar. Prior to his appointment as Governor-General of the Philippines, the first of only two gubernatorial appointments in the Philippines done by King Charles IV of Spain, he served as a military officer and a gentleman of the bedchamber. His military service earned him the Order of Alcántara. He arrived in the Philippines on 28 August 1793 and assumed office on 1 September. His administration was driven by the reforms initiated by the Enlightenment in Spain, which has become the distinguishing aspect of his long service as governor. Aguilar was the longest serving Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines (12 years, 11 months).

One of the key accomplishments of Aguilar's administration was setting up the defense of the archipelago. Fortifications were reinforced in Cavite. In 1794, a shipyard was constructed at Binondo in Manila and a naval base built at Corregidor. These were set up in order to make boats for military campaigns against the Moros. In 1796, two regiments of professional native troops were formed, the first time the native contingent of the colonial armed forces was professionalized. These regiments were named Granadores de Luzon (Luzon Grenadiers) and Grenadores de Batangas (Batangas Grenadiers). In addition to this, five battalions of militia were organized. In 1800, the Naval Command was formed in order to check foreign vessels entering the archipelago. Six years later, a force of 300 marine grenadiers were organized.

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