Republic of Biak-na-Bato

Republic of Biak-na-Bato
República de Biac-na-Bató Repúbliká ng̃ Biak-na-Bató
Unrecognized state
1897
Flag Seal
Territory claimed by the Republic of Biak-na-Bato in Asia
Capital		San Miguel, Bulacan
Languages		Spanish, Tagalog
Government		Republic
President		Emilio Aguinaldo
Vice President		Mariano Trías
Historical era		Philippine Revolution
•	Established	November 1, 1897
•	Disestablished	December 14, 1897 1897
Area
•	1897	300,000 km² (115,831 sq mi)
Preceded by Succeeded by Spanish East Indies Tagalog Republic#Bonifacio's Government Spanish East Indies

The Republic of Biak-na-Bato (Tagalog: Repúbliká ng̃ Biak-na-Bató, Spanish: República de Biac-na-Bató), officially referred to in its constitution as the Republic of the Philippines (Tagalog: Repúbliká ng̃ Filipinas, Spanish: República de Filipinas), was the first republic ever declared in the Philippines by revolutionary leader Emilio Aguinaldo and his fellow revolutionaries. Despite its successes, including the establishment of the Philippines' first ever constitution, the republic lasted just over a month. It was disestablished by a peace treaty signed by Aguinaldo and the Spanish Governor-General, Fernando Primo de Rivera which included provision for exile of Aguinaldo and key associates to Hong Kong.

The constitution of the Republic of Biak-na-Bato was written by Felix Ferrer and Isabelo Artacho, who copied the Cuban Constitution of Jimaguayú nearly word-for-word. It provided for the creation of a Supreme Council, which was created on November 2, 1897, with the following as officers having been elected:

The initial concept of the republic began during the latter part of the Philippine revolution, when the leader of the Katipunan, Emilio Aguinaldo, became surrounded by Spanish forces at his headquarters in Talisay, Batangas. Aguinaldo slipped through the Spanish cordon and, with 500 picked men, proceeded to Biak-na-Bató, a wilderness area at the town of San Miguel, Bulacan (now parts of San Miguel, San Ildefonso and Doña Remedios in Bulacan). When news of Aguinaldo's arrival there reached the towns of central Luzon, men from the Ilocos provinces, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, and Zambales renewed their armed resistance against the Spanish.