The Tagal Republic Proclaimed.
The Tagal Republic was proclaimed in October, 1896, and Andreas Bonifacio was chosen President. When Bonifacio died, a few months later, Aguinaldo was elected President and commander-in-chief.
When General Primo de Rivera arrived from Spain to quell the rising insurrection, he attempted to end the insurrection by making various concessions, having been unable to do so by force. The rebel leaders were accordingly approached, and these, relying upon the fair promises of the Spaniards, made a treaty known as the Pact of Biacnabato, so named after the village where it was signed, December 14th, 1897. In this pact the following reforms are promised:
The banishment, or at least, the disbanding, of the religious orders; Philippine representation in the Cortes; the same administration of justice for the natives as for the Spaniards; unity of laws between the Philippines and Spain; the natives to share the chief offices of the Philippine civil administration; rearrangement of the property of the friars and of the taxes in favor of the natives; recognition of the individual rights of the natives, with liberty of public meeting and of the press, and a general amnesty.
In return for these concessions, Aguinaldo and the other leaders promised that if Rivera fulfilled these promised reforms, they would leave the country for three years; and that they would stir up no insurrection against the Spanish Government during this period. The rebels then laid down their arms and surrendered their forts and ammunition, and, according to other provisions of the treaty, Aguinaldo received 400,000 pesetas, which were deposited in the Hong-Kong and Shanghai Bank at Hong-Kong; not for his own personal use, but as a fund, the interest of which, if the Spaniards carried out their part of the agreement, was to be devoted to the education of native youth in England.
In case the agreement was not carried out by the Spaniards, the money was to be used for arms and to renew the rebellion.