Aguinaldo, Emilio << ah gee NAHL doh, eh MEE lyoh >> (1869-1964), was an important leader in the fight for Philippine independence. He served as president of the first Philippine Republic from 1898 to 1901. He is regarded as the first president of the Philippines.
Aguinaldo was born on March 23, 1869, near Cavite, Luzon. In 1895, he joined Katipunan, a secret revolutionary society. When Spanish authorities found out about the secret society in 1896, Katipunan declared open revolt. Aguinaldo soon distinguished himself as a military leader. In March 1897, at a meeting between two rival Katipunan factions, delegates elected Aguinaldo as president of the revolutionary government. However, the revolt against Spanish rule was unsuccessful. In December 1897, as part of a truce agreement with Spain, Aguinaldo and other revolutionary leaders voluntarily went into exile in Hong Kong.
In 1898, the United States went to war with Spain. Aguinaldo returned to the islands and led a Filipino army against Spain in the Spanish-American War . On June 12, he declared Philippine independence from Spain. The United States defeated Spain in the Spanish-American War and decided to retain control of the Philippines. Aguinaldo claimed that the United States had promised to make the Philippines independent immediately. He declared the establishment of the Philippine Republic on Jan. 23, 1899, and his troops began fighting the Americans on February 4. This conflict became known as the Philippine-American War . American forces captured Aguinaldo in March 1901. He swore allegiance to the United States and called on the Filipinos to end the fighting.
In 1935, after the Philippines became a commonwealth, Aguinaldo ran for president. Manuel L. Quezon soundly defeated him. From 1942 to 1945, Aguinaldo collaborated with the Japanese who occupied the Philippines during World War II. In 1950, Philippine President Elpidio Quirino appointed Aguinaldo to the Council of State. In 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal declared June 12 as Philippine Independence Day, commemorating the date on which Aguinaldo declared the nation’s independence from Spain in 1898. Aguinaldo died on Feb. 6, 1964, in Quezon City.
