Early Life and Carer
The seventh of eight children of Crispulo Aguinaldo and Trinidad Famy, he was born in a Filipino family in Cavite el Viejo (now known as Kawit), Cavite, Province. His father was Gobernadorcillo (town head), and, as a member of the Chinese-Tagalog mestizo minority, he enjoyed relative wealth and power.
At the age of 28, Emilio was elected as Cabeza de Barangay of Binakayan. The most progressive barrio in Cavite El Viejo. He held this position serving for his town-mates for eight years. He also engaged in inter-island shipping and traveling as far South as the Sulu Archipelago.
Family
His first marriage was in 1896 with Hilaria Del Rosario (1877-1921). They had five children (Miguel, Carmen, Emilio Jr., Maria and Cristina). His second wife was Maria Agoncillo (1882-1963).
The Revolution
In 1895, Aguinaldo joined the Katipunan. A secret organization led by Andres Bonifacio. It is dedicated to the expulsion of the Spanish and independence of the Philippines through armed forces. Aguinaldo used the Nom de Guerre Magdalo, in honor of Mary Magdalene. His local chapter of the Katipunan headed by his cousin Baldomero Aguinaldo, was also called Magdalo.
Spanish pressure intensified and eventually forcing Aguinaldo's forces to retreat to the mountains. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo signed the treaty of Biak-na-Bato, which specified that the Spanish would give self-rule to the Philippines within 3 years if Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was exiled. On December 14, 1897, Aguinaldo was shipped to Hong Kong. Under the Pact, Aguinaldo agreed to end hostilities as well as in exchange for amnesty in "$800,000 (Mexican)" (Aguinaldo's description of the amount) as an indemnity. Aguinaldo took the money offered to him.
However, thousands of other Katipuneros continued to fight the Revolution against Spain for a sovereign nation. Unlike Aguinaldo who came from a privileged background, the bulk of these fighters were peasants and workers who were not willing to settle for 'indemnities.'
In early 1898, war broke out between Spain and the United States. Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines in May 1898. He immediately resumed revolutionary activities against the Spaniards, now receiving verbal encouragement from emissaries of the U. S.
Filipino-American War
On the night of February 4, 1899, a Filipino was shot by an American sentry. This incident is considered the beginning of the Filipino-American War, and open fighting soon broke out between American troops and pro-independence Filipinos. Superior American firepower drove Filipino troops away from the city, and the Malolos government had to move from one place to another.
Less than two years later, after the famous Battle of Trad Pass with the death of Gen. Gregorio del Pilar, one of his most trusted generals, Aguinaldo was captured in Palanan, Isabela on March 23, 1901 by US General Frederick Funston, with the help of Macabebe trackers (who saw Aguinaldo as a bigger problem than the Americans). The American task force gained access to Aguinaldo's camp by pretending to be captured prisoners.
Aguinaldo pledged allegiance to America on April 1, 1901, formally ending the First Republic and recognizing the sovereignty of the United States over the Philippines.
US Territorial Period
Aguinaldo retired from public life for many years. In 1935, when the Commonwealth of the Philippines was established in preparation for Philippine independence, he ran for president but lost by a landslide to fiery Spanish mestizo Manuel L. Quezon. The two men formally reconciled in 1941, when President Quezon moved Flag Day to June 12, to commemorate the proclamation of Philippine independence.
Aguinaldo again retired to private life, until the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in World WAr II. He cooperated with the Japanese, making speeches, issuing articles and infamous radio addresses in support of the Japanese — including a radio appeal to Gen. Douglas MacArthur on Corregidor to surrender.
After the Americans retook the Philippines, Aguinaldo was arrested along with several others accused of collaboration with the Japanese. He was held in Bilibid prison for months until released by presidential amnesty. In his trial, it was eventually deemed that his collaboration with the Japanese was probably made under great duress, and he was released.
Aguinaldo lived to see the recognition of independence to the Philippines July 4, 1946, when the United States Government fully recognized Philippine independence in accordance with the Tydings and McDuffie Act of 1934. He was 93 when President Diosdado Macapagal officially changed the date of independence from July 4 to June 12, 1898, the date Aguinaldo believed to be the true Independence Day. During the independence parade at the Luneta, the 93-year old former president carried the flag he raised in Kawit.
Points of view about Gen. Emilio Agunaldo
He ordered the death of Andres Bonifacio. May 10, 1897 in the mountains of Maragondon where Andres Bonifacio was executed. Bonifacio was charged, tried and found guilty of treason by a Cavite military tribunal.A tribunal composes of Aguinaldo's men, and why was Bonifacio charge of treason. A question till now need to be answered, all I know is he (Aguinaldo) is responsible for the death of Andres Bonifacio the Father of Philippine Revolution and the Supremo of the Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangan Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK).
He was also responsible for the death of Gen. Antonio Luna the Brother of the famous painter Juan Luna. On June 2, 1899, a telegram from Aguinaldo was received by Gen. Antonio Luna. asked for help in a counter attack in San Fernando, and the other, “purportedly” signed by Aguinaldo, ordering him to come to the Aguinaldo's headquarter at Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija to form a new cabinet. Elated, Luna thought that, maybe, he would be named Premier and Secretary of War. He set off for Canatuan, with him are Col. Francisco Roman and Capt. Eduardo Rustica as his escort and aid. June 5, he arrived at the Cabanatuan Catholic Church the designated venue, Gen. Luna told his aides to wait for him while he conferred with Aguinaldo. He went up the stairs of the convent and ran into an officer whom he had previously disarmed for cowardice and an old enemy (Felipe Buencamino), whom he had once threatened with arrest, a hated “autonomist,” and was told that Aguinaldo had left for San Isidro in Tarlac. Enraged, Luna asked why he had not been told the meeting was cancelled. As he was about to depart, a single shot from a rifle on the plaza rang out. Outraged, and furious, he rushed down the stairs and met Capt. Pedro Janolino accompanied by some of the Kawit troops he had previously dismissed for insubordination during a battle. Janolino swung his bolo at Gen. Luna, wounding him at the temple. Some soldiers in the party of Janolino fired at Luna, others started stabbing him, even as he tried to bring his revolver to bear. He staggered out to the plaza where Col. Roman and Capt. Rustica were rushing to his aid, but they, too, were set upon, shot again and again at close range while Luna was being shot and stab to death. According to his great, great, great grandson which was told him by his father he (Perdo Janolino) was ordered by Emilio Aguinaldo to assassinate Gen. Anotonio Luna. (Note: Nothing has been proven that Aguinaldo indeed ordered Capt. Janolino to assassinate Gen. Luna. http://paulus21op.multiply.com/journal/item/87 )
Aguinaldo's betrayal to the Filipino and to the Philippines flag. When he pledged allegiance to the America flag on April 1, 1901, while his fellow revolutionist (Miguel Malvar, Macario Sakay, Artemio Ricarte ect.) continue to struggle and fight for independence.
During the Japanese invasion while the American and Filipino Forces fighting for sovereignty he cooperated and collaborated with the Japanese invading forces. Making speeches, issuing articles and infamous radio addresses in support of the Japanese including a radio appeal to Gen. Douglas MacArthrur on Corregidor to surrender his forces.
Now do you still think Aguinaldo is a Hero...
