The Last Holdouts: General Vicente Lukban falls, Feb. 18, 1902 General Vicente Lukban commanded Filipino guerilla forces on Samar and Leyte islands in the eastern Visayas, central Philippines. On Feb. 18, 1902, he was captured by a scouting party composed of Americans and Filipinos commanded by 1Lt. Alphonse Strebler of Company 39, … Read more
Stalling Moro Resistance: The Bates Treaty and the Sultan of Sulu, Aug. 20, 1899 The Muslim Moros are a multilingual ethnic group that comprised about 5.25% of the total Philippine population in 2005. Their name originated from the Spanish word Moor, and they mostly live in the western part of Mindanao Island, … Read more
June 2, 1899: Last Spanish holdouts surrender in Baler Fifty-three Spanish soldiers and 4 officers staked out at the Baler Church, Baler, Nueva Ecija Province, from June 28, 1898 to June 2, 1899 (Baler is now the capital town of Aurora Province; it is 140 miles, about 225 kilometers, due north of … Read more
General Otis Unsuspends Spanish-legacy Courts of Law, May 29, 1899 The oath-taking ceremony was performed on June 5, 1899. Standing are Manuel Araullo, Florentino Torres, Gregorio Araneta, Cayetano Arellano, and Captain William E. Birkhimer. Seated are Colonel Enoch H. Crowder and Major Richard W. Young � Colonel Crowder sits, legs crossed, to … Read more
South of Manila Campaign: Battle of Las Pi�as and Para�aque, June 10, 1899 A force of 4,500 American troops assembled on June 10, 1899 at San Pedro de Macati to conduct a campaign south of Manila to sweep the country between Manila Bay and Laguna Lake. They were commanded by Maj. Gen. … Read more
Second Battle of Manila, Feb. 22-23, 1899 After pushing back the Filipino lines in the first battle of Manila and the suburbs on Feb. 4-10, 1899, Maj. Gen. Elwell S. Otis waited for more reinforcements from the United States. Aguinaldo used the lull to reorganize and discuss plans for taking Manila. The … Read more
June 12, 1898: Declaration of Philippine Independence On June 12, 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo declared the independence of the Filipinos and the birth of the Philippine Republic �under the protection of the mighty and humane North American Union.�. This momentous event took place in Cavite el Viejo (“Old Cavite”, now Kawit), Cavite Province. … Read more
Aug. 13, 1898: Mock Battle of Manila The mock battle of Manila was staged on August 13. At 7:30 a.m., with American and Spanish commanders unaware that a peace protocol had been signed between their governments a few hours earlier, the battle for Manila commenced. Admiral Dewey had cut the only cable … Read more
Combats between Manila and Lake Laguna de Bay With fresh troops from the U.S. mainland, Maj. Gen. Elwell S. Otis ordered the clearing of the country between Manila and Lake Laguna de Bay, and a push to the north and capture Aguinaldo. He believed that this move will stretch a line of … Read more
Sept. 15, 1898: The Malolos Congress Following the declaration of independence from Spain on June 12, 1898 by the Revolutionary Government, a congress was opened in Malolos, Bulacan Province on Sept. 15, 1898 to draw up a constitution for the First Philippine Republic. The basilica at Barasoain was filled with delegates and … Read more
Dec. 10, 1899: Apolinario Mabini Is Captured When the Filipino-American war broke out and Aguinaldo’s government became disorganized, the paralytic Apolinario Mabini, who headed Aguinaldo’s cabinet until May 7, 1899, when he was replaced by Pedro Paterno, fled to Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija Province, carried in a hammock. He was captured there by … Read more
June 5, 1899: Assassination of Gen. Antonio Luna Gen. Antonio Luna (LEFT, in 1898) was born in Urbiztondo, Binondo district, Manila on Oct. 29, 1866. He was the youngest of seven children of Ilocano parents; his father, Joaqu�n Luna, hailed from Badoc, Ilocos Norte Province, and his mother, Spanish mestiza Laureana Novicio, … Read more