The Revolutionary Government of the Philippines () was a revolutionary government established in the Spanish East Indies on June 23, 1898, during the Spanish–American War, by Emilio Aguinaldo, its initial and only president. The government succeeded a dictatorial government that had been established by Aguinaldo on June 18 and was dissolved and replaced by this government upon its establishment. This government endured until January 23, 1899, when the proclamation of the Malolos Constitution established an insurgent Philippine Republic government that replaced it.).
Four governmental departments were initially created, each having several bureaus: foreign relations, marine, and commerce; war and public works; police, justice, instruction, and hygiene; finance, agriculture, and industry. A revolutionary congress was established with power "[t]o watch over the general interest of the Philippine people, and carrying out of the revolutionary laws; to discuss and vote upon said laws; to discuss and approve, prior to their ratification, treaties and loans; to examine and approve the accounts presented annually by the secretary of finance, as well as extraordinary and other taxes which may hereafter be imposed."
On August 14, 1898, two days after the Battle of Manila of the Spanish–American War and about two months after Aguinaldo's proclamation of this revolutionary government, the United States established a military government in the Philippines, with General Merritt acting as military governor.
Government Cabinet Aguinaldo appointed a cabinet on 15 June 1898 during the preceding governmental arrangement; following the establishment of the Revolutionary Government on 23 June, its administrative organization was incorporated into the new government. His appointment includes Baldomero Aguinaldo as secretary of war and public works, Leanardo Ibarra as secretary of the interior and Mariano Trías as secretary of finance; the secretaryship of foreign relations, marine, and commerce was provisionally left in the charge of the presidency. On September 23, the cabinet was reorganized to six departments.
On January 2, 1899, when it became certain that Cayetano Arellano would not accept the role of secretary of foreign relations, the role fell to Apolinario Mabini. Mabini had to that time been Aguinaldo's principal advisor and he was also named the president of the cabinet.
+ Cabinet of the Revolutionary Government of the Philippines Department Secretary Term President of the Cabinet Apolinario Mabini January 2, 1899 – May 7, 1899 Secretary of War and Public Works Baldomero Aguinaldo June 15, 1898 – May 7, 1899 Secretary of the Interior Leonardo Ibarra June 15, 1898 – January 2, 1899 Secretary of Foreign Affairs Cayetano Arellano September 23, 1898 – January 2, 1899 Apolinario Mabini January 2, 1899 – May 7, 1899 Secretary of Treasury/Finance Mariano Trías June 15, 1898 – May 7, 1899 Secretary of Justice Gregorio Araneta September 23, 1898 – May 7, 1899 Secretary of Welfare Fernando Canon September 23, 1898 – January 2, 1899 Gracio Gonzaga January 2, 1899 – May 7, 1899
Provincial and district administration By October 1898, the Revolutionary Government had established a hierarchy of provincial and local officials in territories subject to its authority, establishing leadership in the provinces of Manila, Cavite, Tarlac, Morong, Batangas, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Pangasinan, La Laguna, Infanta, Nueva Ecija, Marinduque, Tayabas and the District of Amburayan.
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Bibliography
, (published online 2005, University of Michigan Library)