President Aguinaldo on Philippines Stamps

EMILIO AGUINALDO

22 March 1878 to 6 February 1964

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Emilio Aguinaldo was a general and independence leader. In the Philippines, Aguinaldo is considered to be the country's first and the youngest Philippine President between 1899 and 1901.

Emilio Aguinaldo played an instrumental role in Philippine independence during the Philippine Revolution against Spain and the Philippine-American War that resisted American occupation although he eventually pledged his allegiance to the US government.

In 1895, Aguinaldo joined the Katipunan. Aguinaldo and the Cavite rebels won major victories in set-piece battles, temporarily driving the Spanish out of their area. The Cavite rebels made overtures about establishing a revolutionary government in place of the Katipunan and Aguinaldo was elected by the rebels.

The Spanish eventually forced Aguinaldo's forces to retreat to the mountains where he signed the treaty of Biak-na-Bato, which specified that the Spanish would give self-rule to the Philippines within 3 years if General Aguinaldo was exiled. In December 1897, Aguinaldo was shipped to Hong Kong. In early 1898, war broke out between Spain and the United States. Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines in May 1898 and immediately resumed revolutionary activities.

On 12 June 1898, Aguinaldo declared Philippine Independence and he was proclaimed President of the First Philippine Republic. In February 1899 the Philippine-American War started. Aguinaldo led the resistance against the Americans but was captured in March 1901 and pledged allegiance to America on 1 April 1901, formally ending the First Republic and recognizing the sovereignty of the United States over the Philippines.

In 1935 he ran for president but lost by a landslide Manuel Quezon.

First Day Covers

Presidential Credo #883A and 883B, 5 Feb 1966

Surcharge #1120, 29 May 1972

Birth Centenary #1010 to 1012, 23 Jan 1969

Philippine Independence 75th Anniversary #1211 to 1213, 24 Sept 1973

The stamps depict the ceremony held at the balcony of Aguinaldo’s home in Kawit, Cavite on 12 June 1898, where Aguinaldo declared Philippine Independence and unfurled the Philippine Flag. This scene is repeated on a number of later stamp issues. (note Aguinaldo is depicted on the balcony, President Marcos is in the foreground