Republic of Negros

Nomenclature

The entity had gone by multiple names throughout its short existence: the Negros Canton (; ; ) of the First Philippine Republic, and the Federal Republic of Negros (; ; ) or Federal State of Negros (; ; ) under U.S. protection. According to Gregorio Zaide, the protectorate had been annexed to the Philippine Islands as simply the Republic of Negros.

History

Main article: Negros Revolution

From November 3 to 6, 1898, the Negrenses began to revolt against the Spanish Empire‘a colonial government, headed locally by politico-military governor Colonel Isidro de Castro. The Spaniards decided to surrender upon seeing armed troops marching in a pincer movement towards Bacólod, the chief city of the island. The revolutionaries, led by Generals Juan Araneta, from Bago and Aniceto Lacson, from Talisay, were actually carrying fake arms consisting of rifles carved from palm fronds and cannons of rolled bamboo mats painted black. On 5 November, Spanish officials surrendered themselves to native troops. A provisional government was then established with Aniceto Lacson as President, and a notice of this was transmitted by Melecio Severino to President Emilio Aguinaldo on Luzón. On November 27, 1898, the unicameral Congress of Deputies () met in Bacólod and declared the establishment of the Republican Canton of Negros (). The Congress of Deputies acted as a constituent assembly to draft a constitution.

Motivated by either economic interests or sheer realpolitik, the hacendero-led cantonal government surrendered to invading U.S. forces on March 4, 1899, pacete / following the outbreak of hostilities between the nascent First Philippine Republic and the U.S. military government which had been established during the Spanish–American War, and came under U.S. protection on April 30, 1899 as a territory separate from the Philippine Islands.Two-article series:

• A constitution for a Federal Republic of Negros, and annexed to the Philippine Islands by the United States simply as the "Republic of Negros".

Leaders

The leaders of the short-lived republic were:

:{|class=wikitable |- |General Aniceto Lacson y Ledesma (November 5, 1898 - November 27, 1898) November 5, 1898 - July 22, 1899 || (President in Negros Occidental only until November 27, 1898) de facto President |- |Demetrio Larena y Sandes (November 24, 1898 - November 27, 1898) November 5, 1898 - July 22, 1899 || (President in Negros Oriental only) de facto Vice-President |- |Don José Ruiz de Luzuriaga y Guiquín July 22, 1899 - November 6, 1899|| President of the Chamber of Deputies |- | Don Eusebio Ruiz de Luzuriaga y Ramos || Secretary of the Treasury |- | General Simeón Lizares y Montebón || de facto Secretary of the Interior |- | Nicolás Gólez y Coloso || Secretary of Development and Public Works |- | Don Agustín Amenábar || Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce |- |Capitán Juan Anacleto Araneta y Torres || Secretary of War |- |Antonio Jayme y Ledesma July 24, 1854 - October 9, 1937|| Secretary of Justice |- |Melecio Severino é Yorac November 6, 1899 - April 30, 1901|| de facto Governor-General of the Provinces |- |}

Commemoration

November 5, popularly referred to by the Negrenses as Cinco de Noviembre, has been officially observed since 1989 as a special non-working holiday in Negros Occidental. The republic itself has been commemorated in a historical marker in the main square of Bago, on which is inscribed:

In this plaza of Bago was proclaimed the República de Negros by the revolutionary forces led by general Juan Anacleto Araneta, 5 November 1898. Witnessed by Ananías Diokno, representative of the Central Revolutionary Government. This Republic acknowledged the authority of the First Philippine Republic under Emilio Aguinaldo.

References

• (Note: 1. The book cover incorrectly lists author as "Maximo M Lalaw", 2. Originally published in 1921 by The McCullough Printing Co., Manila)

References

1. "The opposition to the Americans and the Canton Republic of Negros".
2. Aguilar, F. V. (2000). [http://www.philippinestudies.net/ojs/index.php/ps/article/view/429/434 The Republic of Negros]. ''Philippine Studies, 48''(1), 26–52.
3. Rodríguez, C. A. (1986). [http://www.philippinestudies.net/ojs/index.php/ps/article/view/1214/3864 Don Diego de la Viña and the Philippine Revolution in Negros Oriental]. ''Philippine Studies, 34''(1), 61–76.
4. Gonzaga, V. L. (1990). [http://www.philippinestudies.net/ojs/index.php/ps/article/view/997/983 Negros in Transition: 1899–1905]. ''Philippine Studies, 38''(1), 103–114.
5. Zaide, Gregorio F.. (1970). "Philippine Constitutional History and Constitutions of Modern Nations: With Full Texts of the Constitutions of the Philippines and Other Modern Nations". Modern Book Co..
6. Kalaw. 1921
7. "Negros History". Silliman University.
8. Victoriano D. Diamonon. (1920). "The Development of Self-government in The Philippine Islands". University of Iowa.
9. WorldStatesmen. "The Philippines".
10. "Republic Act No. 6709 | GOVPH".