Bayambang: The Capital of the First Philippine Republic

Early November 1899 marked a significant moment in the history of the Philippines, as the Philippine-American War reached the province of Pangasinan. General Emilio Aguinaldo, the president of the first Philippine Republic, transferred the seat of his government to Bayambang, making it the capital of the republic for a short period. The Council of Government also convened for the last time in Bayambang, where they made the final decision to disband the army and resort instead to guerrilla warfare. This decision marked the end of the formal workings of the central government of the first Philippine Republic in Bayambang.

The Philippine-American War began on February 4, 1899, after the Philippines declared independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. The United States, who had just recently defeated Spain in the Spanish-American War, refused to recognize the sovereignty of the Philippine government and began a campaign to subdue the Filipinos. General Emilio Aguinaldo, the leader of the Filipino revolutionaries, had been leading the fight against the Spanish colonial rule and continued to lead the fight against the Americans.

In October 1899, the Philippine-American War reached the province of Pangasinan, located in the northern part of Luzon. General Aguinaldo saw the importance of transferring the seat of his government to a safer location and chose Bayambang, a town located in the central part of Pangasinan. The transfer of the government seat to Bayambang marked a significant moment in the history of the Philippine revolution, as it became the capital of the republic for a short period.

During this period, the Council of Government, the legislative body of the first Philippine Republic, convened for the last time in Bayambang. The Council made the final decision to disband the army and resort to guerrilla warfare. The decision was made due to the lack of resources and manpower of the Philippine army. Guerrilla warfare was seen as a more effective way to fight against the better-equipped American forces.

The decision to disband the army and resort to guerrilla warfare marked the end of the formal workings of the central government of the first Philippine Republic. The Philippine government continued to operate in an unofficial capacity through the use of guerrilla tactics. The guerrilla warfare strategy proved to be effective, and the Philippine-American War continued until 1902 when General Aguinaldo was captured by the Americans.