[Author’s note: The following was lifted verbatim from the pamphlet published by the Philippine Information Society, "Facts about the Filipinos – "The Crucial Test," Boston, Vol. 1, No. 3, June 1, 1901, pages 36-62, http://name.umdl.umich.edu/acc6166.0001.003,]
“4th May, 1898
“Don Doroteo Lopez Y Perez, Acting Secretary to the Filipino Committee established in Hong Kong with the object of watching over the interests of the country: “Certifies: That in the book of minutes there is an entry which is literally as follows:
“In the City of Hong Kong on May 4, 18098, there assembled the following gentlemen: Don Felipe Agoncillo, d. Mariano Llanera, D. Miguel Malvar, D. Andres Garchitorena, D. Severo Buenaventura, D. Anastacio Francisco, D. Teodoro Sandico, D. Maximo Kabigting, D. Faustino Lichauco, D. Antonio Montenegro, and D. Doroteo Lopez. The session was opened by the temporary President. The temporary secretary read the minutes of the previous meeting, which were approved. The temporary President reported that D. Emilio Aguinaldo had just arrived from Singapore and it became also necessary to elect a member to the vacancy left by Sr. Alejandrino (D. Jose) since under present conditions in the Philippines, it is necessary to have on this committee 467 men who by their high ability can express opinions which will throw light upon the solution of the important problems which at present affect the Philippines. In view of these considerations, a motion was made to elect a suitable person in the place of Sr. Alejandrino, which motion was unanimously carried.
“When the votes had been counted, it was found that D. Galicano Apacible and ten votes, D. Arcadio del Rosario had two, and D. Justo Lucban had one. Accordingly, Sr. Apacible was elected by a majority of votes.
“Thereupon, a respectful notice was sent to the latter and to Sr. Aguinaldo, the session being for a moment suspended for the purpose of permitting them to come to the meeting hall and, after taking their oaths, to take possession of their respective offices. The session having been resumed with D. Emilio Aguinaldo and D. Galicano Apacible: ‘Do you swear upon your honor to be faithful to your country and to carry out loyally and faithfully the duties which the offices you have just accepted impose upon you?’ When the candidates replied: ‘We swear it,’ the President said: ‘If you so do it, may the country reward you, and if you fail, may she censure you.’
“When the ceremony was over, D. Felipe Agoncillo turned over the Presidency to Emilio Aguinaldo; he and Sr. Apacible took possession of their respective offices after having expressed to the gentlemen of the committee their profound thanks for the high honor that had just been done them, promising to carry out faithfully all the duties of their 468 offices, as far as their poor ability would permit, since they held those charges as most sacred ones. The President described the negotiations that took place during his absence in Singapore with the American Consul of the English colony. Both agreed that the President should confer with Admiral commanding the American Squadron in Mirs Bay, and if the latter should accept his propositions, advantageous in his judgment, to the Philippines, he would go to said country in one of the cruisers which form the fleet for the purpose of taking part in the present events. And as he did not find the Admiral, he thought it well to have an interview with the American Consul of this colony on the day of his arrival, but was not satisfied with such an interview.
“Considering the critical conditions in the Philippines at present, he begged the committee to discuss the advisability of his going to said islands with all the leaders of prominence in the last rebellion residing in this colony, in case the Admiral gave them an opportunity to do so. Sr. Sandico said that from conferences which he had with the Admiral of the American fleet and with the American Consul in this colony, he believed that under present conditions it was absolutely necessary for the President to go to the Philippines, since, according to the American Consul, Manila had been taken by said fleet, and a provisional government was now being formed in that capital. The intervention of the President in the formation of the government is undoubtedly essential, since his prestige, which everybody recognizes, would evidently prevent dissensions among the sons of the country, and it would be possible thereby to obtain a perfect organization both for the military and civil evolution of that 469 country. Srs. Garchitorena and Apacible expressed themselves in similar terms. Notwithstanding the previous remarks, the President insisted that he considered it reckless for him to go to the Philippines without first making a written agreement with the Admiral, as it might happen, if he placed himself at his orders, that he might make him subscribe to or sign a document containing proposals highly prejudicial to the interest of the country, form which might arise the following two very grave contingencies;
“1st. If he should accept them, he would undoubtedly commit an unpatriotic act, and his name would justly be eternally cursed by the Filipinos.
“2nd. If he should refuse, then the break between the two would be evident.
“And to avoid this said dilemma, he proposed to the committee that four parties (?) of the insurgents now here, under charge of the competent chiefs authorized in writing by him, should go to the Philippines to intervene, after a conference with the Admiral, in these important questions; such means, in his opinion, should be first employed to ascertain in an authentic manner what the intentions of the United States in regard to that country are; and if his intervention is absolutely necessary, he would not object to go at once to the Philippines endeavoring by all means in his power to remedy the critical condition of the country, to which he had offered, and always would willingly offer, to sacrifice his life.
“He added further that it might be possible, in case of there being no previous agreement, that Admiral would refuse to furnish him the arms necessary to guarantee the welfare of the country, and if this should happen, perhaps he would be under the necessity of taking a resolution fatal to himself, understanding, as he did , that then nothing could done by himself, as the Spanish government would demand the return of the 400,000 pesos, on account of his subsequent conduct, apart from the action brought against him by D. Isabelo Artacho before the Supreme Court, which ordered on the petition of Sr. Artacho, the suspension of payment of this sum by the Hong Kong Shanghai and Chartered Banks, although he stated that such suspension of payment could only operate at present against 350,000 pesos, since he held 50,000 in his hands, a sum which he withdrew from the Chartered Bank on account of the said action, not having been able to withdraw all the funds in spite of measures he took, because the Directors of the said banks objected by reason of the installments not being yet due. The 200,000 pesos are deposits for a fixed period in the Hong Kong Shanghai, and the 200,000 pesos are in the Chartered Bank, subject to withdrawal of 50,000 pesos every three months, so that there now remain 150,000 pesos. Srs. Sandico, Garchitorena, Gonzaga, and Apacible replied that they were fully convinced the Admiral of the American squadron would furnish the President all the arms which he might desire, since the former was convinced that the fleet could do nothing in the Philippines unless it were used in conjunction with the insurgents in the development of their plans of war against the Spanish government. 471 “It was impossible to believe otherwise than that the Admiral would be pleased to take the President and other leaders aboard any one of his cruisers. As to the President being forced to sign a document containing propositions prejudicial to the Philippines, said gentlemen believed that such a case could not occur, in view of the degree of culture or civilization of the Admiral; and if it should occur after all, the President could decline, pleading that in this colony there was a committee which exercised functions of government, and which is charged with all political questions of the country, and with which he could treat directly. The authority to treat which the President desired to give to the other chiefs, without reflecting at all upon their personal qualifications, they did not believe would be as efficacious as his personal intervention which is necessary in affairs, such as those the subject of discussion; there would be no better occasion that that afforded them to insure the landing of the expeditionary forces on those islands and to arm themselves at the expense of the Americans and to assure the situation of the Philippines as regard to our legitimate aspirations against the very people. The Filipino people unprovided with arms, would be the victims of the demands and exactions of the United States; but provided with arms, would be able to opposed themselves to them, struggling for independence, in which consists the true happiness of the Philippines. And they finished by saying that it made no difference if the Spanish government did demand the return of 400,000 pesos, and if the demand were allowed in an action, since the object of the sum would be required for the struggle for their legitimate aspirations. Sr. Agoncillo, taking into 472 consideration the reasons set forth by Sres. Sandico, Gonzaga, Garchitorena, and Apacible said that the result obtained from the going of the President would undoubtedly be subject to chance under the present critical conditions in the country; this must be the case, for example. Perhaps no one expected a war between Spain and the United States. In order to consider the difficulties which the President presented, it is necessary to examine the benefits which the country would receive or the injury which it would suffer, if the President went or did not go to the Philippines, without losing sight of the prestige which he acquired in the past rebellion, and which was so deeply rooted in the soil of the Philippines, and by placing the benefits on one side of the scale and the injuries on the other, we shall undoubtedly discover which would weigh the heavier. The President, with his prestige in the Philippines, would be able to arouse those masses to combat the demands of the United States if they colonized the country, and would drive them, if circumstances rendered it necessary, to a Titanic struggle for their independence, even if they should succumb in shaking off the yoke of a new oppressor. If Washington proposed to carry out the fundamental principles in its constitution, there was no doubt that it would not attempt to colonize the Philippines or even annex it. It was probable then that it would give them independence and guarantee it; in such a case the presence of the President was necessary, as he would prevent dissensions among the sons of the country who sought office, which might cause the intervention of European powers, and intervention which there was no reason to doubt would be highly prejudic9ial to the interest 473 of the country. He would be able to secure by his prestige the establishment in that country of an organization as perfect as possible and suited to its new social-political evolution. Present conditions in the Philippines urgently call for the aid of her strong sons to control her destiny, remedying her present well-known critical conditions. Then to wait (?) What injury could come to the Philippines, even if we admitted that the Admiral would not give arms to the President on account of his refusal to sign a document prejudicial to the country after he had taken all means to provide for her defense? None. Such an act of the President could not be censured, but on the other hand, would be most meritorious, because it would be one proof more of his undoubted patriotism. A delay on his part to go to the Philippines at the present critical moment might be charged to a want of patriotism, the disastrous consequences of which were evident. His inaction, even momentary, could be attributed to criminal weakness, and all these things would destroy the incomparable fame which the President so worthily won in the last rebellion. He said it is well known that he who consecrates himself to a work tending to the welfare of his country must risk his life on a thousand occasions, and if it is sacrificed, it would be well spent, and he would be eternally blessed. Sr. Agoncillo was of the opinion that, in a general way he had stated the advantages which would come to the Philippines if the President should go there in the present critical circumstances and the great injury which was sure to be done if his departure was postponed any longer, for during that delay might arise all those evils which eh could cause that country to avoid. And finally, the suspension of the 474 payment of the funds has been decreed by the Supreme Court by virtue of the suit brought by D. Isabelo Artacho against the President, so that they are at present the object of a suit whose purpose was known by all there present. In consequence no good for the country was to be derived by waiting for the time when we could dispose of these funds, while the problems which the Philippines confronts today required immediate solution by her sons in whose hearts existed the sacred fire of patriotism. On account of the reasons set forth Sr. Agoncillo was of the opinion that Sr. Aguinaldo with the other leaders should go in one of the vessels of the American fleet, now that one was offered, and asked that a vote be taken on the question, requesting that it be extended to include the question as to whether the President should leave to this committee the management of the affairs relating to the policy of the country, that is, if this committee inspired him with absolute confidence in its ability to have charge of matters of such a nature. A nominal vote having been taken upon this motion, of Sr. Agoncillo, which was also seconded by Srs. Gonzaga, Sandico, Garchitorena and Apacible, the motion was unanimously passed en-toto. Also the request of the President that absolute freedom be left him as to the choice of persons who were to accompany him on his next expedition, was unanimously agreed to and also his request that none of the persons named by the President were to disobey him, and as the affairs which were subject of discussion at the session were of the highest importance, it was agreed that the proper minute should be drawn up, which was done and approved by those present, and it was 475 also agreed that the President would be given a copy of said minute as he requested.
“There being no further business before it, the meeting adjourned. To all of which, I the temporary secretary, certify,
“Emilio Aguinaldo, Felipe Agoncillo, Faustino Licahauco, Andres Garchitorena, Galicano Apacible, Severo Buenaventura, Gracio Gonzaga, Anastacio Francisco, Tomas Mascardo, Maximo Kabigting, Vito Belarmino, Miguel Malvar, Mariano Llanera, Teodoro Sandico, Antonio Montenegro, D. Lopez.
“This agrees with the original and by virtue of a resolution we issue these presents to Sr. Emilio Aguinaldo for the proper purposes.
“In Hong Kong, the fifth of May, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight.” (source: Taylor, vol 1, pages 505-510)
