05 January, 1899
TODAY IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
General Emilio Aguinaldo issued manifestos declaring his opposition to the “benovolent assimilation declaration” of US President McKinley. Aguinaldo declared that “I protest 1001 times with all the energy of my soul against such authority. I solemnly declare that neither in Singapore, Hongkong, nor here in the Philippines did I ever agree, by word or in writing, to recognize the sovereignty of America in this our lovely country”.
Aguinaldo issued the declaration after General Otis issued his edited version of the “Benovolent assimilation declaration” in which the American general mentioned that Aguinaldo called him (Otis) the “Military Governor of the Philippine Islands”.
(Ref: Otis report of 1899, page 78 via The development of Philippine politics, Kalaw, Maximo M, pages 170-171,Manila: P.I., Oriental Commercial Company, Inc., 1927; Photo from http://bit.ly/2inHp1D)
