BRIDGING THE GAP The Iloilo culmination of the declaration of
Philippine Independence As already known, Emilio Aguinaldo
declared Philippine independence from Spain on June 12, 1898.
This came about as a result of the renewal of the revolution
against Spain after Aguinaldo ended his voluntary exile in
Hongkong. As may be recalled, the Pact of Biyak-na-Bato was
agreed upon between the Filipinos under Aguinaldo and the
Spaniards in December 1897 that led to the cessation of
hostilities and the exile of the leading Filipino leaders.
However, the Americans, vent on pursuing their imperialistic
goal, persuaded Aguinaldo to go back to the Philippines to
initiate the second phase of the Philippine revolution. This,
Aguinaldo did in the middle part of May 1898. Now, what part did
Iloilo play in the events related to the declaration of
Philippine independence? As early as March 1898, some members of
the Ilonggo elite organized the Comite Conspirador in Molo under
whose orders and plans the revolutionary movement in We