The Treaty of Paris-1898 and the Ilonggo Nation
(By: DinggolAranetaDivinagracia - December 10, 2018)
Prologue:
“On December 10, 1898 at about 8:45 in the evening exactly 120 years ago today, the Treaty of Peace also known as the Treaty of Paris-1898 was signed by Peace Commissioners headed by Judge William R. Day and also by Señor Eugenio Montero Rios as the Representatives of the United States of America and the Spanish government respectively.
Whether the "Estado Federal de Bisayas" an independent and sovereign Nation/State spearheaded by the Ilonggos was included therein, is the issue at hand. “ --dinggol.d~~~
The Republic of the Philippines, headed today by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte of Davao City, evolved thru continues legal processes from the Treaty of Paris that was signed December 10th of 1898. The U.S. Senate ratified the treaty on February 6, 1899, by a margin of only one vote more than the required two-thirds. The Treaty of Peace became legal and internationally binding only on April 11, 1899 when the ratified documents were exchanged by the belligerent parties; thus, formally ended the eight (8) months Spanish-American war.
Here is a copy of Article III with technical description of coordinates, as contained in the said Treaty of Paris-1898 that clearly manifested coverage of area ceded by Spain to the United States of America.
“..Article III-Spain cedes to the United States the archipelago known as the Philippine Islands, and comprehending the islands lying within the following line:
A line running from west to east along or near the twentieth parallel of north latitude, and through the middle of the navigable channel of Bachi, from the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) to the one hundred and twenty-seventh (127th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, thence along the one hundred and twenty seventh (127th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich to the parallel of four degrees and forty five minutes (4 [degree symbol] 45']) north latitude, thence along the parallel of four degrees and forty five minutes (4 [degree symbol] 45') north latitude to its intersection with the meridian of longitude one hundred and nineteen degrees and thirty five minutes (119 [degree symbol] 35') east of Greenwich, thence along the meridian of longitude one hundred and nineteen degrees and thirty five minutes (119 [degree symbol] 35') east of Greenwich to the parallel of latitude seven degrees and forty minutes (7 [degree symbol] 40') north, thence along the parallel of latitude of seven degrees and forty minutes (7 [degree symbol] 40') north to its intersection with the one hundred and sixteenth (116th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, thence by a direct line to the intersection of the tenth (10th) degree parallel of north latitude with the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, and thence along the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich to the point of beginning.
The United States will pay to Spain the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) within three months after the exchange of the ratification of the present treaty. . . . ."
Actual area of Coverage:
Sometime ago it has come to our attention that out of the more than 7,100 islands that comprised the whole Philippine archipelago only about 3,000 islands or less than 50% were ceded by Spain to the U.S. based on the 1898 Treaty of Paris.
Therefore, perhaps, these involved only areas under Spanish authorities, that included Aguinaldo's jurisdictions since he never formally won the war against Spain and was still considered "subject " under the Spanish crown. His opportunity was derailed by the betrayal of his trusted American allies during the drama between the Spanish and American forces now known as the “mock” battle at Intramuros in Manila on August 13, 1898.
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