Emilio Aguinaldo Biography Emilio Aguinaldo was born on March 22, 1869, in Kawit, Cavite, Philippines. Nicknamed Miong, Aguinaldo was the seventh of eight children. His parents were of Chinese and Tagalog descent. His father, Carlos, died when Aguinaldo was just nine years old. Widowed, his mother, Trinidad, sent him to attend public school in Manila. After graduating from the University of Santo Thomas in Manila, Aguinaldo returned home to Kawit, where he developed a growing awareness of Filipino frustration with Spanish colonial rule. While serving as the head of barter in Manila, he joined the Pilar Lodge chapter of the Freemasonry in 1895. The Freemasonry was a government- and church-banned resistance group. It was through his role as municipal captain of this fraternity that Aguinaldo met Andres Bonifacio, a key figure in the fight to overthrow Spanish rule. Contributions First (and only) president of the First Republic (Malolo Republic) Signed the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, creating a truce between the Spanish and Philippine revolutionaries Known as the President of the Revolutionary Government Led the Philippines in the Spanish-Philippine War and the American-Philippine War Youngest president, taking office at age 28 Longest-lived president, passing away at 94 Pitfalls He did not investigate the (alleged) rape of Bonifacio’s wife. He let Luna killer go unpunished. He Ignored Luna’s advice for guerilla warfare only to use it in the end. He had nascent dictatorial streak. He engaged in political mudsliding against Manuel Quezon.