Biyak-na-Bato Historic SiteBiyak-na-Bato Historic Site is a National Historical Site; Registered Property, Province of Bulacan located at San Miguel, Bulacan, Region III.
RESOLUTION NO. 1, S. 1996
DECLARING BIYAK-NA-BATO IN SAN MIGUEL, BULACAN AS A HISTORICAL SITE
WHEREAS, Article 14, Sections 14, 15, and 16 on “Arts and Culture” of the Constitution of the Philippines, respectively, state that: “The State shall foster the preservation, enrichment and dynamic evolution of the Filipino national culture…; The State shall conserve, promote, and popularize the nation’s historical and cultural heritage and resources, as well as artistic creations. All the country’s artistic and historic wealth constitutes the cultural treasure of the nation and shall be under the protection of the State which may regulate its disposition;”
WHEREAS, Presidential Decree No. 260, dated August 1, 1973, officially vested the National Historical Institute with the power to conserve and promote the historical and cultural heritage of the country, and is, therefore, in-charge of identifying, maintaining and caring of historical shrines, monuments, and landmarks and or developing the historical sites and structures that may be declared as National Shrines, Monuments and Landmarks;
WHEREAS, General Emilio Aguinaldo and his followers, as a strategic move on their part, encamped themselves in Biyak-na-Bato, San Miguel, Bulacan where they resorted to guerilla warfare, thereby transforming the Filipino struggle for independence into a people’s war;
WHEREAS, on November 1-2, 1897, fifty-two revolutionary leaders convened in Biyak-na-Bato and signed the Constitucion Provinsional de la Republica de Filipinas, thereby establishing the first constitutional republican government in the Philippines, on the basis of a temporary constitution.
WHEREAS, the Pact of Biyak-na-Bato signed on November 18, 1897 was a truce agreement between the Filipino revolutionaries and the Spanish colonial government, thereby suspending the hostilities between the two forces and stipulating the terms which included the surrender of the Filipino arms, the exile of Aguinaldo and the other members of the Revolutionary Committee to Hongkong, and the payment of money to the said Committee according to an agreed schedule;
WHEREAS, due to the significant events associated with this site, a historical marker was installed by the National Historical Institute in 1973;
WHEREAS, in the celebration of the National Centennials from 1996 to 1998, Biyak-na-Bato serves as a historical site and as a national reminder and inspiration for all Filipinos for their historic struggle against Spain and the perpetuation of the ideals of liberty for which their forefathers had consistently fought and defended a century ago;
NOW THEREFORE, the National Historical Institute, by virtue of the powers vested in it by Presidential Decree No. 260, dated August 1, 1973, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 1505, dated June 11, 1978, hereby declares Biyak-na-Bato and its environs as a Historic Site.
APPROVED: April 24, 1996
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The mountain hideout of the Spanish Revolutionary forces and the Aguinaldo and Pedro Paterno. It is where the historic Biak na Bato Republic was established. Among its natural attractions are the Paniki and Aguinaldo Cave. The nest of freedom fighters during the Philippine-Spanish War, appeals to the adventurous spirit with its challenging rock formations. Today, hanging bridges and staircases connecting river and caves make a pleasurable exploration.
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Marker Text:
Biyaknabato
Sa pook na ito itinatag ng mga manghihimagsik sa pamumuno ng Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo ang republika ng Biyak-na-Bato nong ika-31 ng Mayo, 1897. Ang saligang-batas ng Republika ay pinagtibay sa pook ding ito noong unang araw ng Nobyembre, 1897.