23 June, 1898
TODAY IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY:
Aguinaldo issued a decree replacing his dictatorial government with a revolutionary government, with himself as President.
Aguinaldo later claimed that an American naval officer urged him to return to the Philippines to fight the Spanish and said “The United States is a great and rich nation and needs no colonies. Aguinaldo said that after checking with Dewey by telegraph, U.S. Consul E. Spencer Pratt had assured him in Singapore: “That the United States would at least recognize the Independence of the Philippines under the protection of the United States Navy.
(Ref: Wikipedia; Photo from Malacanang.gov.ph)