El Presidente

In 1886, an old woman prophesies to Emilio Aguinaldo and Candido Tirona. Aguinaldo learns of a future rise to power, while Tirona is warned of his own death. The prophecy foreshadows the personal costs of leadership and the coming conflict.

Ten years later, Aguinaldo becomes gobernadorcillo of Cavite El Viejo and is secretly inducted into the Katipunan by Andres Bonifacio. He then leads the Cavite chapter of the secret society. This marks the rise of organized resistance against Spanish rule.

When trouble erupts in Manila, the Philippine Revolution begins. Aguinaldo secretly mobilizes his army despite weapon shortages, coordinating with local fighters across Cavite. The Spaniards move most of their forces toward Manila in response.

Aguinaldo's forces win a series of battles that free Cavite from Spanish rule. Tirona is killed in action during the campaign, fulfilling the old woman's warning. Cavite becomes a stronghold for the revolution, though at great cost.

The Magdalo and Magdiwang factions convene at Tejeros to form a unified revolutionary government. Aguinaldo is elected president, Mariano Trías as vice-president, and Bonifacio as interior minister. The gathering exposes deep tensions within the leadership.

Daniel Tirona objects to Bonifacio's position, triggering Bonifacio's departure from the Tejeros convention. The rift deepens the conflict within the Katipunan's leadership. The disagreement foreshadows future power struggles.

While Aguinaldo's forces fight at Pasong Santol, he receives news of his victory at Tejeros from his brother. He leaves his men under his brother's command to attend the inauguration of the new government. The moment underscores the clash between battlefield action and political legitimacy.

Bonifacio is arrested by Aguinaldo's supporters who accuse him of sedition. To avoid fracturing the movement, Aguinaldo orders exile, but his war council secretly orders Bonifacio's execution. The episode cements the personal and political rifts within the rebellion.

The tide turns as Cavite is retaken by Spanish forces. Aguinaldo retreats to Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan and forms a new revolutionary government, negotiating with Spain to end the conflict. To secure peace, he and his followers go into exile in Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong, Aguinaldo meets with U.S. officials who offer support. With the outbreak of the Spanish–American War, he returns to the Philippines and helps defeat the Spaniards. The First Philippine Republic forms in Malolos as a symbol of independence.

The peace treaty ends with Spain secretly selling the Philippines to the United States for $20,000,000 to avoid humiliation. The Filipino–American War erupts, challenging Aguinaldo's government and shaping his destiny. February marks renewed hostilities as the conflict continues.

General Antonio Luna is appointed commander; his brash leadership sparks friction and his subsequent murder by discontented troops. Filipino forces are routed, forcing Aguinaldo to flee to Northern Luzon. The war's momentum shifts toward American dominance.

American forces intensify pursuit and capture Aguinaldo in Palanan, Isabela, after learning his whereabouts from a loyal courier. The capture signals the effective end of the major Filipino resistance and the American victory.

Aguinaldo acknowledges the American occupation and lives a quiet life as the decades pass. He mourns his wife Hilaria, remarries Maria Agoncillo's niece, and makes another bid for the presidency before setbacks. He witnesses the long, gradual path toward full independence, with June 12 emerging as a symbolic date.

In his final years, the old woman returns as Inang Bayan, the personification of the Philippines, at his deathbed and reveals herself. The country gestures toward lasting freedom as Aguinaldo waves the Philippine flag by a river, marking both his downfall and the nation's enduring spirit.