A new era for Filipinos dawned on December 10, 1898 with the signing of the
Treaty of Paris through which Spain ceded the Philippines, its colony for over 300 years, to the United States for US$ 20 million.
The Peace Commission consisting of American and Spanish delegates met in Paris from October to December that year to discuss the terms of the treaty.
Much of their discussions focused on legal points and both sides maintained their respective hard-lined stand on the matter.
The Americans eventually prevailed, however, following Washington's order to ensure Spain's cession of the entire Philippines. Such cession placed the country under American control.
Still, the U.S. agreed on allowing for 10 years' entry of Spanish exports into the Philippines.
The Treaty of Paris did not go into effect immediately as several U.S. senators believed this accord was unfair to Filipinos.
However, the rise of Filipino-American hostilities on February 4, 1899 eventually led many of such legislators to vote in favor of the treaty.
This change happened as they believed the propaganda that Filipinos initiated the hostilities.
Aside from ceding the Philippines, the Treaty of Paris required Spain's surrender of Puerto Rico and Guam to the U.S.
The same treaty also required Spain to relinquish its rights to Cuba.
On this same date in 1986, President Corazon C. Aquino announced that the government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) have signed a ceasefire agreement, thus paving the way for possible national reconciliation. (PNA)
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=44723.0
