<figure class="image-550">
<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-29/american-flag-raised-fort-santiago.webp" alt="A historical black and white photograph depicting American soldiers in formation and presenting arms at a fort. A soldier on a platform is raising an American flag on a tall pole, with a smaller flag visible below it. Cannons on gun carriages are in the foreground on stone battlements." loading="lazy" />
<figcaption>
American soldiers raising the flag of the United States at <a href="/articles/3085/fort-santiago-history-a-testament-to-manilas-rich-past" class="news-link">Fort Santiago, Manila</a>, on August 13, 1898, mark the official American occupation of the city after the Battle of Manila. A smaller Spanish flag is seen lowered just below.
</figcaption>

</figure>


Designed to preserve Spanish military honor and prevent the Philippine Revolutionary Army under General <a href="/articles/3325/emilio-aguinaldos-life-and-leadership" class="news_link">Emilio Aguinaldo</a> from liberating their own capital, the event marked the tragic transition of the Philippines from a Spanish colony into an American possession, laying the groundwork for the Philippine-American War.

<h2>
Background: The Siege and the Power Vacuum
</h2>

Following Commodore George Dewey's decisive naval victory at the <a href="/kauswagan/articles/1440/may-1-1898-the-naval-battle-between-the-united-states-and-spain-took-place-in-manila-bay" class="news_link">Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898</a>, the Spanish fleet was destroyed, but Dewey lacked the land forces necessary to occupy Manila. On May 2, Dewey severed the underwater telegraph cable connecting Manila to Hong Kong, leaving the city isolated from real-time communication with Europe and Washington D.C.


In the months that followed:

<ul class="k-list">
<li>
The Revolutionary Siege: Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's Philippine Revolutionary forces - numbering over 40,000 - took control of surrounding provinces, dug 14 miles of trenches, and cut off Manila's main water supply at the Santolan pumping station. Inside <a href="/articles/3008/the-history-of-intramuros-the-walled-city-manila" class="news_link">Intramuros</a>, over 70,000 residents and Spanish soldiers were trapped under severe siege conditions, facing starvation and disease.
</li>
<li>
Arrival of U.S. Expeditionary Troops: Between June and July 1898, roughly 12,000 U.S. Army troops under Major General <a href="/articles/3156/general-wesley-merritt-leading-the-us-campaign-in-the-philippines" class="news_link">Wesley Merritt</a> arrived in Cavite to establish the U.S. Eighth Army Corps.
</li>
</ul>


While Aguinaldo believed the Americans were anti-colonial allies supporting Philippine independence, American leadership was secretly preparing to establish sole military control over the archipelago.

<h2>
The Staged Agreement: Saving Spanish "Honor"
</h2>

When Spanish Governor-General <a href="/articles/3220/governor-general-basilio-august-n-spains-final-stand-in-the-philippines" class="news_link">Basilio Augustín</a> realized his position was untenable and attempted secret negotiations, the Spanish Parliament (Cortes) in Madrid relieved him of duty for compromising national dignity. He was replaced on July 24 by Governor-General Fermín Jáudenes.


Jáudenes recognized that defense was impossible, but Spanish military honor dictated that he could not surrender without a fight - and under no circumstances would Spain surrender to the Filipino "insurgents," whom they viewed with racial condescension and feared would exact revenge.


Through the mediation of Édouard André, the Belgian Consul in Manila, secret negotiations were arranged between Dewey, Merritt, and Jáudenes:


<h3 class="my-h3">
The Secret Terms
</h3>

<ol class="k-list">
<li>
Staged Bombardment: Dewey's warships would fire a pre-arranged naval barrage aimed only at Fort San Antonio Abad in Malate and the outer walls of Intramuros.
</li>
<li>
Simulated Advance: U.S. land forces would advance toward the city while Spanish forces executed a staged retreat into Intramuros.
</li>
<li>
Surrender Signal: Once a sufficient display of combat was made, Dewey would hoist naval signal flags reading `D.W.H.B.` ("Do you surrender?"), after which a white flag would be raised at Fort Santiago.
</li>
<li>
Total Exclusion of Filipinos: Jáudenes' primary demand was that Aguinaldo's revolutionary troops be strictly barred from entering Intramuros or participating in the capitulation proceedings.
</li>
</ol>

The Mock Battle of Manila (Aug 13, 1898) Explained

Explore the full history of the August 13, 1898 Battle of Manila - a pre-planned surrender that shifted Philippine control from Spain to the U.S.

August 13, 1898: the Battle of Manila occurred