1. Seeking to take advantage of the preoccupation of the Spanish due to war with the United States, the island of Negros declared independence from the Philippines before being forced to surrender to the victorious Americans
Initially thought to have been unsympathetic to their counterparts during the “Cry of Balintawak” and subsequent revolt headed by the Tagalog Katipuneros, two years later the sugar planters oof the island of Negro followed suit and rebelled against the Spanish Empire. Taking advantage of the ongoing Spanish-American War in the Philippines, the Negrenses revolted against imperial authorities and the colonial governor. Raising an army, the revolutionaries, led by Juan Araneta and Aniceto Lacson, marched on the foremost city of the island: Bacolod. Witnessing a pincer movement and a large host seemingly armed with rifles and cannons, the Spanish elected to surrender just days later.
Later transpiring to have used rifles made from palm fronds and cannons constructed from rolled bamboo, the victorious islanders instituted a provisional government with Lacson as their President. Proclaiming on November 27, 1898, the establishment of the Cantonal Republic of Negros, with the ongoing conflict against the Americans proceeding poorly, Lacson made the decision to raise the American flag instead and welcome the impending invaders. Surrendering to the United States on March 4, 1899, the Republic of Negros was permitted to exist independently until April 30, 1901, when the United States annexed the islands back into the Philippines.