On March 22, 1897, the Tejeros Convention convened in San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias), Cavite, uniting factions of the Katipunan revolutionary movement. Intended to address defence strategies, the assembly unexpectedly transitioned into electing leaders for the burgeoning revolutionary government, effectively supplanting the existing Katipunan leadership. Emilio Aguinaldo was elected president with 57.03% of the votes, while Andrés Bonifacio received 31.25%. This event is often cited as the first presidential election in Philippine history, though it was limited to Katipunan members. The convention’s outcomes significantly influenced the direction of the Philippine Revolution, leading to internal conflicts, including the execution of Bonifacio.
[Photo by Dmitry Ovsyannikov]
