Ramon Avanceņa, Adriano hernandez, Venancio Concepcion, Vicente Gella.
Later joined by Jose Ner on the way back to Iloilo.
They arrived in Manila on January 29, 1899, on a Sunday night.
Estado Federal de Bisayas Meeting, Kabatuan, Feb 17 1899
On January 31, 1899, on Tuesday morning, in company with Sr. Gregorio Araneta, they were presented to Emilio Aguinaldo. They presented their credentials and stated the object of their mission. Aguinaldo, after hearing them, referred them to his Council of Secretaries. They were then presented to Seņor Mabini, President of the Council.
Estado Federal de Bisayas Meeting, Kabatuan, Feb 17 1899
Curiously, on this very day January 31, 1899, while the four commissioners were around and discussing with him, Mabini wrote to Diocno congratulating Diocno for not recognizing the Estado Federal de Bisayas.
1224 - Malolos to Gen. Diokno, Jan 31 1899
Venancio Concepcion said that they (Avanceņa, Gella, Hernandez and Concepcion) presented themselves to the Government of Malolos on February 1st.
Venancio Concepcion Profile
Instructions were prepared.
Estado Federal de Bisayas Meeting, Kabatuan, Feb 17 1899
On February 3, 1899, they ended their business at Malolos. The result of their trip being the Instructions they were going to bring with them to Iloilo.
Estado Federal de Bisayas Meeting, Kabatuan, Feb 17 1899
On February 4, 1899, Saturday, they boarded the ship Uranus for the return trip to Iloilo. They were joined by Jose Ner who carried the Instructions with him. But the ship could not leave port and they were obliged to spend the night aboard. About nine o'clock that night there was heavy small-arm and artillery firing in the direction of Caloocan.
Estado Federal de Bisayas Meeting, Kabatuan, Feb 17 1899
The next day, Sunday, February 5, 1899, it was reported aboard that Uranus, which was at anchor in the bay that hostilities had broken out with the Americans.
Estado Federal de Bisayas Meeting, Kabatuan, Feb 17 1899
At about About 12 o'clock, American soldiers came aboard and took them ashore. They presented to these soldiers the permits given them by General Miller, commanding the American troops in the Bay of Iloilo, authorizing them to visit Malolos to consult with their Government; but these papers did not suffice, so they had to submit to this outrage. Once ashore, they were cast into prison.
Estado Federal de Bisayas Meeting, Kabatuan, Feb 17 1899
On Thursday, February 9, 1899, General Otis gave them an audience. In view of the papers they presented from General Miller authorizing them to make the voyage to Manila, they were sent aboard the American transport, San Pablo, the same on which they had come to Manila, with directions to be turned over to General Miller.
Estado Federal de Bisayas Meeting, Kabatuan, Feb 17 1899
They arrived in Iloilo Bay on Friday night, February 10, 1899.
Estado Federal de Bisayas Meeting, Kabatuan, Feb 17 1899
Saturday, February 11, they were brought before General Miller aboard the transport Newport. Scarcely had they exchanged a few words with the General when the American cruiser Petrel, which was anchored in the Bay of Iloilo in front of the fort, began firing. The alarm spread aboard the Newport and other vessels. The Petrel continued to bombard the city, and the Newport joined with rapid-fire guns. About an hour later a fire sprang up in the center of the town, and it continued to spread until the greater part of the city was in flames.
Estado Federal de Bisayas Meeting, Kabatuan, Feb 17 1899
About 11 o'clock in the forenoon of the same day they were sent aboard a lorcha along side the Newport, in care of Sr. Chiene, and thence they were taken in the same lorcha to Guimaras, Salag, and thence to Navalas. On the following day, Sunday, at 12 o'clock, they went ashore at Bito-on (Leganes).
Estado Federal de Bisayas Meeting, Kabatuan, Feb 17 1899
On February 17, 1899, Ramon Avanceņa and Adriano Hernandez went to Kabatuan (Cabatuan, Iloilo), the revolutionary capital of the Estado Federal de Bisayas, and presented their report on their recent trip to Malolos.
Estado Federal de Bisayas Meeting, Kabatuan, Feb 17 1899
Since it was Jose Ner who had the Instructions, and they haven't seen him since February 5, 1899 when they were taken from Uranus by American soldiers, Ramon Avanceņa had to come up with the instructions from his memory, as follows.
Estado Federal de Bisayas Meeting, Kabatuan, Feb 17 1899
1. Oath to uphold the Constitution;
2. The organization of the entire region of the Visayan Islands into one General Command;
3. The appointment of the Commanding General to be made by three Military Delegates from Panay, two from Negros, and one from Kebu (Cebu) ;
4. Organization of a Council of Delegates for the Visayas Islands to consist of Delegates from all the Provinces, two from each, to be presided over by the Commanding General;
5. Delegates to be appointed by the Provincial Council and the Military Chief of the respective Provinces.
In each Province there will be a Military Chief immediately subject to the orders of the Commanding General.
They are very much similar to the instructions, below, given to the Commission going to Visayas, although the date of the document is off by a few days.
1223 - Malolos Instructions, Jan 27 1899
1. Oath of allegiance to the constitution and the proclamation of the Philippine Republic throughout the Visayan Islands and the inauguration in the province of Panay and Negros of the regime established by the decree of June 18, last, already adopted in the other islands.
2. The election by three military commissioners designated by the Federal Council in Panay, two military commissioners designated by the Cantonal Government of Negros and one Military Commissioner designated by the provincial council of Cebu, of a Commanding General for all the Visayas and of a superior military chief in each of the provinces of the three islands cited. When said chiefs are elected each of them will submit to this government a general recommendation of the chiefs and officials under his orders, for the purpose of issuing the respective commissions.
3. The creation of a council of delegates of the Visayas similar to the Board of Defence created in Mindanao, consisting of two delegates named by the provincial council with the concurrence of the Superior Military Chief of each province, the Commanding general of the Visayas presiding. This Council will fix its place of residence on any of said islands.
The Council shall exercise the delegation of the National Government until such time as the independence of the Philippines is recognized in all matters pertaining to the adoption of measures and resolutions conducive to the defense and security of the islands and to the inspector of all branches of the public administration. It shall also be charged with the supreme direction of the same and shall determine upon all the questions submitted by provincial authorities by delegation of the National Government, when for any cause communication with the same is interrupted.
In all cases the resolutions of the Board shall be provisional, until approved by the National Government.
