After a night of researching, and months of pissing the board about asking for an independent First Republic of the Philippines, I'd like you to see this small draft of a small TL.
PoDs:
Several native soldiers in Manila that were supposed to open the gates when the revolution starts were never sent to Mindanao.
Due to rivalry for wage raise, Teodoro Patino was killed by Apolonio dela Cruz. Dela Cruz was sanctioned by Bonifacio but the Katipunan remained its secrecy.
A ship carrying munitions, arms, and Japanese volunteers arrived safely in the Philippines, evading a storm off Taiwan due to delayed voyage by a dispute over the payments between Marcelo del Pilar and the Japanese government. The latter considers not to side with the revolutionists, though the Empire agreed to sell arms and munitions and Pan-Asian movements in the Empire sent volunteers. These events procured that Japan indirectly supplied the rebels, not to mention its eventual desire of the islands.
The Revolution:
The rebel faction in Cavite under Gen. Aguinaldo agreed to first seize the Cavite arsenal to allow the ship to dock and disembark supplies, then attack Manila from the South.
Bonifacio's men would attack a powder magazine in San del Monte to secure supplies. Gen. Luna's men would sow confusion in Manila by burning the suburbs.
The three armies would then converge around Manila, where they await the native rebels there to open the gates of Intramuros, and seize the Capital.
They would fail, however, because a powerful artillery regiment from Bulacan and other Spanish forces in the provinces would relieve the city and particularly the rebel soldiers failed to open the gates. Although the siege is lost, most of the Spanish forces in the provinces surrounding Manila were rerouted to relieve the city, the rebels succeed in the provinces.
Governor-general Blanco was relieved of his post and succeeded by Camillo de Polavieja. Camillo, however did not live longer to supress the growing revolution, died early because of health problems in voyage. The reinforcements were recalled to Spain to await the arrival of Fernando Primo de Rivera, something Spain would regret.
Thus the Manila government crumbled due to succeeding successful attacks of the rebels.
Onset:
The Republic of the Philippines with the island of Luzon.*
The still-Spanish held Visayan islands.**
And the Sultanate of Sulu/Maguindanao. They rebelled against the remaining Spanish holdings in Mindanao, and proclaimed themselves independent from Spanish influence. Has sympathy with the Republic but does not wish to be a part of it, yet.
*The Spanish, though suspicious of a growing revolution, does not take it seriously. There are arrests of suspected people but less than OTL.
**Visayas were still held by the Spaniards primarily because the rebellion is weaker there.
**Visayas were still held by the Spaniards primarily because the rebellion is weaker there.
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Future:
The Spanish found out that Japan indirectly supplied the rebels. Japanese relations with the West soured. However, Japan found itself an ally to the south, and recognized/backed the Republic of the Philippines.
However, the Philippine government pissed the Japanese, asking them to also back the Chinese revolutionists under Sun Yat-Sen, which is a close friend of Marcelo del Pilar, an advisor of the president and ambassador to the Japanese.
With the onset of the SAW, primarily American and various western ships were sent to the Visayas, along with several Japanese and Filipino ships [provided by the Japs]. The Philippine government demands to the West that it has the right to the islands, and a brief war occurs shortly after the SAW. The Philippine government was defeated by the western armies, and Japan took its share when it backstabbed the young nation. The republic was balkanized between USA, Japan, Germany, Britain and France, though a puppet Philippine Republic based in Manila under the occupying powers were created.
Sultanate of Sulu/Maguindanao becomes the Sultanate of Mindanao, and asserts its position, eyeing expansion towards its Muslim brother states to the south. The Sabah Lease never occurs, because the British got its share of the Philippines.
Comments/Criticisms???
