Macario Sakay

was a Filipino soldier and merchant who fought in the Philippine Revolution and subsequently the Philippine-American War. After the Americans declared the end of the war in 1902, Sakay continued his resistance efforts by spearheading guerilla raids. Around the same time, he established the Tagalog Republic and appointed himself as its president.

General Macario Sakay
(1878 – 1907)

During the Philippine-American War, Sakay was arrested for his seditious activities. But he escaped and continued his resistance against the Americans after General Aguinaldo’s capture in 1901. That same year, he founded the Nacionalista Party (unrelated to the present-day political party of the same name). In 1902, Sakay declared war on the US and established the Tagalog Republic with himself as President. He planned to kidnap President Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter to trade her to the Americans in exchange for Philippine independence. However, the attempt didn’t push through.

Sakay surrendered on July 20, 1906. But he was charged with bandolerismo (banditry) under the Brigandage Act. Sakay was convicted, sentenced to death, and hanged on September 13, 1907.