Emilio Aguinaldo rose to prominence as a revolutionary general  when he led his army of volunteers, the Magdalo troops of the Katipunan, in a series of victories in Imus, defeating the better armed and trained Spanish forces. He was later elected in absentia as president of the revolutionary government that replaced the Katipunan. The split caused by the formation of a government, the arrest, trial and death of KKK Supremo Andres Bonifacio resulted in the weakening of revolutionary forces.  As a result of the truce of Biak-na-Bato, Aguinaldo agreed to self-exile in Hong Kong.  He returned at the beginning of the Spanish-American war in 1898 to resume the revolution against Spain.   His victories led to the declaration of independence on June 12 and the subsequent formation of a new government.   A representative  assembly, the Malolos Congress, promulgated a  republican constitution on January 21, 1899.  On January 23, the Philippine Republic, the first republic in Asia was inaugurated.  General Aguinaldo was made a Mason in Logia Pilar No. 203 of the Grande Oriente Espanol.