Luna Republic

Given the obsession of liberal democracies to highlight their progressive attitudes and actions rather than reminiscing about their imperial pasts, the Philippine American War is taught in the United States as the putting down of a revolt, while elsewhere in the world it is treated as a conflict between two nations. The independent Philippine Republic under President Emilio Aguinaldo had little chance of defeating the vast resources of the United States with conventional tactics. Ignoring the advice of his greatest general, Antonio Luna,and subsequently having him assassinated, he led the Republic to its deathbed and his countrymen were resgned to being colonial subjects once more. But what if there was a shift in power? What if Antonio Luna took power from Aguinaldo and led the Republic to victory? What if there existed a Luna Republic?

Point of Divergence
General Antonio Luna's staunch trust in his president, Emilio Aguinaldo, had eroded much when he saw just how much faith he put into the advice of his moderate cabinet members, who advocated for being an American colony in order for Filipino Businesses to be given higher consideration and autonomy in the new capitalist economy.

After the creation of the Luna Defense Line in order to stall the American offensive, Luna rode with 200 cavalry to the newly established capital of the Republic in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija. Here he demanded the surrender of Emilio Aguinaldo and his cabinet and proclaimed himself temporary leader of the Republic during the War. Aguinaldo was killed in the struggle, several memebrs of the cabinet such as as Felipe Buencamino and Pedro Paterno were seriously injured, and members of Aguinaldo's Kawit brigade either surrendered or were executed.

Luna's actions, and his subsequent restructuring of the Philippine Army, led to numerous victories on the field as well as the deaths of Generals Elwell Stephen Otis and Arthur MacArthur Jr., forcing the American retreat to Manila where the American offered their full surrender.

The First Philippine Republic then elected Antonio Luna as its second president.

Solo Timeline
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