Emilio Aguinaldo was a revolutionary political and military figure from the Philippines. He is officially regarded as the first and the youngest president of the Philippines and first president of a constitutional republic in Asia. He served as the leader of the Philippine forces against Spain in the latter part of the Philippine Revolution and the Spanish–American War. He was also a prolific military leader against the United States during the Philippine–American War. Originally from the province of Cavite, Aguinaldo was made a Freemason in January 1895. He joined the Philippine struggle for independence against the Spanish later that year. Between March and November 1897, he served as the president of the Tejeros Revolutionary Government. He subsequently was the president of the Republic of Biak-na-Bato between November and December 1897, dictator of the Philippines between May and June 1898, president of the Revolutionary Government between June 1898 and January 1899, and the 1st president of the Philippines between January 1899 and March 1901. In 1935, Aguinaldo contested for the position of president of the Philippine Commonwealth against Manuel Quezon but lost. He has been listed among Filipino historical figures considered to be national heroes of the Philippines.