Andrés Novales Andrés Novales ( Manila , 1800 – 1823 ) was a Creole captain in the Spanish Army in the Philippines . His discontentment with the treatment of creole soldiers led him to start a revolt that inspired even the ranks of José Rizal . He successfully captured Intramuros and was proclaimed " Emperor " by his followers . However , he was defeated within the day by Spanish reinforcements from Pampanga . Early life and career . His father was a Spanish Army captain and his mother was a member of a prominent family in the Philippines . He was a cadet at the age of nine and a lieutenant at fourteen . When he heard of an existing war between Spain and France , he sought his senior ' s consent to send him to Madrid . Despite being demoted to a volunteer soldier with no rank after arriving at Spain , he returned to the Philippines with a rank of captain . Upon return to the Philippines , his zeal for service had not worn down . That made him be envied by other military officers in which the Governor - General Juan Antonio Martínez shall later use against Novales . Novales Revolt . Novales later grew discontented with the treatment of Spanish authorities on Creoles . His discontent climaxed when peninsular were shipped to the Philippines to replace creole officers . He found sympathy of many Creoles , including Luis Rodríguez Varela , the Conde Filipino . As punishment to the rising sense of discontentment , many military officers and public officials were exiled . One of them was Novales , who was exiled to Mindanao to fight pirates . However , Novales was not stopped to secretly return to Manila . On the night of June 1 , 1823 , Novales along with a certain sub - lieutenant Ruiz and other subordinates in the King ' s Regiment , went out to start a revolt . Along with 800 Filipinos in which his sergeants recruited , they seized the royal palace , the Manila Cathedral , the city ' s cabildo ( city hall ) and other important government buildings in Intramuros . Failing to find Juan Antonio Martínez , they killed the lieutenant governor and former governor general , Mariano Fernandez de Folgueras . Folgueras was the one that suggested Spain to replace creole officers with peninsulars . The soldiers shouted , " Long live the Emperor Novales ! " ( " Viva el Emperador Novales " ) . Surprisingly , the town folk followed Novales and his troops as they march into Manila . They eventually failed to seize Fort Santiago because Antonio Novales , his brother who commanded the citadel , refused to open its gates . Learning that Fort Santiago was still holding out the rebels , soldiers were rushed to the fort . Novales himself was caught hiding under Puerta Real by Spanish soldiers . At 5 : 00 pm of June 2 , Novales was killed with Ruiz and 21 sergeants by firing squad in a garden near Puerta del Postigo . At his last minute , he declared that he and his comrades shall set an example of fighting for freedom . Antonio was also included in the execution , since he was the brother of Andres . However , the people pleaded for his freedom for he saved the government from being overthrown . Antonio went mad after the ordeal , receiving a monthly pension of 14 pesos . Legacy . Novales was a self - proclaimed emperor , and his revolution lasted only a day . His fight for equality and freedom , however , set ablaze a series of other uprisings that eventually led to the formation of the Philippines as a nation . See also . Filipino nationalism