After the Cry of Pugad Lawin and the later Cry of Nueva Ecija in September, the Spanish government began sending troops to the revolted provinces and local militias from the Visayan islands helped quell the insurrection in central Luzon, however, the main revolutionaries from the area, Mariano Llanera and Manuel Tinio continued a guerilla war up until early January 1897.

Later on through the year, the revolution continued to spread to neighboring provinces like Pampanga and Pangasinan, under the leadership of Macabulos, who was later appointed Brigadier General in June, 1897, Tarlac and the rest of central Luzon saw numerous victories and triumphs before the signing of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato in December, 1897.

Francisco Makabulos went on to create a government body for the central Luzon area, with different towns being represented and a constitution of 13 articles was agreed on.

This did not end Makabulos' revolutionary struggle and his forces continued the revolution until surrendering almost exactly a month later on 14 January 1898 when he accepted an amnesty offered by the Spaniards.

Shortly after, he and Gregorio Aglipay formed the famous Revolutionary committee mentioned above, complete with constitution, representatives and a jurisdiction going as far as Ilocos.