How can the First Philippine Republic survive?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Philippine_Republic

How can the First Philippine Republic survive as an independent state that is not the puppet state of a bigger power? I figure if the Americans are taken out of the picture through maybe no Spanish-American War or maybe them just focusing more on Cuba, then the Germans would come but I doubt they could have taken the Islands so, they would have probably been driven away after a short fight.
 
The only way for the First Philippine Republic to survive would be if it was whisked off the face of the earth the minute it declared its independence - which is a bit problematic since the Filipinos more than likely would not have gotten rid of the Spanish themselves.

Much as the 'scramble for Africa' its likely that within a few short years the Philippine archipelago would be divided between the Great Powers - or the Japanese would quickly move in. That said I do think its possible that the Germans may have annexed a few islands and there is very little that Aquinaldo and his government could have done - except throw stones from the beaches at passing German warships.
 
You need a powerful Creole or Mestizo elite, pro-American, as it was the case of Cuba. Then the best you can have is a puppet republic in Asia.
 
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