2. By 1896, there were concrete and objective conditions in the
economy,society,and governance that justified revolution at the time of the katipunan. The
people, however , were not totally united. The wealthy and educated class was divided on
the issue of independence and the use of force to obtain it. It was the masses, mostly the
poor, less educated, and illiterate, led by the katipunan, who were ready. Unfortunately, the
conflict over leadership inside the katipunan (the elite vs. the non-elite) caused the rift that
resulted in the tragic death of Bonifacio, founder and leader of the armed revolution.
Ironically, it was the martyrdom of Rizal (who had disengaged himself from the actual
plan of the katipunan), that led to the downfall of Spanish rule in the Philippines. The
poet, Cecilio Apostol, expressed it well “Que si una bala destrozo tu craneo,, tu idea, en
cambio,detruyo un imperio.” (Though a bullet pierced or destroyed your skull, your idea
destroyed an empire.) from here, despite the tragedy in Cavite, the lack of arms ,and loss
of many lives, the Filipinos fought valiantly towards freedom and independence of a
nation yet to be born.
3. THE FIGHTING BEGINS
RIZAL’S EXECUTION
ANOTHER MEETING AT
TEJEROS
THE TRUCE OF BIAK-
NA-BATO
THE GOVERNMENT OF
CENTRAL LUZON
CONDITIONS BEFORE
THE REVOLUTION
THE DISCOVERY OF
THE KATIPUNAN
MARTIAL LAW
THE CRY OF
PUGADLAWIN
BONIFACIO GOES TO
CAVITE
THE NAIK MILITARY
AGREEMENT
PERSECUTION
CONTINUES
THE BIAK- NA-BATO
REPUBLIC
THE TEJEROS
CONVENTION
THE EXECUTION OF
BONIFACIO
THE FAILURE OF THE
TRUCE
4. Late in 1895, when Bonifacio was busy propagating the political ideals of the katipunan in many towns
around Manila, some Spanish authorities were already suspecting a brewing unrest related to an
underground society whose purpose was to end the Spanish rule.
It was also rumored that the weapons came from Hong Kong and Yokohama. So persistent, were the
rumors that the governor- general, in order to mollify the friars, ordered the banishment of some
prominent citizens of Batangas and Bulacan.
The friars’ suspicions were correct all along. Undoubtedly, there was general dissatisfaction among the
Filipinos. Money was difficult to get. Very few Filipinos were gainfully employed. While there was no
starvation, the life of the people was far from prosperous.
The common people were suffering from heavy taxation, from abusive friars and civil authorities, and
from lack of economic opportunities. While the government was spending millions of pesos for the
army and navy, the amount being spent for public improvement was pitifully small.
The personal honor and dignity of the Filipinos were taken for granted.
They were physically maltreated in public places, like Guam, Jolo, and Palawan, on suspicions of
committing crimes, even petty ones.
The institution of forced labor provided opportunities from rampant abuse of Filipinos by Spaniards.
For three hundred years, the Filipinos suffered these abuses in silence. However, the seed of hatred
had been planted in their hearts, even when outwardly they were smiling and saying. “ si,senor,” to
every command of a Spaniard.
5. Father Mariano Gil was the parish curate of
Tondo, Province of Manila. He was one of
the friars who had earlier warned the Spanish
civil authorities about the existence of a
secret society. He informed the police
authorities that this society, with the aim to
kill all Spaniards in the country, had been
recruiting members. But the Spanish civil
authorities did not listen to him until a
Katipunero by the name of Teodoro Patino
came to see him one afternoon.
Father Gil immediately rushed to the
headquarters of the Manila police and
informed the officers regarding Patino’s
Revelation. In the printing shop of the daily
newspaper, Diario de Manila, Father Gil, the
police, and the owner of the newspaper ,
found some Katipunan receipts and other
pieces of evidence pointing to the existence
of the secret society.
6. Patino had visited hi sister in an orphanage
in Mandaluyong which was then a suburb of
the province of Manila. Having quarreled
with another Katipunero, Patino told his
sister about the Katipunan and its aims. The
sister cried when she heard about the aims of
the society. She told the Madre Portera of
the orphanage about it. The latter advised
Teodoro Patino to tell Father Mariano Gil all
about the Katipunan. Acting on this advice,
Patino went to see Father Gil that afternoon
of August 19,1896; and revealed to him what
he knew about the plans of the Katipunan.
Patino told Father Gil that the pieces of
evidence were genuine. As such, the police
was convinced and to avert a possible
rebellion, they raided many houses in Manila
and the suburbs looking alleged members of
the Katipunan. That night of August 19, the
police arrested many innocent Filipinos.
7. Bonifacio wanted the wealthy Filipinos to
help finance the Katipunan in its struggle to
free the country from Spain. He ordered
some of his trusted men to approach the rich
Filipinos and ask for contributions to the
society.
In spite of the refusal by the wealthy Filipinos
to help the Katipunan, Bonifacio and his men
did not lose hope. When the katipunan was
discovered on August 19, Bonifacio was in
Caloocan with his wife Gregoria de Jesus.
Fearing that he might be arrested if he
remained in Caloocan, Bonofacio decided to
move to Balintawak. He ordered his “runners’
to inform all Katipuneros that there would be
a meeting in Balintawak on August 24.
Accompanied by four men, Bonifacio reached
Balintawak at midnight of 21st, and in the
afternoon, about 500 Katipuneros left Sitio
Kangkong, a part of Balintawak, and arrived
at the next sitio called Pugadlawin the
following day.
8. Bonifacio asked his men whether they were prepared to fight for freedom and independence.
Everyone shouted they were prepared to die. “ in that case,” Bonifacio told them. "bring your cedulas
and tear them to pieces to show that we are prepared to take up arms!” All the men brought out their
cedulas and tore them to pieces. The ground was littered with those pieces of paper, which to the
Katipuneros, symbolized their slavery. Then they shouted in one voice, “Long live the Philippines!
Long live the Katipunan!”
This event, which happened on August 23, is known as the “Cry of Pugadlawin.” It symbolized the
determination of the Filipinos to fight for independence even unto death.
9. Francisco L. Roxas, a Spaniard born in the
Philippines, who considered this country as
his own, was asked to support the society.
He was a millionaire, who belonged to a
family that owned vast tracts of lands and
put up the San Miguel Brewery. When he
heard about the katipunan , he got angry and
threatened to tell the police about it. Many
wealthy Filipino’s refused to help the
Katipunan, with few exceptions like the
physician, Dr. Pio Valenzuela.
Juan A. Ramos, the son of Melchora Aquino
or Tandang Sora, Kown as the “ Mother of the
Katipunan.”
10. Bonifacio advised his men to retreat to
another sitio, called Pasong Tamo.
On August 25, some women notified
Bonifacio that civil guards and infantrymen
were coming.
The Katipuneros deployed themselves and
deliberately fell to the ground to avoid being
hit. A short Skirmish ensued in which one
civil guard and two Katipuneros were killed.
The Spaniards and their hired Filipino
soldiers, thinking that the rebels were strong,
retreated. The rebels, believing their weapons
were inferior to those of the civil guard, also
retreated towards Balara.. From here they
proceeded to Marikina and on to Hagdang
Bato.
On August 28, Bonifacio issued a manifesto
telling the people to take up the Filipinos
cause. He also set the attack on the City of
Manila for August 29, 1896. he ended his
manifesto by saying that,” Anybody who
obstructs this sacred ideal of the people will
be considered a traitor and an enemy.”
Bonifacio ordered his men to attack the
arsenal located at San Juan del Monte. A
fighting broke out between the attacking
Filipino forces and the defending Spanish
soldiers on August 30,1896.
11. The revolutionary flame was rapidly spreading to other provinces of Central Luzon and Southern
Tagalog provinces of Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas.
Governor-General Ramon Blanco issued a decree on August 30 to prevent the spread of the revolution.
The first eight provinces which rose in arms – Cavite, Manila, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga,
Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija-were place under martial law.
The decree further provided that those who would surrender within forty-eight hours after the
publication of the decree would not be tried by the military court. This policy, known as Blanco’s
policy of attraction, was intended to win over the Filipinos to the side of the government and thus,
end the rebellion.
Some Filipinos, among them Dr. Pio Valenzuela and a few of his companions, took advantage of this
provision and surrendered to the government.
12. The colonial government continued its policy of repression to cow the people into silence. The
suspects in manila and the provinces were punished without trial.
Heads of families were shipped to the Carolines in the Pacific and to the Spanish penal colony in
Africa. Fort Santiago was packed with hundreds of prisoners, most of whom were innocent.’ Many
died when the waters of the Pasig river entered the lower portion of the cells, while others died of
suffocation.
In some places , like in Bulacan, the Spaniards massacred many people . Men were tortured to force
them to tell on their friends and even relatives .
On September 4, 1896, four Katipuneros were executed in Bagumbayan field, which is now a part of
the Rizal Park in Manila.
On January 4, 1897, the Spaniards executed twelve Bicolano patriots and in Kalibo, which was then
part of Capiz, nineteen patriots were also shot to death.
13. The height of Spanish brutality in the Philippines came when the government ordered Rizal’s trial and
execution.
Rizal had been in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte since 1892. He had lived there peacefully, helping the
people in their work.
In 1896, he asked the government to allow him to go to Cuba to serve as a military surgeon . The
Cubans then were fighting for their independence from their Spanish master.
Rizal request was granted; so from Dapitan, he was brought to Manila Bay where he waited for a
streamer that would take him to Cuba by way of Spain. He was in a Spanish cruiser in Manila Bay
when the revolution broke out. He refused to be rescued when revolutionaries offered to save him. He
transferred to the steamer when it arrived in Manila.
He was imprisoned in fort Santiago and later, was tried as a traitor to Spain.
Rizal defended himself with the help of a Spanish military lawyer. He strongly denied any connection
with the Katipunan and the plan to topple the government. He explained that since his exile in
Dapitan, he had stopped any political involvement with groups. But the military court did not listen ti
his arguments. He was sentenced to be shot to death.
His parents, brother, sisters, appealed to the governor-general for pardon, but the governor refused to
grant their request.
Rizal was executed early in the morning of December 30, 1896. His execution did not dishearten the
revolutionist; on the contrary , they resolved to fight to the bitter end. Rizal’s execution, in fact,
emboldened the Filipinos to fight for their country and its independence.
14. Meanwhile , in Cavite, Emilio Aguinaldo, the young mayor of the town of Kawit, led the rebels against
the Spaniards . He won victory after victory and the people, admiring his qualities as a military leader,
called him Heneral Miong.
His famous victory was in Imus when he defeated the Spanish army contingent, under the command of
General Ernesto de Aguirre, on September 5,1896.
Aguinaldo took his sword and kept it as a memento of his victory.
Katipunan in Cavite was divided into two factions: the Magdiwang and the Magdalo.
Bonifacio was requested to go to Cavite to mediate between the factions. Accompanied by his wife and
two brothers, Bonifacio arrived in Cavite toward the en of December 1896.
An assembly was held in Imus on December 31,1896, to determine whether the Katipunan should be
transformed into another body with governmental powers. The Magdiwang favored the retention of
the Katipunan, while the Magdalo favored a change in the Katipunan stucture.
15. The Spanish army was trying its best to subjugate Cavite , which was now a major battleground of the
revolution.
Town after town fell into the hands of the Spaniards. Faced with this bitter fact, the r rebels decided to
meet at Tejeros, san Francisco del Malabon, (now General Trias.)
On March 22, 1897, a convention was held at the estate house of Tejeros ,which the rebels had
captured from the friars.
During the second part of the convention, which was presided over by Bonifacio with Artermio
Ricarte as secretary, the members who were present agreed to form a new government.
Officials of this government were to be elected by those present in the convention. It was agreed
unanimously that whoever would be elected would be respected by everyone, regardless of economic
status and education.
Bonifacio was being proclaimed, Daniel Tirona, a member of the faction Magdalo, stood up and said
that Jose del Rosario, an attorney from Cavite was more qualified for the position and should be
elected in the place of Bonifacio.
Bonifacio demanded that Tirona take back what he said but the latter refused. Bonifacio took out his
pistol and aimed at Tirona when Ricarte quickly held his hand.
The angry Bonifacio, being the incumbent Supermo of the Katipunan , declare the results of the
election as null and void.
16. The following day, March 23, Bonifacio, Ricarte , and many others met at the same place.
This document was called Acta de Tejeros (minutes of Tejeros.)
It should rightly be called the Tejeros Resolution. In this document, Bonifacio and those present ,
numbering about forty-five in all, gave their reasons for rejecting the results of the previous day’s
election and established government.
The main reason they cited was the fraud committed by the Magdalo people. After signing the
resolution, the men followed Bonifacio to Naik.
17. Still angry with Daniel Tirona, who insulted him, Bonifacio, now the town of Naik, Cavite, persuaded
his men to draw up another document. It was a military agreement in which another government
would be established. General Pio Del Pilar was to become the commander of this army. Obviously,
the head of the government to be established was Bonifacio himself. Among those who signed the
document, aside from Bonifacio and his brothers were Artemio Ricarte, Pio Del Pilar, and Soverino
de las Alas.
18. After signing the Naik military agreement, Bonifacio, his wife, his two brothers, and some followers,
left for the town Indang and settled in the barrio of limbon.
Colonial Agapito Bonzon, who headed the party to contact Bonifacio, used force on Bonifacio and his
brothers. As a result, Bonifacio and his brothers, fought back. His brother, Ciriaco, was killed in the
skirmish, and Bonifacio himself was wounded on the neck and on the left arm. He was captured and
brought to the municipal building of Indang. Later he was transferred to Maragodon, where he was
tried for treason.
According to Aguinaldo he commuted the death penalty to banishment.but when general Pio Del Pilar,
who was formerly a follower of Bonifacio, and general Mariano Noriel received Agunaldo’s
commutation order, the y rushed to his headqurters in Maragondon and persuaded him to withdraw
the commutation of the death sentence.
They reasoned that they could not afford to be divided at the time when the enemy was capturing one
town after another. Because of this argument, Aguinaldo recalled, he withdrew his commutation order.
In other words, the original death sentence was carried out.
On May 10, 1897, Major Lazaro Macapagal, who received the sealed order of General Noriel, took the
prisoners from their prison cells and brought them to mount Tala, where Bonifacio brothers were
executed.
19. Governor-General de Polavieja, who succeeded General Ramon Blanco in December 1896, grew tired
of fighting the Filipinos who refused to surrender.
General-General Fernando Primo de Rivera, who had served previously as governor of the country.
Primo de Rivera took personal charge of the military campaign against the rebels.
By May, almost the whole province of Cavite was in the hands of the Spaniards.
Aguinaldo, however, succeeded in eluding the enemy , and with some faithful followers, headed for
the hilly parts of Morong (Rizal province ) . With 500 faithful armed men. Aguinaldo walked
distance to San Juan Del Monte and Montalban, and on to Mt. Puray from here , he and his men
walked all the way to Biak na Bato. In San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan, where he established his
headquarters..
Aguinaldo’s arrival in Biak na Bato reach the people of Central Luzon, Immediately , the people of the
provinces of Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija renewed their offensive against
the enemy. Such was the situation when the rebels met at Mt. Puray and established the
Departmental Governmrent of Central Luzon. This comprised the provinces of Manila, Morong,
Bulacan, Laguna, Bataan, Nueva ecija, Tarlac, and Pangasinan.
20. Primo de Rivera failed to win over the Filipinos back to Spain.
For more than three hundred years, they, heard n0thing but promises and now they wanted to live an
independent life.
Before July or early in July, Aguinaldo established a republican government at Biak na Bato called the
Biak na Bato republic.
Felix Ferrer and Isabelo Artacho copied,word for word the Cuban Constitution of Jimaguayu, axcept
for one article, the Constitution, in its Preamble, declared the aim of Revolution as the separation of
the Philippines from Spain. Not found in the Constitution of Jimaguayu, Article VIII provided that
‘Tagalog shall be the official language of the Republic.” The Constitution was approved on November
1.
21. Pedro A. Paterno, a Filipino of Chinese ancestry, approached Governor Primo de Rivera and of fer
himself as mediator. The Governor agreed and soon Paterno was negotiating with the two camps on
how the bloody struggle.
On November 18,1897 , the first document was signed by Paterno on behalf of the Filipino rebels, and
by Primo de Rivera, on behalf of the colonial government.
Other matters were clarified.
Second documents was signed by Paterno and Primo de Rivera on December 14,1897.
On December 15, a third documents was signed. These three documents together constitute what may
be called the TRUCE OF BIAK-NA-BATO
Among other things, the agreement provided the following:
1. that Aguinaldo and his men would go into voluntary exile
2. that Primo de Rivera would pay Aguinaldo sum of P800,000 in the three installments:
(a) P400,000 upon his departure from the Philippines,
(b) P200,000 when the arms surrendered to the spanish authorities exceeded 700 pieces
(c) the remaining P200,000 when general amnesty had been proclaimed and the te deum
had been sung; and
3. that Primo de Rivera would pay an additional P900,000 to the families of non-combatant
Filipinos who suffered during the revolution.
On December 27, Aguinalddo, together with some men of his choice, boarded a ship for hongkong. He
had with him a check for P400,000.
22. January 1898, was happy one for the Spaniards. Peace reigned once more and the Spanish
community enjoyed their usual activities like attending horse and boat races, fireworks, and going to
theaters.
The Te Deum was sung at the Manila Cathedral on January 23 to celebrate the publication of a peace
treaty.
The Spanish authorities did not trust the Filipinos. This mutual suspicion resulted to armed clashes
that started in February.
General Francisco Makabulos of Tarlac, who was suspicious of Spanish motives, organized the Central
Executive Committee which acted as an independent government . It intended to operate temporarily
as a government, pending the establishment of a central government run by Filipinos. It had a
constitution, popularly called he Makabulos constitution. In the months that followed, armed clashes
between the Filipinos and the Spaniards occurred,. These clashes made the Filipinos and Spaniards
more suspicious of each other. Bad faith on both sides ultimately caused the truce to fail.
