The Founding of the Katipunan

 News were published about the arrest of Rizal who was sentence to banish to Dapitan.
 July 7, 1892 - a meeting in the house of Deodato Arellano on Azcarraga Street (now Claro
M. Recto), in Tondo, Manila. Andres Bonifacio, and some friends, Ladislaw Diwa, Valentin
Diaz, Jose Dizon, Teodoro Plata, and Arellano himself formed a secret society called KKK
or Katipunan.
 They performed the solemn rite of Sanduguan (blood compact), wherein each one signed his
name with his own blood.
 The Aims and Structure of the Katipunan are:
1. Civic - was based on the defense of the weak and the poor.
2. Political - was the separation of Philippines from Spain to secure the independence of
the colony.
3. Moral - focused on the teaching of good manners, hygiene, and good moral character.
 The Katipunan had three governing bodies:
1. The Kataastaasang Sanggunian or Supreme Council was the central government, with
a fiscal, a secretary, a treasurer, and a comptroller.
2. The Sangguniang Bayan or Provincial Council is equivalent to the Provincial
Government.
3. The Sangguniang Balangay or Popular Council is equivalent to the Municipal
Government.
 Recruitment is by means of Triangle System. Each original member would recruit new
members who are not related to each other.
 New System (similar to Masonry) was used to speed up the process of enlisting new
members. All members agreed to pay a membership and monthly dues.
 Deodato Arellano - first Katipunan president who was an alumnus of Ateneo Municipal
where he study bookkeeping and found employment in artillery corps upon graduation.
 Andres Bonifacio replaced him in 1895 which changed the title president to Supremo.
 Supremo is often called "ang dakilang dukha" or "the great plebian"
 Andres Bonifacio - is a warehouseman before the revolution broke out. He did not go beyond
second year of high school but he had the opportunity to study Spanish and gain access to
various works in literature and liberal writings. This enabled him to make secular political
goals such as freedom and sovereignty.
 The Teachings of the Katipunan
1. Love God with all your heart.
2. Bear always in mind that the love of God is also love of country, and this, too, is love
one's fellowmen.
3. Engrave in your heart that the true measure of honor and happiness is to die for the
freedom of your country.
4. All your good wishes will be crowned with success if you have serenity, constancy,
reason, and faith in your acts and endeavor.
5. Guard the mandates and aims of the KKK as you guard your honor.
 6. It is the duty of all to defend, at risk of their own lives and wealth, anyone who runs
great risks in the performance of his duty.
7. Our responsibility to ourselves and the performance of our duties will be the example
set for our fellowmen to follow.
8. Insofar as it is within your power, share your means with the poor and the
unfortunate.
9. Diligence in the work gives sustenance to you is the true basis of love - love for your
own self, for your wife and children, and for your brothers and countrymen.
10. Punish any scoundrel and traitor and praise all good work. Believe, likewise, that the
aims of KKK are God-given, for the will of the people is also the will of God.
 What aspects of Decalogue reflect the Katipunan aspirations for independence?
It is the love for God, fellowmen, and the country. It is said that the true measure of honor
and happiness is to die for the freedom of your country.
 How does the Decalogue protect the secrecy of the Katipunan?
It was never published because Bonifacio believed that Jacinto's Kartilya was superior to
what he did.
 Emilio Jacinto - "Brains of the Katipunan". He wrote the Kartilla or primer for the
Katipuneros.
 The Cartilla - was written and published in 1896 and laid down the Katipunan's major
objective. Also called the official teachings of the society.
 What portions of the Cartilla promote the value of honor and morality of character?
5. He who is noble prefers honor to personal gains; he who is mean prefers personal
profit to honor.
8. Defend the oppress and fight the oppressor.
 How does Cartilla recognize the value of equality?
In part IV. All men are equal, be the color of their skin black or white. One may be superior
to another in knowledge, wealth, and beauty but cannot be superior in being.

Women in the Revolution

 Josefa Rizal as the president; Gregoria de Jesus as Vice President; Marina Dizon as
Secretary; and Angelica Rizal Lopez as Fiscal.
 Melchora Aquino - also named Tandang Sora. She was nursing the wounded and providing
refuge for them in the granaries she owned.
 Trinidad Perez Tecson - served the war commissary when Aguinaldo transferred to Malolos,
Bulacan and was also a nurse.
 Teresa Feraris Magbanua - was the only woman who led combat troops in the Visayas during
the revolution fighting both Spanish and American troops.

The Discovery of the Katipunan

 Teodoro Patino told Father Mariano Gil about the secret society and hurried to the printing
shop of the Diario de Manila and searched hidden proofs of the Katipunan.
 The Cry of Pugadlawin - August 23, 1896
 Bonifacio secretly instructed his runners to summon all leaders of the society to a general
assembly to be held on August 24 in Balintawak.
 Rebels marched toward Pasong Tamo. Becaused of their inferior weapons, which consisted
of bolos and a few guns, the rebels decided to retreat. While the Spaniards, finding
themselves greatly outnumbered, also decided to retreat.

The Katipunan in Cavite

 Two factions: Magdiwang and Magdalo.
 Tejeros Convention
1. March 22, 1897 - the two factions call a meeting to solve the internal problem in San
Francisco de Malabon, a barrio in Tejeros.
2. Severino delas Alas, a Magdiwang, took the floor and and suggested that a
convention assembled should solve the problem of whether a new government should
be established.
3. Bonifacio, as chairman, stated that the will of the majority of the people should be
respected and obeyed must be followed.
4. When Bonifacio was being proclaimed, Daniel Tirona, a Magdalo, said that the
position of Director of the Interior is an exalted one and it is not proper that a person
without a lawyer's diploma should occupy it and he proposed Jose del Rosario, a
magdalo who has a lawyer's diploma.
5. Bonifacio felt insulted and hurt and told Tirona to retract what he said. However,
Tirona did not apologize and disappeared from the scene.
6. Artemio Ricarte took the oath in his office with great reluctance and made a
declaration that he found the Tejeros elections shady and dirty and not been in the
conformity with the true will of the people.
 The Naik Military Agreement - A document made by Bonifacio in which they resolved to
establish a government independent of, and separate from, that is established in Tejeros.
 Trial and Execution of Bonifacio - Aguinaldo ordered his men to arrest Bonifacio. They were
found guilty of Treason but the evidence was not sufficient to prove their guilt. They were
released.
 The Truce of Biyak-na-Bato - an agreement made by Paterno and Primo de Rivera
 The Battle of Manila Bay - happened on May 1, 1898
 Aguinaldo asked Wildman to purchase arms and ammunitions for the Filipinos. He gave
P50,000 for 2,000 rifles and 200,000 rounds of ammunition.

The Malolos Republic

 Declaration of Independence
1. June 5 - Aguinaldo issued a decree that June 12 as the day for the proclamation of
Philippine Indepence.
 2. He commissioned Juan Felipe, a composer from Cavite to prepare a composition.
3. Marcha Nacional Filipina - Philippine National March
4. June 12 - Aguinaldo proclaimed the independence of the Philippines at Cavite el
Viejo and raised the flag made by Marcela Agoncillo.
5. Symbols of Philippine Flag - White Triangle - Peace; Red - Bravery; Blue -
Patriotism; three stars - Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; eight sun rays - Manila,
Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Laguna, Tarlac
6. Apolinario Mabini - "Brains of the Revolution"

Malolos Congress
 September 15, 1898 - Emilio Aguinaldo announced the names of the provincial
representatives he had appointed. He gave his message in tagalog, then later in Spanish.
 Barasoain Church in Malolos - where the inaugural session was held.
 The Congress elected as officers:
1. Pedro Paterno - President
2. Benito Legarda - vice president
3. Gregorio Araneta, Pablo Tecson (who replaced him), and Pablo Ocampo - secretaries

Most important achievements of the Malolos Congress:

 September 29, 1898 - ratification of the independence proclaimed held at Kawit, Cavite on
June 12, 1898.
 Passage of a law that allowed the Philippines to borrow P20,000,000 from banks for
government expenses
 Establishment of the Universidad Literatura de Filipinas and other schools
 Drafting of the Philippine Constitution

Malolos Constitution / The First Philippine Republic

 January 21, 1899 - When Aguinaldo promulgated Malolos Constitution.
 Was the first democratic constitution ever promulgated in all of Asia
 Why is the Constitution considered a unique and modern charter for its time?
1st. Because of the provisions making the assembly or legislature branch superior to either
executive or judicial.
2nd. It provided for a permanent commission to sit as a legislative body when the assembly
was not in session.
3rd. Because it established a unicameral body.
 Drafted by Felipe Calderon and aided by Cayetano Arellano.
 The final draft of the constitution was presented to Aguinaldo and
 It established a republic with a government that was "popular, representative, alternative, and
responsible."
 Exercised by three distinct powers:
1. Executive - enforces laws
 2. Legislative - enacts laws
3. Judicial - interprets laws
 The legislative power was exercised by the Assembly of the Representatives composed of
delegates according to law.
 The executive power was exercised by the president of the republic elected by the members
of the assembly and special representatives convened as a constituent chamber. His term was
four years and cannot be reelected.
 The judicial power was vested in the Supreme Court of Justice and other lower tribunals of
justice created by law.
 The rights and liberties of people was safeguarded by a Bill of Rights.
 Apolinario Mabini was elected as Prime Minister
 What were Mabini's specific criticisms about the proclamation of the First Philippine
Commission?
Both letters were written from San Isidro in Nueva Ecija. The first letter was dated 29 April 18995:

HONORABLE GENTLEMEN [of the Philippine Commission]

The Philippine people through its government, makes known to the commission that it has not yet lost its
confidence in the friendship, justice, and magnanimity of the North American nation.

It feels itself weak before the advance of the American troops, whose valor it admires, and in view of the
superiority of their organization, discipline, fighting material, and other resources, does not feel
humiliated in soliciting peace, invoking the generous sentiments of the Government of the
North American people, worthily represented by the commission, and the sacred interests of humanity.

But the Philippine Government, fully convinced that it has not provoked war, and that it has only
employed its arms in defense of the integrity of its native land, asks for suspension of hostilities and a
general armistice in all the Archipelago for the short time of three months, in order to enable it to consult
the opinions of the people consulting the government which would be most advantageous, and the
intervention in it which should be given to the North American Government, and to appoint an
extraordinary commission with full powers to act in the name of the Philippine people.

The welfare of this unfortunate country and the triumph of the governing party in the United States of
America, depend upon the prompt establishment of peace. We confess ourselves weak, but we still
possess resources — above all, the unfaltering resolution to prolong the war for an indefinite space of
time, if the undertaking to dominate us by force is persisted in.

In laying before the commission the preceding statements I believe that I interpret the sentiments of my
President and his government and those of the Philippine people.

I salute the commission with the greatest respect.

Your most obedient servant,

A.P. Mabini
Meanwhile, the second letter was dated 1 May 18996:

The members of the Philippine Government have commissioned Col. Manuel Arguelles to present and
explain to the North American commission to the Philippines the following points:

First. The Philippine Government finds itself compelled to negotiate an armistice and a suspension of
hostilities as an indispensable means of arriving at peace; in the first place, in order to justify itself before
its people as having employed all the means in its power to avoid the ruin of the country, and in the
second place, to offer to the commission a means of putting an end to the war in a manner most honorable
to the American Army and most glorious to the Government of the United States.

Second. It does not solicit the armistice to gain a space of time in which to re-enforce itself, nor does it
expect aid from Japan nor from any other nation, as no government up to the present time has recognized
its belligerency, nor is disposed to injure its relations with powerful America, especially as there is
nothing to be gained thereby. The Philippine Government earnestly desiring the felicity of its people,
while it is still in the pursuit of independence, would not insist upon fighting for its ideal if the Philippine
people through its accredited representatives should ask for peace and accept autonomy.

Third. The interests of humanity are at present in harmony with those of the North American
Government, and both ask for a brief space of time, however short, in which the Philippine people may
reflect upon their sad situation and may understand the bases of the autonomy which is offered to them.

Fourth. If, however, this last recourse is denied it, no one can blame the Philippine Government for the
tenacity which it may show. The honor of the army and the happiness of the country will then determine
the only line of conduct for it to pursue, namely, to prolong the struggle until it reaches the end of its
resources. This prolongation of the struggle would be fatal to both peoples.

Let the commission reflect, then, while there is time, that if the war is converted into a national war it
would be very difficult to keep it within bounds.

In that case, peace would mean the annihilation of the Philippine people or that of the imperialistic party
of America.

A.P. MABINI