THEKATIPUNAN

(RizalwasnotdirectlyapartoftheKatipunan,evendenouncingthegroupanddisagreeingwiththecause.
However,heservedasaninspirationtoitsmembersandwasconsideredasitshonorarypresident,withhis
nameevenservingasapasswordforthehigherrankingmembersofthemovement.)
Rizal'sarrestandhisexilein1892bestirredachainofeventsthatleaddirectlytoarmedinsurrectionfor
nationalindependence.OnthenightofRizal'sarrest,AndresBonifacio,aselfeducatedmanofhumble
origins,foundedasecretsociety,theKatipunan(TheHighestandMostRespectableAssociationoftheSonsof
thePeople),modeledontheMasonicOrderandcommittedtowinningindependencefromSpainthrough
revolution.
TheKatipunan,liketheMasoniclodges,hadsecretpasswordsandceremonies,anditsmemberswere
organizedintoranksordegrees,eachhavingdifferentcoloredhoods,specialpasswords,andsecretformulas.
Newmemberswentthrougharigorousinitiation,whichconcludedwiththepactodeSangre,orblood
compact.
FromitsoriginsintheTondodistrictofManila,theKatipunanspreadgraduallytotheprovincesandby
August1896ontheeveoftherevoltagainstSpainithadabout30,000members,bothmenandwomen.
Mostofthemweremembersofthelowerandlowermiddleincomestrata,includingpeasants.Thenationalist
movementhadeffectivelymovedfromtheclosedcircleofprosperousilustradostoatrulypopularbaseof
support.
Theorganizationgrewveryrapidlybecausetheinsolentandprovocativewayinwhichthefriarscarriedout
theircampaignagainstreformshadannoyedthemasses.Itperhapstoogrewsowell,becausetheorganization
ofpoliticalassociationswasprohibittedonthearchipelagoandthusthemiddleclass,whichwasthemost
educatedandinfluential,notbeingabletomovefreely,couldnotsupportopenlydieLigaFilipina,sincethat
classwasmoreinfavouroftheLiga'sprogram,evenafterhavingenduredmostcruelsufferings.
OnJune21,1896.Dr.PioValenzuela,Bonifacio'semissary,visitedRizalinDapitanandinformedhimofthe
planoftheKatipunantolauncharevolution.RizalobjectedtoBonifacio'sboldprojectstatingthatsuchwould
beaveritablesuicide.RizalstressedthattheKatipunanleadersshoulddoeverythingpossibletoprevent
prematureflowofnativeblood.Valenzuela,however,warnedRizalthattheRevolutionwillinevitablybreak
outiftheKatipunanwouldbediscovered.
Sensingthattherevolutionaryleadersweredeadsetonlaunchingtheiraudaciousproject,Rizalinstructed
ValenzuelathatitwouldbeforthebestinterestsoftheKatipunantogetfirstthesupportoftherichand
influentialpeopleofManilatostrengthentheircause.HefurthersuggestedthatAntonioLunawithhis
knowledgeofmilitaryscienceandtactics,bemadetodirectthemilitaryoperationsoftheRevolution.
InanotherSpanishcolony,15,000kmaway,theCubanrevolutionforindependencestartedinFebruary1895.
Toescapefromhisexile,RizalvolunteeredtoserveasadoctorfortheSpanisharmyinCuba.Rizal'sofferwas
acceptedbutjustasheleftforCubabyship,theSpanishlearnedoftheexistenceoftherevolutionarysociety
KatipunanbecauseoftheuntimelydiscoverybyaSpanishfriar,onAugust19th,1896.TheSpanishbegan

makinghundredsofarrestsandBonifaciohadlittlechoicebuttoissuethecalltoarms,theCryofBalintawak,
onAugust26th,1896.
BonifacioandEmilioJacintoattackedtheSpanishgarrisonatSanJuanonAugust29th,1896with800
Katipuneros.InsurrectionsalsobrokeoutineightprovincessurroundingManilaonLuzonandsoonspreadto
otherislands.Therebelswenottrainedregularsandhadlittlesuccessagainstthecolonialtroops.Inthe
provinceofCavite,however,undertheleadershipofEmilioAguinaldo,theKatipunanrebelsdefeatedthe
CivilGuardandthecolonialtroops.
Meanwhile,RizalwasarrestedintransittoCubaandorderedtoreturntoFortSantiagoinManilatostandtrial
forrebellion,seditionandillicitassociation.OnDecember22nd,1896,Rizal,heldincomunicadoinFort
Santiago,wrotea"manifesto"tohiscountrymentostopfighting,condemningtheabsurdrevolution.The
Spanishauthoritiesdidnotpublishthis"manifesto".HewastriedonDecember26th,foundguiltyand
condemnedtodeath.JoseRizalwasshotbyafiringsquadonDecember30th,1896.Rizal'sexecutiongavethe
rebellionfreshdetermination.
AndresBonifacioledtheRevolutioninitsearlystages,althoughhedidnotexcelinthefieldofbattlelike
EmilioAguinaldo,whodistinguishedhimselfinthebattlefieldsinCavite,atthattimetheheartlandofthe
Revolution.Duetohissuccessesinbattle,AguinaldowaselectedtoreplaceBonifacio.Bonifaciowithdrewhis
supportersandthetwofactionsbegantofight.Bonifaciowasarrested,triedandexecutedonMay10th,1897
byAguinaldo'sorder.
Aguinaldo'sforcesweredrivenfromCavitetoBulacanwhereAguinaldodeclaredtheconstitutionand
establishedtheRepublicofBiaknaBato.BothsidessooncametorealizethatthestrugglebetweenSpainand
thenewRepublichadreachedanimpasse.Both,FilipinoandSpanishforces,wereunabletopursuehostilities
toasuccessfulconclusion.
Consequently,NegotiationsbeganinAugustandconcludedinbetweenNovember18thandDecember15th
withthePact(truce)ofBiaknaBato.Theagreementextendedageneralamnestytotherebelswithapayment
ofUS$800,000forAguinaldoandhisgovernmenttoretireinvoluntaryexiletoHongKong.Aguinaldoleft
thePhilippineswithhisgovernmentonDecember27th,1897.WhileinHongKong,Aguinaldoandhis
compatriotsdesignedwhatistodaythePhilippinenationalflag.
Source:
Eisele,P.KnightsofRizal.
Available:http://www.knightsofrizal.de

The Katipunan is born

Andres Bonifacio was also a member of La Liga Filipina, although he soon lost hope in
gaining reforms though peaceful means. This feeling was especially heightened when Jose
Rizal was exiled to Dapitan. Bonifacio became convinced that the only way
the Philippinescould gain independence was through a revolution.

Bonifacio then founded the Katastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipuanan ng mga Anak ng

Bayan (KKK) on July 7, 1892 in a house on Azcarraga street (now Claro M. Recto), in
Tondo Manila.
The Katipunan had colorful beginnings. As a symbol of the members loyalty, they performed
the solemn rite of sanduguan (blood compact), wherein each one signed his name with his
own blood..

The members agreed to recruit more people using the triangle system of enlistment. Each
original member would recruit tow new members who were not related to each other. Each
new member would do the same thing, and so on down the line. Members were also asked
to contribute one Real (about 25 centavos) each month in order to raise funds for the
association.
The KKK members agreed on the following objectives:

The political goal was to completely separate the Philippines from Spain after declaring the
countrys independence.
The moral goal was to teach the Filipinos good manners, cleanliness, hygiene, fine morals,
and how to guard themselves against religious fanaticism..
The civic goal was to encourage Filipinos to help themselves and to defend the poor
oppressed.

The Kataastaasang Sanggunian (supreme council) was the highest governing body of the
Katipunan. It was headed by a supremo, or president. Each province had a Sangguaniang
Bayan (Provincial Council) and each town had a Sangguniang Balangay (Popular Council).
The Leaders of the Katipunan:

Deodato Arellano -Supremo

Ladislao Diwa -Fiscal
Teodora Plata -Secretary
Valentine Diaz -treasurer
Andres Bonifacio -controller
Jose Rizal and the Katipunan

Jose Rizal never became involved in the organization and activities of the
Katipunan; but the Katipuneros still looked up to him as a leader. In fact, Rizals
name was used as a password among the societys highest-ranking members, who
were called bayani.
Andres Bonifacio had already known Rizal during his La Liga Filipina days, although
Rizal did not know Bonifacio personally Nevertheless, Bonifacio so respected Rizals
intelligence and talent that in June 1896, he sent Dr. Pio Valenzuela to Dapitan to
seek Rizals advice on the planned revolution.
Rizal told Valenzuela that the timing was not right for a revolution. The people were not yet
ready and they did not have enough weapons. He suggested that the Katipunan obtain the
support of wealthy and influential Filipinos first, in order to gain financial assistance. He also
recommended Antonio Luna as commander of its armed forces, since Luna had much
knowledge and expertise in military tactics.

Valenzuela returned to Manila on June 26 and relayed Rizals advice to Bonifacio, who
admitted that it would indeed be fatal for the Filipinos to fight without enough weapons.
However, there was no stopping the Revolution. Bonifacio ordered his men to prepare for
battle. He directed them to store enough food and other supplies. Battle plans were made
with the help of Emilio Jacinto. It was suggested that the revolutionary headquarters be
located near the seas or mountains to provide for an easy retreat, if necessary.
The Katipunan is Discovered
Rumors about a secret revolutionary society had long been in circulation, although no solid
evidence could be found to support them. The big break as far as the Spanish authorities
was concerned, came on August 19, 1896 when a KKK member, Teodoro Patio told his
sister Honoria about the existence of the Katipunan. Patio was a worker in
the printing press of Diario de Manila. Honoria was then living with nuns in a Mandaluyong
orphanage.

The information upset Honoria so much that she told the orphanages Mother Superior, Sor
Teresa de Jesus, what her brother had revealed. Sor Teresa suggested they seek the advice
of Father Mariano Gil, the parish priest of Tondo.

After hearing Patios revelations, Father Mariano Gil-accompanied by several Guardias

Civiles immediately searched the premises of Diario de Manila and found evidence of the
Katipunans existence. The governor general was quickly informed. The printing press was
padlocked and hundreds of suspected KKK members were arrested. -Continue to Cry of
Pugad Lawin & Andres Bonifacio's Execution.