Chapter 11 Revolution and Compromise Katipunan symbolizes the passage of leadership from the hands of the assimilationist ilustrados

s to the separatist lower middle class leaders of people. The ties of leaders to its reformist predecessor, the Liga Filipina, caused the Katipunan to remain relatively inactive during the Ligas existence. In 1894, convinced that the goal is separation and only means revolution, Bonifacio activated the Katipunan. The drive for membership yielded adherents. Linkage to Katipunan meant torture, imprisonment, and even death. Recruitment began to gain momentum, a sign that the population was becoming ripe for revolutionary action. Mass sympathy and support was evident. Separatism Proclaimed Katipunan included objectives that were reminiscent of Liga mutual aid, defense of the poor and the oppressed, struggle against religious fanaticism, and moral uplift of members but it was still separatist and believed in revolution to achieve its main goal. Both means and end were affirmed in an event that has been called the Cry of Montalban. In Montalban and San Mateo, many Filipinos were initiated into Katipunan as Sons of the People. In one of the caves, they wrote into the walls the words, Long Live Philippine Independence! Bolos were ordered by Bonifacio to be manufactured and used as weapons. Bolos would of course be no match for Spaniards Remingtons and Mausers. But the bulk of revolutionary arms were eventually seized from the enemy. Kalaws assessment is sanguine. There is a documentary evidence of insufficiency of weapons. Propaganda and Expansion Propaganda aspect of the organization was handled by Emilio Jacinto who edited Katipunans paper, Kalayaan. Its 1st issue appeared successfully in 1896. 2,000 copies were printed. This contained an editorial purportedly penned by del Pilar but actually written by Jacinto enjoining people to strive for solidarity and independence, a patriotic poem by Bonifacio, Jacintos manifesto against revolution and article by Dr. Pio Valenzuela on friar and civil guard abuses. But before the 2 nd issue was printed, a raid on the site of Katipunan put an end to it. The Katipunan quickly spread throughout the country. Estimates of the size of organization varied from Dr. Valenzuelas guess of 20,000 to Sastrons estimate of 123,500 to T.H. Pardo de Taveras conut of 400,000. Betrayal Katipunan tried to enlist the aid of a millionaire, Don Francisco Roxas, for a contribution of P1,000 with which to purchase arms and ammunition. Roxas reply was a threat to denounce the secret society to government if any of its members bothered him again. Antonio Luna, who would become a celebrated revolutionary general, informed his superior at the municipal laboratory where he worked as a pharmacist. Bonifacio and Jacinto decided to manufacture fictitious documents. These were discovered by Spaniards and as a result, Francisco Roxas was executed. Impatient members of Katipunan met nightly in large numbers, thus arousing suspicion. Friars were the most assiduous in reporting their suspicions. It was on August 19, 1896 when Spanish authorities became convinced of the existence of Katipunan. Teodoro Patio, a worker in the printing shop of Diario de Manila, betrayed the Katipunan to Father Mariano Gil of Tondo. He revealed the names of his co-workers who were also Katipuneros. The Die Is Cast Bonifacio and other leaders fled to Balintawak. Bonifacio summoned Katipunan leaders in Pugadlawin, in the yard of a son of Melchora Aquino, a woman who would live in revolutionary legend as Tandang Sora, mother of Katipunan. As a sign they would fight against Spain, they tore their cedulas (certificates of citizenship) to pieces, shouting Long Live the Philippines! August 23 The Revolt Spreads The 1st fight took place in San Juan del Monte. Katipuneros outnumbered the Spaniards but were forced to withdraw when govt reinforcements arrived. The people of Sta. Mesa, Pandacan, Pateros, Taguig, San Pedro Makati, Caloocan, Balik-Balik, San Juan del Monte in Manila, San Francisco de Malabon, Kawit and Noveleta in Cavite rose up in arms. When Bonifacio and other leaders like Macario Sakay, Apolonio Samson, Faustino Guillermo and General Lucino (alias Payat) set up camp in the hills near Mariquina, new adherents to revolutionary cause arrived. Reign of Terror Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco proclaimed the existence of state of war in Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna, Cavite and Batangas. Under strong pressure from Spanish community in Manila, he inaugurated a reign of terror in the belief that this would quell the nascent rebellion. Government began series of executions. On Sept. 4, 4 members of Katipunan were executed at Luneta. On September 12, 13 were put to death in Cavite and named as Los Trece Martires de Cavite. The most deeply felt one was the execution of Rizal on Dec. 30, 1896. Rizal was completely innocent of the charge of rebellion. In a statement from his cell, he repudiated the Revolution, a reformist to the end. Swelling Forces of Revolt The reign of terror only swelled forces of Revolution. In Nueva Ecija, 2,000 revolucionarios under Mariano Llanera (municipal captain of Cabiao, attacked the Spanish garrison in San Isidro on Sept.2. Wearing red ribbons, revolutionaries paraded down principal streets to the music of Cabiao band. Filipinos held the town for 3 days. In Hermosa, Bataan, the people killed the parish priest. Spanish troops were confronted by 3,000 revolutionaries who had come from Hermosa and Dinalupihan in Bataan. Pampanga and Morong were becoming restive; a conspiracy was discovered in Vigan, Ilocos Sur which involved prominent citizens. Spanish forces were continually harassed and divided by many simultaneous and spontaneous risings in different provinces. Revolution had become generalized.

The Plot Begins Katipunan had 2 rival provincial councils in Cavite: Magdiwang (Mariano Alvarez, Bonifacios uncle-in-law) and Magdalo (Baldomero Aguinaldo, Aguinaldos cousin). Magdalo was the nom-de-guerre chosen by Emilio Aguinaldo when he was inducted by Bonifacio into Katipunan (in honor of St. Mary Magdalene). Emilio was its leading light. Both councils won victories against Spanish troops, making Cavite the most successful area for Revolution. Aguinaldo, mayor of Kawit, was known as Kapitan Miong. He won a signal victory in Imus on Sept.5, 1896. He then became Gen. Miong, hero of Caviteos. He issued 2 decrees on Oct. 31, 1896 declaring Revolutions aim to be independence of Philippines. He called on them to march under the Flag of Revolution whose watch-words are Liberty, Equality and Fraternity ! Pre-emptive Leadership Certain passages deserve scrutiny as possible indications of thinking of Aguinaldo and his faction. Magdalo was ony 1 of 2 provincial councils of Katipunan in Cavite, yet texts make no mention at all of parent organization whose ideals and goals were the very ones Aguinaldo was urging on people. In one manifesto, Aguinaldo informed his countrymen of a fait accompli: we (the Magdalo council, by implication) have established a provisional Government in towns that have been pacified. This govt has a Revolutionary Committee whose task is to carry on the war until all the Islands are freed. In the 2nd manifesto, he again addressed himself to the entire nation announcing A central committee of Revolution composed of 6 members and a president will be charged with continuation of war, will organize an army of 30,000 men with rifles and cannons Through these manifestos Aguinaldo and Magdalo were directing center of Revolution. To organize a provisional government for liberated towns of Cavite was within the jurisdiction of Magdalo and Magdiwang, but to ask the entire country to recognize one provincial committee as Revolutionary government was in clear disregard of Katipunan. In both manifestos, Aguinaldo appeals to people in the name of Revolutionary Committee which appears to be the executive arm of Revolutionary Government. Aguinaldos decree was directed against Magdiwang on local level. Bonifacio suffered defeat after defeat. His knowledge of military affairs was slight. He only had stoutness of heart and singleness of purpose to fight for his countrys liberty. The Plot Thickens Magdiwang and Magdalo fought independently. When Camilo de Polavieja began concentrating his forces on Cavite, this rivalry between the two factions proved disastrous for Revolution. Military reverses led Magdiwang leaders to invite Bonifacio to visit Cavite and intervene in the conflict. Instead, two incidents occurred upon his arrival. The 1 st one occurred when Aguinaldo and Edilberto Evangelista, a Belgian-educated Filipino engineer, went to meet Bonifacio at Zapote. Aguinaldo recalled that the Supremo acted as if he was king. The opinion of Magdalo men was a result of their own supercilious attitude toward a man they regarded as educationally and socially their inferior. The 2nd incident involved Baldomero Aguinaldo and Daniel Tirona, accompanied by Vicente Fernandez also visited Bonifacio. Bonifacio recognized him and ordered Fernandez arrest but Magdalo leaders refused to surrender him. People were unaware of personal animosities wracking the leadership of their Revolution. Character Assassination According to Gen. Artemio Ricarte, anonymous letters suddenly appeared all over Cavite and especially in San Francisco de Malabon where Bonifacio was staying. Bonifacio suspecting Tirona as author, confronted the latter and demanded satisfaction. Tirona refused that Bonifacio drew his gun and might have shot him. Undermining Katipunan Imus assembly of December 31 was avowedly called for the purpose of determining the leadership of the province to resolve the rivalry between Magdiwang and Magdalo. The assembly was asked to decide whether Katipunan should continue leading the Revolution or be replaced by another. Magdalo leaders were well prepared; they submitted a constitution for the proposed government prepared by Evangelista. The assembly was divided. Those who favored Katipunan argued that it had its own constitution. Moreover, governments in Manila and its environs had already been established in accordance with the Katipunan constitution. Cavitismo Those against Katipunan contended it was merely a secret society which should have ceased to exist the moment Revolution emerged in the open. They believed that establishment of their proposed revolutionary government was a matter of consolidating the two revolutionary governments in Cavite. The Revolution was only in Cavite and its leadership must therefore be Caviteo. Bonifacio showed partiality toward Magdiwang. Aguinaldo threatened Bonifacio directly by promoting Evangelista president of the revolutionary govt. He said Evanglista was the best educated. Bonfacio was given carte blanche for designation of a number of persons who were to form with him a legislative body for reorganization. This was not done because of the arrival of Paciano Rizal and Josephine Bracken, widow of Jose Rizal. Ricarte further reveals Bonifacio asked for the minutes so that he might have written authorization upon which to base his actions. Historians doubted Ricartes version on the ground that Magdiwangs had taken charge of the meeting. The Power Struggle The Triumph of Cativismo Bonifacio Outmaneuvered Ilustrado Syndrome Sharing Honors

Rival Power Centers Contrite Turncoats The Mock Trial Bonifacios Role Appraised The Long Trick to Compromise Reformist Atavism The Right Credentials The Bargain The Logic of Tejeros Negation of Pugad Lawin The Revolutionaries Repudiated Quarrel Over Spoils The Hongkong Exiles The Struggle Continues The Peoples Fury Katipunan Revival During the Hongkong Sojourn Aguinaldo Capitulated: The People Did Not