LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY TACLOBAN CITY

(SOCIAL SCIEENCE UNIT)

WRITTEN REPORT IN PHILLIPINE HISTORY

Submitted by: Juanito D. Adesas

Submitted to: Prof. Myra Grace Flores

The Katipunan became especially popular in the suburbs in Manila and in the provinces of Central Luzon. But as the number of its affiliates increased, the Spanish authorities began to suspect its underground character. With the discovery if the Katipunan, Bonifacio had no other alternative than to declare their intention to fight to the bitter end.

* Happenings during the first revolution*  Rizal and the Revolution  Preparations for the struggle  Spanish suspicion aroused  Discovery of the Katipunan  The Naik Military Agreement  The trial and execution of Bonifacio  The revolution continues  The government of Central Luzon  The Biyak-na-bato Republic  The Truce of Biyak-na-bato, and  The failure of the Truce

RIZAL AND THE REVOLUTION

Bonifacio, who had known Rizal during the Liga days but whom Rizal did not know personally, wanted Rizal s opinion on the necessity of rising an arms against the Spaniards. He, therefore, commissioned Dr. Pio Valenzuela to go to Dapitan in June 1896 to confer with Rizal. With Valenzuela on the S.S. Venus were Rizal s sister Narcisa and his niece Angelica Rizal Lopez. This ship cast anchor at the port of Dapitan in the late afternoon in June 21. Valenzuela immediately proceeded to Rizal s home. In the evening after supper, Valenzuela whispered to Rizal the real purpose of his visit. He then related the founding of the Katipunan and its aims, among which was to overthrow Spanish Authority. Rizal pointed that a revolution without sufficient arms should not be started against an armed nation. It is obvious that Rizal was not afraid with the revolution itself but was against it only in the absence of preparation and army on the part of the rebels. This was because Rizal feared that without arms, rebels will easily be defeated.

PREPARATION FOR THE STUGGLEL

Meanwhile, the Katipunan began preparations geared for any emergency. Bonifacio thought that sooner or later the revolution would explode, and he did not want to be taken by surprise. Consequently, he ordered the manufacturer of bolos to be distributed to the members of the society. Bolos alone, however, would not do, for the enemy was armed with Remington and Mausers. A ray of hope came to the Katipuneros when Valenzuela told that the Japanese warship Kongo, with Admiral Kanimura had dropped anchor

SPANISH SUSPICION AROUSED

The increase in the number in the Katipunan affiliates, while advantageous to Bonifacio, in a way a disadvantage. The new number of impatient and their impatience they met nightly, a circumstance that aroused the suspicion of the authorities. Rumors or such nocturnal meeting reached manila, and the Spanish population, particularly the friar, became jittery. From Batangas, a rumor circulated that there were secret gatherings and that rifles and ammunition from Hongkong to Yokohama were being landed. The friars exploited this rumor to advantage by telling the governor-general to act at once in order to prevent a bloody uprising. Blanco, the governor-general, reluctant to act upon the suggestion of the friars, for he was not exactly sympathetic to the friars. Nevertheless, he banished all the prominent men of Malolos, Bulacan, 1895, and those of Taal, Batangas in 1896. The friar campaign vilification now began. On June 20, 1986, a recollection of friars in Cavite denounced the alleged existence of a group of men who met at banquet to toast the victory of the Cuban reveals again the Spaniards. Another rumour had it there were some 17,000 rebels in the town San Juan Delmonte, San Felipe Neri,

San Pedro Makite, Pasig and Caimito. The parish priest of Guadalupe, listening to the rumormonger that was his servant, denounced the existence of an alleged secret society in his parish to the Governor-general. The curate of Santa Cruz, Manila, reported to the authorities alleged secret meetings of suspicious persons in Manila.

THE DISCOVERY OF THE KATIPUNAN

At almost the same time, however, an unfortunate incident took place between the two Katipuneros who were working in the Spanish-owned Diario de Manila. Apolonio de La Cruz and Teodoro Patino had a misunderstanding and Patino, weakling that he was, took his revenge on Apolonio by revealing the secrets of the society to his sister, Honoria. The latter, an inmate in the orphanage in Mandaluyong, was reported to have cried. In the afternoon of August 19, Patino told Father Mariano of what he knew about the secret society. The friar immediately hurried to the printing shop of the diario de manila and, accompanied by the owner of the periodical, search the premeses for the hidden proofs of the existence of the katipunan. At midnight, the locker of Polecarpio Turla, who signature appeared in receipt, who s forced open and there a dager, the rules of society, and other pertinent documents were found. The discovery of katipunan was immediately followed by mass arrest of Filipino suspects. Prominent men, numbering about 500, where rounded-up and convicted of ilegal association and treason.

THE NAIK MILITARY AGGREMENT

Bonifacio s anger over on what he considered an irregular election and the insult heaped in him by Daniel Tirona, a magdalo, rankled for long. At Naik, he and his men drew of another document in which he resolved to establishe a government independent of, and separate from,that is established at Teheros. An army was to be organized by persuasion of force and a military commander of their own choice was to take command of it. He who sign this present with our true names, all officers of the army who have met in convention headed by the supreme chief (Bonifacio), on account of the critical situation.... have agreed to deliver the people from this grave danger by the means hereinafter enumerated: First all combats shall, by persuasion or force, be incorporated in an army corps under the command of General Pio del Pilar Second we shall recognized no one as being vested with full power except right in the first place, and those courageous officers who, since the beginning of the war and until the present moment, have never gone back on their oath and have conducted themselves loyally. Third Any disloyal person should be punished on the spot, according to his desserts.

The document posed a potential danger to the cause of the revolution, for it meant a definite split in the ranks of the revolutionists and almost certain defeat in the face a united and wellarmed-army.

THE TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF BONIFACIO

From Naik, Bonifacio, his Wife, and two brothers, with a handful of loyal followers, transferred to the barrio of Limbon, Indang. The Naik Military Agreement came to the Knowledge of Aguinaldo and, realizing the significance of Bonifacio s intentions. He ordered the arrest of the Bonifacio Brothers. A group of soldiers under the command of Colonel Agapito Bonzon was dispatched to Limbon to do the Arrest. Early in the morning of May 10, General Noriel ordered Major Lazaro Macapagal to bring out the two brothers from jail. Macapagal was handed a sealed letter with orders to read its content after reaching Mount Tala. After reaching the said mountain, Macapagal, upon the request of Bonifacio, opened the sealed letter. It contained an order to execute Andres and Procopio Bonifacio.

THE REVOLUTION CONTINUES

When Macapagal returned to Maragondon, where the new rebel capital had been established following the capture of Naik by its enemy, he found the Filipino forces retreating and the Spaniards pounding the town furiously. The enemy, however, suffered much, for the Spanish soldiers, most of whome had just arrived from Spain, were not accustomed to the tropical climate. General Camilo de Polavieja, tired of the endless battles, asked for his relief for governor-general. His request was granted and on April 15, 1897, he sailed for Spain. He was replaced by a former governor-general of the Philippines, Fernando Primo de Rivera. Primo de Rivera arrived on Manila on April 23. He immediately conferred with the military commanders regarding the general situation in the Philippines. He found out to his dismayed that far from being demoralized the Filipinos were united against the Spaniards. At the end of the month, he marched to Cavite to take personal charge of the military operations. First, he issued a decree granting pardon to those who, up to May 17, would give up their arms and surrender to the government. Most Filipino ignored this decree. Forth with Primo de Rivera launched a spirited campaign against the rebels, forcing Aguinaldo and his men to retreat to Batangas. After a well-earned rest, Aguinaldo and his men proceeded to Biyak-na bato, San Miguel del Mayumo, in Bulakan, where he established his headquarters.

THE GOVERNMENT OF CENTRAL LUZON

News of Aguinaldo s arrivals at Biyak-na-bato reached the town of Central Luzon. From Biyak-na-bato, Aguinaldo and his men joined forces with those of General Mariano Llanera of Nueva Ecija and harassed the Spanish soldiers garrisoned in the central Luzon Provinces. Meanwhile, at Puray, the rebels met in the camp of General Licerio Geronimo. Those assembled established the departmental Government of Central Luzon, Comprising Manila, Morong, Bulakan, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Tarlac, and Pangasinan. This assembly elected the following: Father Pedro Danda......................................... Anastacio Francisco......................................... Paciano Rizal.................................................... Cipriano Pacheco............................................. Teodoro Gonzales............................................ Feliciano Jocson............................................... President Vice-President Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of the War Secretary of the Interior Secretary of welfare.

THE BIYAK-NA-BATO REPUBLIC

Unable to persuade the Filipinos to give up their arms, Primo de Rivera issued a decree on July 2, 1897, which prohibited all the inhabitants to live their villages and towns. The effect of the decree was contrary to the governor s expectations, for the people continued fighting for the Filipino cause. From his hideout, Aguinaldo issued a proclamation in July entitled To the brave Sons of the Philippines . This proclamation shows that Aguinaldo was still willing to return to the Spanish fold provided the demands created by the proclamation. The provisional constitution of this republic was prepared by Felix Ferrer and Isabelo Artacho.. The constitution provides for the creation of the Supreme Council composed of a president and so on. Emilio Aguinaldo........................................ President Mariano Trias............................................. Vice-President Antonio Montenegro................................ Secretary of Foreign Affairs Isabelo Artacho......................................... Secretary of the Interior Emiliano Riego de Dios............................. Secretary of War Baldomero Aguinaldo.............................. Secretary of the Treasury

THE TRUCE OF BIYAK-NA-BATO

To make sure that the Spanish authorities were sincere, the revolutionists demanded that two Spanish Generals were to remain at Biyak-na-bato as hostage and another, Colone Maguil Primo de Rivera, the governor s nephew, to accompany the exiles to Hongkong. Primo de Rivera agreed, and on December 23, the Spanish Generals, Celestino Tejeiro and Recardo Monet, arrived at Biyak-na0bato and became hostages of the rebels. On the same day, Aguinaldo and his men, including Pedro and Maximo Paterno, boarded a launch and sailed for Kalumpit.

THE FAILURE OF THE TRUCE

Filipino generals left in Biyak-nba-bato did everything in their power to surrender the arms given up by the rebels. Some of the Filipino leaders, however, were suspicious of Spanish aim and continued to hold on their weapons. They expected the continuation of the armed conflict and prepared themselves and their men for the emergency. One of the leaders, General Francisco Makabulos of Tarlac, established the central executive committee which was intended to be a provisional one until a general government of the Republic in this island shall again be established . This rebel government had a constitution which provided for an executive committee composed of President and so on. It is clear that the Filipino people were not disposed to follow the letter of the truce. On the other hand, the lower Spanish officials arrested and imprisoned many Filipinos whom they suspected of having been involved in the rebellion. Such act naturally led to the feeling among the Filipinos that the truce was but a mask to cover up Spanish bad faith. The consequence of this mutual suspicion was the resurgence of the revolution.

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