Supreme Society of the Sons of the People [7].
Whilst Rizal, in Manila, was engaged in the organization of the
"Liga Filipina" into which only the well-to-do or educated classes
could enter (70), an attempt which, for that time, failed on account
of his immediate deportation, Marcelo H. del Pilar, from Madrid,
in July 1892, advised the creation of another association, which
was to be similar thereto, but which was to include the agricultural
laborers and persons of little or no education and instruction (71),
but who directed in the localities by the caciques and chiefs, were
to form an enormous nucleus which should, at the proper time, give
forth the cry of rebellion. He (Pilar) provided minute instructions
concerning the organization and forwarded a project of regulations.
"Deodato Arellano (brother in-law of Marcelo), Andres Bonifacio,
Ladislao Dina and Teodoro Plata where those commissioned to carry into
practice the project of Pilar (72); they discussed the regulations and
added to them making them still more terrifying, agreeing that they
should all immediately proceed with the preparatory works, and they
were not interrupted till the conspiracy was discovered on the 19th of
August of this year (1896). Both the said organizers and the others who
composed the first Supreme Council, belonged to the "Liga filipina".
"The organization given to the society was analogous to that enjoyed by
the "Liga" (73) but amplified to the extent of anarchism, swearing
hatred and destruction to everything of a character or nature Spanish
(74), and sowing the seed of a race-hatred which has developed to
a great extent (75). The Supreme, the Provincial and the popular
Councils, the sections and the delegations ruled this horrible
association. The first governed the whole Tagalog Katipunan (76);
the second, that corresponding to a pueblo and the sections were
sub-divisions or fractions into which the popular councils were
divided. Those commissioned to form sections were called delegations,
and whilst they remained unconstituted, they depended directly upon
the Supreme Council. Every associate paid an entrance fee of a medio
peso, and a monthly subscription of a real. The collections were made
by the respective treasurers and passed into the central treasury
of the Supreme Council. The funds so gathered were utilized for the
succor of the brethren in their afflictions and sicknesses, for the
covering the expenses of the works of propaganda, and for the secret
acquisition of fire and other arms (77).
"As in freemasonry, the initiations (78) were performed with a wealth
of the ridiculous, and with unending extravagances; but of such a
nature, that the ignorant indian was fascinated and became converted
into a slave of his oath.
"The initiated were masked (79) as also was the person to be initiated;
before a table was placed a skull and crossbones, a triangle and two
candles; the person about to be initiated was told that the object of
the Katipunan [8] was the liberating of the Tagalog people, and the
expulsion of the Spaniards from the archipelago, or their destruction
(80); following this, came a series of questions and replies in the
which the martyrdom of Gomez, Burgos and Zamora (81), native priests
judged and condemned for their part in the rebellion of Cavite in 1872
was exalted, and they passed on to the proofs (82) which consisted in
imitating an assassination, a suicide, etc. This was followed by the
taking of an oath of striving to effect the liberation of the people
till death, an oath which demanded a blind obedience to the commands
of the superior and the preservation of the secrets of the association
under the pain of death (83). Finally, to terminate the ceremony,
they made with a dagger especially adapted to that use, an incision
in the arm of the person initiated and with the blood which flowed
from the wound thus made, the new katipunero signed his compromise
(see note 50.)
"The initiated were called brethren and had their "sacred words"
and their special signs of recognition. They were ruled by a code
which established punishments ranging from whipping till death (84)
and received no orders from anyone, or had no intercourse with anyone,
except with their immediate superiors. The details which might be
made mention of are infinite and curious, but it would make this
short memorial unending to speak of them all.
"All the matters of importance and organization were dealt with
in assemblies (85) constituted by the Supreme Councils and all the
presidents of the provincial and popular councils. The accords were
taken and discussions decided by a nominal votation and at least by
a majority of votes.
"Both the Supreme, the provincial and the popular Councils and the
sections held their periodical sessions in the which were discussed a
thousand different affairs, and the decisions of the Councils had to
be submitted to the approval of the immediate superior. The gatherings
were always held in different houses and localities, no day being set
aside as fixed, but the days of festivities or those upon which was
observed some ecclesiastical feast were chosen for that purpose (86),
under the pretext of banquets or dances in which the authorities had no
suspicion, and because on the said days these semi-public rejoicings
were permitted without the necessity of seeking the license of the
governing authorities.
"Both the provincial and the popular councils and the sections were
known by special names; the initiated were "baptized" with symbolic
appellations; and the documents were drawn up in the Tagalog dialect,
the most important being in secret code.
"The first Supreme Council was constituted on the 15th of July 1892,
and was as follows:
President Deodato Arellano.
Secretary Andres Bonifacio.
Treasurer Valentin Diaz.
/ Ladislao Dina.
Councillors + Bricio Pantas.
\ Teodoro Plata.
Delegates were immediately appointed to establish sections in Tondo,
Binondo, Trozo, Sta. Cruz, Nagtajan, Sampaloc, Quiapo, Dilao (Paco)
and Intramuros. Commissioners set out with all rapidity to the
neighboring pueblos and provinces, and in a few weeks councils
were in working order in Caloocan, Malabon, Mandaloyan, San Juan
del Monte, Pandacan, Sta. Ana, and Pasay. In the Capital of Cavite
was constituted a popular council, and sections in Noveleta, Cavite
Viejo and Imus. The same occurred in San Isidro, Gapan and several
other pueblos of these provinces.
'Andres Bonifacio, Secretary of the Supreme Council, displayed a
notable audacity and energy, and this united to a clear intelligence,
gave him a great predominance over his companions. This predominance
he asserted, and in 1893 brought about the destitution from the
presidency, of Deodato Arellano, Roman Baza (87), chief clerk of
the Comandancia General de Marina being elevated to that office. On
account of the want of character and initiative on the part of the new
president, Bonifacio decided, by a coup-d'etat if we may so call it,
to depose him also, putting himself in that office and becoming the
"dictator" of the Katipunan.
"Under the Presidency of Bonifacio, the society commenced an era of
febrile activity; the greater number of the tribunales of the pueblos
were converted into centres of propaganda, which were directed by the
municipalities. Pamphlets and proclamations against the friars and
the whole Spanish element were circulated in profusion (88). Injuries
and outrages were invented, and by these and a thousand and one other
infamous means, little by little, hatred and revenge were inculcated
into the mind of the indian.
"In 1895 Bonifacio took the first decisive steps towards the
organizing of an armed rebellion; he sent different delegations to
Dapitan to confer with Rizal and receive his advice and instruction
(89); he opened negotiations with the Japanese Government (90),
but did not succeed therein. But with his immense ascendancy over
the popular masses, an ascendancy beyond imagination, he declared
himself dictator. The secret aiders of the Katipunan who pertained
to the upper classes, offered funds of considerable amount, with the
which were acquired a good number of arms which were landed on the
coast of Cavite and Batangas with the aid of wealthy persons (91).
"In August of this year (1896) exaltation among the masses reached
its full height, and Bonifacio realizing the fact, prepared what
was necessary in order that in a short time, the conspiracy which
was to take effect on the same day and hour in almost all Luzon,
should be in readiness. The plan of the attack and taking of Manila
was coarsely conceived but it might have been successful and massacre,
sacking and pillage would have crowned the iniquitous work.
"At this time the Supreme Council was was composed as follows.
President Andres Bonifacio.
Secretary Emilio Jacinto.
Treasurer Enrique Pacheco.
Fiscal Pio Valenzuela (92).
/ Hermenegildo Reyes.
| Teodoro Plata.
| Balbino Florentino.
| Bricio Pantas.
| Pantaleon Torres.
Councillors + Jose Trinidad.
| Francisco Carreon.
| Aguedo del Rosario.
| Vicente Molina.
| Alejandro Santiago.
\ Jose T. Santiago.
"In Tondo existed the popular Council Catagalugan presided over by
Alejandro Santiago; and the sections Cabuhayan, Catotohanan, Pagtibain,
Calingaan and Bagongsilang, presided over by Hilarion Cruz, Braulio
Rivera, Cipriano Pacheco, Nicolas Rivera, and Deogracias Fajardo.
"In Sta. Cruz the popular Council Laonlaan presided over by Julian
Nepomuceno, and the sections Tanglao and Dimas Alang [9] by Procopio
Bonifacio and Restituto Javier.
"In Trozo the popular Council Dapitan [10] presided over by Francisco
Carreon, and the sections Silanganan and Alapaap, by Juan de la Cruz
and R. Concha.
"In Binondo the popular Council Ilog Pasig by Faustino Manalac.
"In Concepcion and Dilao (Paco) the popular Council Mahiganti,
presided over by Rafael Gutierrez, and the sections Panday and Ilog
with a delegation in Ermita.
"But why continue? It would not be exaggerating to assert that the
fourth of the native population pertained to the Katipunan, and the
task of consigning more names would be useless, as nothing new would
be discovered.
"Astounding is the number of the initiated; in Manila and its province
alone they exceed 14,000, and in the provinces of Cavite, Batangas,
Laguna and Nueva Ecija there are no less than 20,000. Adding to
this number those of the remainder of Luzon, the total will ascend
to an enormous mass of "illusioned" who bowed in obedience to an
inquisitous schemer. It must be recognized, however, that Bonifacio
is not a common man; of active character, energetic and bold, gifted
with a facility of expression in his language which suggested itself
to his countrymen; of a criterion clear but badly cultivated by the
reading of books of an elevated style and a pernicious character [11]
and possessed of an unfathomable ambition--such was the warehouse
porter who had charge of the store house of the foreign commercial
house of Fressel and Co. in Calle Nueva, Binondo [12].
"His proclamations, pamphlets, and circulars although not a model of
literature were possessed of a certain amount of culture.
"In Calle Clavel, in the dwelling house of Alejandro Santiago, the
Katipunan possessed a secret printing establishment, in which were
prepared many most injurious and insulting publications. There also was
edited and published the paper Kalayaan (Liberty) (93) which only twice
saw the light and which was supposed to have been printed in Yokohama,
(it bearing the name of that town as the place of publication) and
was published over the signature of Marcelo H. del Pilar. This was
all false, all studied out for the purpose of throwing dust in the
eyes of the local authorities. The paper was edited by Bonifacio, his
brother-in-law Teodoro Plata and the secretary of the Supreme Council,
Emilio Jacinto, a young student of law, of no scanty intelligence.
"On the 19th of August last (1896) the conspiracy was denounced and
a great number of imprisonments were made by this Corps. Bonifacio
and those more closely connected with him in his schemes, fled aghast
to the neighboring pueblo of Caloocan and there remained hidden in
the house of the Capitan Municipal (a native) and in that of the
Capitan Pasado (also a native) Adriano de J, father-in-law to Andres
Bonifacio. On the 23rd Bonifacio set out for the barrio of Balintauac,
followed by some 200 inhabitants of Caloocan; on the 24th they were
combatted by the Civil Guard in the fields of the said pueblo and
fled to their former hiding place.
"The Supreme Council convoked a large assembly to be held on the
following day in the said barrio, to which gathered more than 500
members; there a discussion took place concerning the steps which
would have to be taken in view of the failure of the conspiracy, and
of the imprisonments which were being made. Some, feeling repentant,
desired to return to a legal status, submitting to the Spanish
authority but the president Bonifacio protested, proposing immediate
rebellion. Both propositions were put to the vote, and as a result,
that of the president gained by an immense majority; so much for the
prestige of Andres Bonifacio! (94).
"The orders were circulated with rapidity throughout Manila, Cavite,
Nueva Ecija and other provinces, commanding that armed rebellion
should commence at day-break of Sunday the 30th. The day and hour
assigned finally arrived, and the whole province of Manila broke out;
the rebels committing a thousand and one abuses and crimes upon as many
Europeans and loyal natives as were encountered. Like wild beasts they
attacked the waterworks and the powder station situated at San Juan
del Monte from whence they were valiantly driven back by a section
of artillery and another of the 70th regiment. Simultaneously they
attempted to invade the suburb of Sampaloc by way of Santa Mesa and
there also they were combatted and dispersed by 60 Veteran Guards
who prevented, by their defence, a day of mourning for the city of
Manila. All Cavite, except the capital, arose in insurrection on
the afternoon of the 31st., assassinating and disarming the whole
of the Civil Guard of the province, after an heroic defence on the
part of the latter. They assaulted the convents and estates of the
Religious Orders and murdered the defenseless ministers of the Lord
(95). On the 3rd of September the capital of Nueva Ecija was attacked
by large masses of rebels, and the colony [13] and the Civil Guard
heroically resisted until the arrival, from Manila, of a column which
combatted the enemy and saved that handful of Spaniards from a certain
death. But why continue to relate events so well known to all [14].