ka tony na banlawkasaysayan

Tondo Conspiracy of 1587-1588

2012-01-13T18:57:00.000-08:00

According to the earliest known written document found in the Philippines, the Laguna Copperplate - a legal document written in "Kawi," the former region of Tondo has already existed in the year 900 AD; hence, it is over eleven hundred years old. This document now at the National Museum of the Philippines claims that Tondo was ruled by a man called "Jayadeva" who holds the Sanskrit title "Senapati" or admiral.

Tondo was a rich region that in 1500 AD, the Kingdom of Brunei attacked the place and established a city called "Maynilad" on the opposite bank of the Pasig River. The traditional Lakandulas ruler of Tondo retained their titles and property, but the real political power was the River Lord Rajah Sulayman, the Rajahs of Maynilad dominating river traffic and exacting tolls from traders as they came and went. To show his power, Rajah Sulayman built a palisades of his “Kuta” the same spot where Intramuros is located.

When the Spaniards conquered Luzon in 1571, Tondo was part of the Province of Pampanga which at that time was the first colonial province. According to a census that was made by Miguel de Loarca in 1583, the people of Tondo reportedly spoke the same dialect as that spoken by the Kapampangans. The dividing line between Kapampangan (ka pampang) and Tagalog (taga-ilog) was the Pasig River, Pasig - an old Malayan word pertaining to the coast or strand. Tondo became a separate province in the later half of the Spanish colonial era and today's Tondo exists as the first district of the City of Manila.

The first provinces to rebel against Spain in 1896 was Tondo, about three hundred years earlier than Gat Andres Bonifacio and Gat Emilio Jacinto's KATIPUNAN, a prominent Filipinos conspired to overthrow the Spanish rule, though it was a failed attempt. It was mastermind by AGUSTIN DE LEGAZPI, nephew of Lakan Dula, son-in-law of the Sultan of Brunei and the grandson of conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, with his first cousin MARTIN PANGAN, who was then the Gobernadorcillo of Tondo. It was to be known as the Tondo Conspiracy of 1587-1588 or "The Conspiracy of The Maharlikas." It was a 19th-century Spanish civil servant, colonial administrator, biographer and a Filipiniana collector Wenceslao Retana relates in his, "La primera Conjuracion Separatista" in the country. The other conspirators were MAGAT SALAMAT - son of Lakan Dula and Chief of Tondo; JUAN BANAL - another Tondo chief and Salamat’s brother-in-law; GERONIMO BASI and GABRIEL TUAMBACAR - brothers of Agustin de Legazpi; PEDRO BALINGUIT - chief of Pandacan; FELIPE SALONGA - chief of Polo; DIONISIO CAPOLO (Kapulong) - chief of Candaba and brother of Felipe Salonga; JUAN BASI - chief of Taguig; ESTEBAN TAES (Tasi) - chief of Bulacan; FELIPE SALALILA - chief of Misil; AGUSTIN MANUGUIT - son of Felipe Salalila; LUIS AMANICALOA - chief of Tondo; FELIPE AMARLANGAGUI - chief of Caranglan; OMAGHICON - chief of Navotas and PITONGATAN - chief of Tondo.

The cause of conspiracy was the injustice committed by the Spanish Encomendieros against the people of the kingdom and their lack of respect to treaty obligations with the local aristocracy which reserved them the right to still exercise nominal suzerainty over the kingdom, being vassal kings of the king of Spain but still the Generals of Conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi refused to listen. These Maharlika chieftains in their environs who willed to give up their land property for the noble purpose.

In 1857, Augustin de Legazpi enlisted the help and had made contact with a Japanese sea captain Juan Gayo, through a Japanese Christian and interpreter, Dionisio Fernandez who had also joined the conspiracy in the house of Legazpi in Tondo. A secret agreement was concluded in which Captain Gayo would supply arms and recruited soldiers from Japan to help the Filipino rebellion and recognize Augustin de Legazpi as king of the Philippine kingdom. In reciprocity, Captain Gayo and the Japanese samurais would receive one-half of the tribute to be collected from the natives after they have defeated the Spaniards. They all swore solemnly according to licentiate Ayala in a letter to Philip II, "according to their custom to keep and fulfill the agreement." Choosing after the "Sandugo - a King, captains and officers at war." Before Goyo's departure, he gave several weapons to Legazpi to be distributed to his men.

Later, a secret meeting that lasted for three days was called in Tambobong (now Malabon) by Magat Salamat. Those who attended where chiefs of Pandacan, Tondo, Candaba, Polo, Catangalan, Navotas with "other Indian timagwas, servants and slaves." The final plan of the uprising was to become completely enforceable. First - a secret delegation would travel to Borneo to secure combat troops and ships from the Sultan of Borneo. Second - obtain the support and participation of the natives of Laguna and Komintang (now Batangas) in this struggle for freedom. Once a full commitment was received from Borneo, Komintang and Laguna, the armed rebellion would begin upon the arrival at the Manila Bay of the Sultan of Borneo’s warships with warriors on board. The conspirators and their armed warriors would then launch a ferocious attack to completely annihilate the Spaniards and then set the city on fire.

By 1588, no word yet received from Japanese Goyo, But when the Maharlikas heard the news of the capture Spanish galleon Santa Ana in February, they again prepared for battle. This time aiming to attack swiftly the moment the Spanish guns in Maynilad were turned toward the sea, waiting to fire at the arrival of the English privateer Cavendish, that never came. Few days later, the chiefs of Bulacan, Esteban Taes and Martin Pangan agreed to call another meeting. Taes was to call all the Maharlikas from Tondo to Bulacan, rally the men of Laguna and Komintang. All the conspirators agreed to send Magat Salamat to the Calamianes (islands north of Palawan) to invite the Sultan of Brunei to send a fleet that would join the Sulus and launch an attack against Maynilad from the sea in conjunction with the Filipino chiefs' assault on land. It would have been a good plan climaxed by an epic battle had it not been for a turncoat who betrayed the conspiracy and reported it to the Spanish authorities.

"The plan was that when the Spanish enemy fleet Burney reached the port of Cavite and the Spaniards trustfully called the Maharlikas to their aid, they would all immediately enter the houses of the Spaniards with their men, fortify themselves in them and thus take possession of them one by one. If the Spaniards took refuge in the fortress, Indian soldiers would follow them and being two to one, they would surely kill the Spaniards."

By November 1588, on the way to meet with the Sultan of Brunei, Magat Salamat, Juan Banal and Augustin Manuguit stopped at Cuyo, Calamianes, to meet with its native chief Sumaclob. The chief was swayed to join the conspiracy and pledge to contribute 2,000 of his men for the cause. However, Magat Salamat made an error in judgment by soliciting the participation of another Cuyo native Antonio Surabao, chief of the encomienda of the Spanish captain Pedro Sarmiento. Upon learning of the secret plan, Surabao rushed to expose it to his master Captain Sarmiento, the Spanish encomendero of Calamianes. Magat Salamat, Banal and Manuguit were apprehended, Captain Sarmiento hastily traveled to Manila and informed Governor Santiago de Vera on October 26, 1588 of a brewing conspiracy against Spanish rule. The governor immediately ordered the arrest of all persons implicated in the revolutionary plot. Everyone was thoroughly investigated, tried in court, and made to suffer cruel punishments. To the Spanish authorities, the conspirators were nothing more than traitors, but to the Filipino people, they were brave liberators, martyrs of a lost cause.

Augustin de Legazpi and Martin Pangan were brutally hanged, their heads cut off and exposed on the gibbet in iron cages; their properties, assets were seized by the Spanish authorities and the sites of their homes plowed and sown with salt so that they would remain barren. Magat Salamat was also hanged, his goods were to be employed for the erection of the new fortress of Maynilad. Before he was hanged, Salamat appeled to the Royal Audiencia, but his case was remitted to the governor in order that justice might be done - except that the goods were to be set aside for the treasury. The sentence was executed.

The Japanese Christian interpreter, Dionisio Fernandez was also hanged and his property confiscated. Dionisio Capolo (Kapulong), chief of Candaba (Pampanga) was sentenced to exile from his town and made to pay a heavy fine. Governor Santiago de Vera pardoned him. Later he served as a guide and interpreter for two Spanish expeditions to the Igorot country in 1591 and 1594. The other five leading members of the Tondo Conspiracy were exiled to Mexico - Pedro Balinguit (chief of Pandacan), Pitongatan (chief of Tondo), Felipe Salonga (chief of Polo), Calao (chief of Tondo), and Agustin Manuguit (chief of Tondo). They were the very first Filipinos to reside in Mexico.

And so the first rebels from Tondo died, it wasn’t until during the late nineteenth-century when their martyrdom be duplicated. However, unlike the Maharlika Conspiracy of 1587-1588, this time it was the members of Manila’s working class and not the heads of prominent families who were mainly the mind and force behind it. Three of their district-mates Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto and Macario Sakay followed their footsteps.

The significance of the Tondo Conspiracy, aside from its purely political motivation, lay in the fact that it was not just the conspiracy of Tondo, but practically all the Datus, Lakans and Rajahs in the Tagalog region from Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Bulacan, besides the Pampangos, who were involved owing to the participation of Dionisio Capolong of Candaba. In 1587-1588 therefore, the old lines of contact of "ka pampang" and "taga ilog" Maharlikas by Pasig River Valley which had made the ethnic state of Manila possible, were still unbroken, were in fact extended down to Sulus and Brunei. It was evidently only in moment of crisis of this nature that the Spaniards became aware of the extent of the political inter-connection.

ka tony
the 13th of January, 2012

Marka Demonyo "Ginebra San Miguel"

2012-01-07T22:46:00.000-08:00

...Ginebra San Miguel originally owned by the Recoletos' Fathers like "Cervesa San Miguel" (San Miguel Beer). The Ayalas who were part owners needed a label for their "Ginebra" (Gin) line. They commissioned a young fine arts student from UP to design a label that will neutralize the "strong" alcohol content of their product. One of our country’s national artists, in his effort to put food on his family’s table, as well as earn enough money to afford the materials he needed to pursue his passion for painting, took on other jobs, including that as a commercial illustrator. The artist came up with a design "Marca Demonyo" by then unknown artist Fernando Amorsolo.

When Enrique Zobel de Ayala took notice of this label, he summoned the young man and funded his advanced studies in Madrid. Thus, this particular creation of his done during his day job as an illustrator, also gave him the opportunity to further develop his skills as a fine artist. Amorsolo grew up in the carefree setting of the province although he was born in Manila. When his father died, the family moved back to the city to stay with his maternal uncle, Fabian de la Rosa, one of the country’s distinguished painters and who was to become one of his early teachers in the realm of fine arts, along with Miguel Zaragoza and Rafael Enriquez. He would also become one of the first graduates of the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts.

Later Ginebra San Miguel, because of its high alcohol content that gave a bad image to their religious order, the Recoletos' Fathers and the Ayalas sold the brand to Carlos Palanca, of Tondo. Carlos Palanca after obtaining Ginebra San Miguel, also bought "Distelleria La Locomotera" from the Ubedas, in 1902. He introduced an industrial innovation by switching to molasses and deriving alcohol from it. During those days molasses was considered a waste by-product of sugar cane. Don Carlos Palanca, established his distillery in Velasquez, Tondo and named his corporation "La Tondena Incorporada" (The Incorporation from Tondo). Don Carlos Palanca was a philanthropist, benefactor founder of the "Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature." Don Carlos Palanca's real name was TAN GUIN LAY originally from Amoy, Fukien who went to the wealthy city of Manila. He was looking for a job and connection, he went to Chinese Gobernadorcillo of Manila's China Town for help. Once established, TAN GUIN LAY was baptist to Catholicism, made his baptismal sponsor the Gobernadorcillo and also adopted the name of his Godfather "Carlos Palanca."

Like TAN GUIN LAY (Don Carlos Palanca of La Tondena), his Godfather - the Chinese Gobernadorcillo of Manila's China Town - "Carlos Palanca" adopted his Godfather's name when he was baptist to Catholicism. The real Colonel Carlos Palanca y Gutierrez, was a Spanish leader in the Franco-Spanish war of 1858-62 in Cohin, China, later assigned in Manila. The former TAN QUIEN-SIEN born in T’ung-an hsien, migrated to the Philippines in 1844. "Carlos Palanca" (fr;Tan Quien-sien), attained the position of Gobernadorcillo from 1875-89, he obtain a Chinese consulate in Manila because of the growing wealth from the Manila/Acapulco, Galleon Trade. He was the "Al Capone" of the first and the biggest "China Town" in the world Ongpin.

Gobernadorcillo "Carlos Palanca was only twenty years old when arrived in Manila, he had risen as a powerful leader in the Chinese community. His wealth stemmed from importing enterprises, which included sugar and rice. He was also involved in coolie brokerage. Besides the businesses that he presided over, there were many commercial ventures in which his investments raked in enormous profits.

He played a major role in the community’s efforts to obtain a Chinese consulate in Manila during the 1880s and 1890s. When the Americans took control of the country in 1898, he provided the American troops with temporary lodging arrangements, as well as furnished them with coolies to build their barracks. Subsequently, he urged the Ch’ing government to negotiate with the United States for a Chinese consulate in Manila. When the consulate was established in 1899, the Ch’ing government appointed his son, Ignacio Palanca Tan Chueco, to the position of first consul.

When the Philippine Revolution broke out he chose to keep distance; not committing to either side. When the Spanish government charged a number of mestizos with conspiracy, he argued in behalf of some of them and helped secure their release, though his attitude toward the Chinese mestizos was one of contempt. Not a believer of inter-racial marriage, he sent his son to a school in China to thwart his Filipinization.

The Spanish and Filipinos on the other hand, regarded "Carlos Palanca" with mixed sentiments. Their pervasive perception of him was that of a master corrupter; one who would resort to extreme measures just to get what he wanted.

He was thought of as a man obsessed with becoming the Chinese consul. He did assume the interim role of which when his son’s return from China was delayed for several months; unable to immediately fulfill his appointment as consul.

There were speculations among the Filipino intellectuals that Jose Rizal modeled after Don Carlos Palanca his character of Chinaman "Quiroga" in "El Filibusterismo." Jose Alejandrino, a friend of Rizal, confirmed that it was indeed the case. Alejandrino further claimed that Don Carlos Palanca approached Aguinaldo, when he was forming his revolutionary government about the possibility of creating an opium monopoly, but Aquinaldo refused. Despite such controversies, he was, undoubtedly, a powerful force in the Chinese community during the late nineteenth century. When he died in 1901, a statue was erected in the Chinese cemetery as a tribute to his community service and philanthropy.

ka tony
revised 8th of Jan., 2012

January 10, 1893 - The Trial of Filipino/Creole Painter Juan Luna y Novicio.

2012-01-07T17:56:00.000-08:00

Juan Luna was tried before the criminal court for the murder of his wife Maria de la Paz Pardo de Tavera & his mother in law, in Paris, France. On December 8, 1886, Luna married Paz, a sister of his friends Felix & Trinidad Pardo de Tavera. The couple traveled to Europe and settled in Paris in a rented house called Villa Dupont. The mother of Paz, Dona Juana paid half of the rent and household expenses. Living with them was also Juan's younger brother Antonio, who was studying pharmacy. They had one son, whom they named Andres and a daughter nicknamed Bibi who died in infancy & this started the rift between Paz and Luna because he was extremely fond of the baby girl. He believe that Bibi's death was due to Paz's indifference and neglect.

Paz had remarked to her mother that she no longer loved her husband and that she actually hated him. As she was suffering from asthma and was poor in health, Paz left for a month's vacation in the thermal baths of Mont Dore. There she met a Frenchman named Dussag with whom she allegedly began an affair, the liaison continued after her return to Paris. Paz marriage to Juan Luna has become more problematic when Luna in a fit of jealousy or anger would physically harm Paz. Trinidad Hermenegildo, her brother Felix and their mother Dona Juliana combined all their efforts in preserving the marriage, but due to the increased physical abuse suffered by Paz, they decided that divorce was the only choice left. The very jealous Luna frequently accused his wife Paz of having an affair with Monsieur Dussaq.

About a fortnight later Luna followed his wife to a house of assignation at 25 Mont Thabor. He failed to find her there and questioned the porter, who denied that any woman had been in the house. While there Luna met Dussaq, he shook hands with him even if he knew the Frenchman was his wife's lover. He quarreled with his wife often and three days before the tragedy, Luna bought a large-caliber revolver and the same night threatened Paz with death unless she signed a confession of her infidelity. When she refused to acknowledge that she had carnal relations with another man he fired the gun in the air. Tearful Dona Juliana begged her daughter to sign the confession.

Dona Juliana was scared of the brothers Luna and once said "When Juan gets angry, he becomes frenetic and not himself; in other words he becomes a brute!" She noted the temper of the two Lunas "who have the character of madmen" She related that Antonio, for three days after a quarrel with Jose Rizal, wanted to fight the latter and "only God and his friends could appease him for he simply wanted to kill Rizal. They are rancorous and vengeful!"

Because of the two women's complains about Luna's outbursts Trinidad called Filipino barrister Antonio Regidor in London to come to Paris and to find a solution to the matter. He wired his brother Felix vacationing in Berck-sur-mer, to return. Trinidad consulted a lawyer friend, Monsieur Toulouse. At nine o'clock the following morning, Thursday, September 22, 1892, Trinidad and his brother Felix were taking coffee in nearby cafe, when a housemaid came running to them with the news that Luna was threatening to shoot his wife and his mother in law.

Felix arrived at Villa Dupont ahead of Trinidad, refused to embrace his sister "unless she first told him the truth." Trinidad arrived saw Luna was downstairs talking to Antonio Rigedor, who had just got there. After several minutes they left, but until they had advised the two women to lock themselves in the room. The Pardo brothers had barely sat down in the cafe with Rigedor when the housemaid again came running to tell them she heard shouting from the second floor. The two rushed to the house, they saw Dona Juliana at the window screaming for help and upon seeing them shouted, "don't enter my sons he is armed with a revolver!"

Luna appeared at the window of the salon and warned, "I'll kill the first one who enters!" Holding a revolver in the first floor while Paz, their son Andres and Dona Juliana are in a room in the second floor. When Felix started to approach, Luna fired a shot that hit him in the chest. Luna then entered the bedroom, whose door the women forgot to lock. He pointed the gun at the mother's head, she had covered her ears with her hands and Luna pulled the trigger. Paz ran to the window, but Luna caught her and shot her in the head. When Trinidad entered the second floor room, he found his mother and sister shot in the head, his mother dead and his sister barely alive but unconscious. Paz died on October 8 at 6:15 pm without regaining consciousness. Several accounts have related that both Paz and Juliana had been shot through the doorknob as they tried to block Luna’s jabs and kicks. However, the big gaping gunshot wounds in the heads of Paz and Juliana could only have been achieved at point blank range.

Police arrived minutes later and from the window Luna told them, "Come up I won't harm you." The revolver was on top of the table and when the porter picked it up, Luna said, "Careful porter, it is still loaded." On February 7,1893 - Luna was acquitted of charges on the grounds of temporary insanity and since he was born in Asia and a Malay he had a "Juramentado" tendency and could not be held responsible for his violent action. He was ordered to pay the Pardo de Taveras a sum of one thousand six hundred fifty one francs and eighty three cents, in addition to the interest of damages. Five days later, Luna went to Madrid with his brother Antonio Luna and his son, Andres. Luna suffered some depression while in Europe. He went back to the Philippines a broken man in 1896.

Juan & Paz, son Andres Luna was later to win fame in Manila as an architect. Famous buildings on the Escolta, Manila's most elegant thoroughfare after the war, was considered his masterpieces. Parisian Regina Building, Art deco Perez - Samanillo building and the edifice known as Crystal Arcade. Andres also was the designer of the Arlegui House, the residence of former president Corazon Aquino during her term, was married to Grace Mcrae. The couple didn’t have a child.

ka tony
revised the 7th of January, 2012

Ilustrados - Idios - Tagalog

2011-12-09T12:18:00.000-08:00

Sa lahat ng naging kolonya ng Espana, Pilipinas lang ang bukod tanging masang lipunan "Indio/Tagalog" ang nagtaas ng kanilang kamao at sinimulan ang himagsikan laban sa kolonyalistang Kastila. Hindi tulad ng kolonyang Mexico na mismong mga Kastila at Creoles na ipinanganak at Mestizos doon ang siyang nangaghimagsik at humiwalay sa "Madre Espana." Ganoon din ang mga kolonyang bansa sa Sur America na tuloy ipinaghati-hati sa iba't ibang bayan. Ang triangulong hagdanan ng lipunan noon sa Pilipinas ay pinanggugunahan sa itaas ng mga sumusunod:

1) Kastilang naninirahan sa kolonyang Pilipinas na ipinanganak sa Espania - PENISULARES
2) Mga anak ng purong Kastila na ipinanganak sa Pilipinas - INSULARES/FILIPINO/CREOLES
3) Anak ng isang Kastila at Indio - MESTIZO
4) Purong dugong Pilipino o Katutubo - INDIO/TAGALOG
5) Insik - SANGLEY

Maraming hindi nakakaalam na karamihan sa mga "Kastila" na nagtungo sa Pilipinas ay hindi purong Kastila nang Espana kung hindi mga Mexicano, tulad nila Legaspi, Goiti, Salcedo, Urdaneta at marami pa. Dahil sa "Spanish Inquisition" ang mga Kastilang Muslim at Hudyo ay nangagsilisan at nagibangbayan, karamihan'y naging marino at nanatili sa "bagong mundong" Amerika. Marami sa kanila'y tinago ang tunay nilang pagkatao, pinalitan ang tunay nilang pangalan, pananampalataya at lahi ng dumating at nananirahan sila sa "Central at Sur America." Sa Amerika patuloy ang diskriminasyon sa kulay ng balat, kaya ang bawat baytang sa hagdanan ng lipunan ay may kategorya at tawag. Hindi tulad sa kolonyang Pilipinas na lima lamang ang triangulong hagdanan ng lipunan, sa Mexico na kanilang pinangaligan ay napakaraming baytang, katergorya at tawag sa kanilang lipunan:

1) Kastila at Indian - MESTIZO
2) Mestizo at Kastila - CASTIZO
3) Castizo at Kastila - ESPANOL
4) Kastila at Itim - MULATTO
5) Mulatto at Kastila - MORISCO
6) Morisco at Kastila - ALBINO
7) Albino at Kastila - SALTAPATRAS (tumalong pabalik)
8) Saltapatras at Indian - CHINO (kulot na buhok)
9) Chino at Mulatto - LOBO
10) Lobo at Mulatto - JIBARO (kalawang)
11) Jibaro at Indian - ALBARAZADO
12) Albarazado at Itim - CAMBUJO
13) Albarazado at Mulatto - BARCINO (pula)
14) Albarazado at Indian - NOTENTIENDO (hindi maintindihan)
15) Barcino at Mulatto - COYOTE
16) Coyote at Indian - CHAMIZO

Ang Plipinas ay napakalayo sa Europa, naging madaling marating na lang ito nang gawin at buksan ang maikling daang Suez Canal sa Ehipto patungong Espana. Naging madali, mabilis at naging mura ang patugong Espana nang buksan ang Suez Canal, tuloy ang mga Ilustradong tulad ni Rizal ay nakapagaral bukod sa maigsi, mura pa ang paglalakbay. Subalit bago nabuksan ang maigsing daan sa Suez Canal ang "corrupt" na Galleon Trade ay nasa sukdulan na kabuktutang pagyaman! Ang pagpapadala at pagbebenta ng mga kalakal na gawa at galing sa Silangang Asya sa Acapulco, Mexico muna ibinabagsak at nilalako, bago ang iba naman nito'y ipinapasa sa Espana na dumadaan sa dagat Atlantiko. Kaya naman ang "Caribbean pirates" ay lumaganap at napasimulan ang "slave trading" pagpapalitan nang naagaw na kalakal mula sa barkong Kastila, para sa ginto/salapi, "molasses/rum" at kapalit sa mga itim na alipin sa Afrika. Ang mga Peninsulares, Insulares/Filipino at mga Mestizos ay walang interes na maghimagsik o humiwalay sa "Madre Espana," ang Espana naman ay walang pakialam sa nangyayaring "corruption" ng Galleon Trade habang ang Kolonyang Filipinas ay nagbibigay sa kanila ng buwis. Ang pamahalaang Cortes ng kolonyang Filipinas, simbahan, mga Peninsulares, Insulares/Filipino, mestizong Kastila at Insik ang nangagsiyaman sa "corrupt" na pamamaraan ng Galleon Trade. Ang mga "Indio/Tagalog" ay pawang naging mga alipin sa kanilang sariling bayan.

Nang magbalik sa Pilipinas ang mayayamang mga Ilustrado na nakapag-aral sa Espana, sila ay tinatrato at tinatawag pa rin na "Indio/Tagalog" ng mga Peninsulares, Insulares/Filipino at Mestizos. Kaya naman ang mga Ilustrado na tulad ni Rizal ay nagsikap na magkaroon ng reporma para sa tulad nilang mga Ilustrado na makapantay sa lipunan ang mga ito. Hindi tulad ng masang Indio/Tagalog na naghimagsik para sa kalayaan ng Pilipinas laban sa koloyalistang Kastila, ang mga Ilustrado'y tumatangging humiwalay at ibig na maging probinsya ang Pilipinas ng "Madre Espana."

Sa laking paghanga ni Bonifacio sa sinimulan ni Rizal na La Liga Filipina, si Bonifacio dito ay sumapi. Ang mga orihinal na kasapi rito'y unti-unting nagsipagkalas, dahilan sa magkaibang prinsipyo, paniniwala at inggitan ng talino. Binuo na muli ito ni Bonifacio at hanggang sa bandang huli'y nagbunga rito ang himagsikang samahang KATIPUNAN na ipinundar sa isang bahay sa kanto ng calle Elcano at Azcarraga. Ang sinimulang pamahalaan ni Bonifacio ay isang "SOSYALISTANG" ideyolohiya na ang layunin ay...

1. Kunin, ibalik at ipaghati-hati ang mga lupa, kayamanan at ari-ariang kinamkam, inagaw, inilit at ninakaw ng mga Prayle at mga dayuhang Kastila sa mga mahihirap at mga magsasakang Pilipino.

2. Kalayaan ng Pilipinas mula sa mga Kastila at iba pang kolonyalista.

3. Ibagsak ang eletistang lipunan na pinasimulan ng mga Kastila at itaguyod ang pantay-pantay na lipunan.

Ang mga Ilustrado tulad nina Rizal, Luna, Lopez Jaena, Marcelo del Pilar, at iba pa ay mga Pilipinong naka-aangat sa kahirapan at karamihan ay nakapag-aral sa Europa. Ang iba naman ay mga "Penisulares/Filipino/Creoles" tulad ni Luna na ang simpatya ay sa mga Kastila. Sa katunayan, si Antonio Luna na creoles ay isa sa mga nagsumbong sa mga Kastila sa lihim na samahang Katipunan, isa rin ay ang Cura Paroco ng Tondo si Padre Gil. Sa bandang huli na lang sumapi si Luna, kay Aguinaldo nang ating kadigma na ay ang mga Amerikano. Ang mga Ilustrado na ang layunin lang ay reporma na ayaw sumapi sa himagsikan, kanilang inaalala ang kanilang kapakanan, kayamanan at interes na magkapuesto sa pamahalaang Kastila. Subalit nang hindi sila kilalanin ng mga "elitistang Kastila" at ang himagsikan ay pumutok na, ang mga Ilustrado ay walang mabalingan, ang mga ito ay napilitang makisapi na rin sa himagsikan na sinimulan ng masang Pilipino ni Bonifacio. Subalit ang mga ito ay tumatanggi na mapasailalim sa isang masang pinuno o opisya, nais nila na sila ang mamuno at alisin o asasinahin ang mga kasalukuyang masang Tagalog na mumuno dito. Si Rizal na tutol sa himagsikan na habang siya ay pinatapon ng mga Kastila sa Dapitan, siya ay nagprisintang maging manggagamot ng mga sugatang sundalong Kastila sa nangyayaring himagsikan sa Cuba.

Nang maging kolonya tayo ng Amerika, sinimulan naman nila ang kampanyang "win the hearts & minds of the people." Tulad ng mga kolonyalistang Kastila, sila rin ay nagpatayo ng paaralan, mga gurong puti na kung tawagin ay "Thomasian," at ang pamahalaang Amerikano ang sumulat ng kasaysayan ng Pilipinas para sa atin, kasabay nito ay itunuro ang kanilang kasaysayan at kultura. Itinago sa mundo lalo na sa ating mga Pilipino ng mga kolonyalistang mananakop ang tunay na kasaysayan ng ating lahi, upang sa ganoon ay mapagtakpan ang kanilang ginawang mga krimen, pagnanakaw nang likas ng ating bayan, pagangkin nang tagumpay, pagbura sa ating isipan nang katutubong kultura. Unti-unti tayong hinuhulma na maging "brown american" ngunit isang "inferior american." Ang mga tunay na bayani natin tulad nina Macario Sakay na pinag-patuloy ang himagsikan laban sa kolonyalistang gringo ay ipinalabas nilang mga "Bandolero" o mga tulisan.

Bahagi ng "benevolent assimilation" ng pamahalaang Amerikano ang pagpili kay Jose Rizal na maging "National Hero" natin, isang ulirang bayani na "peace loving Filipino" dahil nga't tumangi siya sa himagsikan na hindi tulad ng "mapusok na terorista at rebeldeng" Bonifacio sa mga mata ng kolonyalista. Na "brain wash" tayo na "peace loving people" at tayo naman ay naniwala, kahit hirap na hirap na pinagsasamantalahan ng mga kolonyalistang gringo at ibang dayuhan. Mula 1898 hanggang sa lutong pakana ng CIA na "peaceful people power" ang gringong "puppeteer" ang nagpapatakbo sa ating "puppet" na pamahalaan.

-- ka tony -ika 4 ng Hulyo, 2011

Ang larawan sa itaas ay ang orihinal na bahay sa kanto ng calle Elcano at Azcarraga, na kung saan ipinundar ni Gat Andres Bonifacio ang KATIPUNAN.

Mysteries Behind The Philippine Flag

2011-05-28T00:41:00.000-07:00

"Hinanakit sa Pagbalik"

Bakit, Pilipino, puso mo'y malaki
tila basang papel, kaytagal magsindi,
ngunit pag nag-alab ay kugon sa liksi
kung matupok yaong poot mong matindi?

Kapag may nanguna sa paghihimagsik,
ikaw ay uupo muna't magmamasid,
kung sino'ng manalo, doon ka sisiksik
at magmamalaking ikaw ay tumindig.

Pagkat ang ibig mo'y ikaw ang mamuno,
yaong nangunguna'y pilit igugupo,
agad hihiwalay kapag nasiphayo - -
bakit mithing laya'y 'di maisapuso?

Kasaysayan natin ay paulit-ulit:
kung may Lapulapu'y may Zulang pumanig
sa dayong Kastila; kay Sulaymang tagis
ay may Lakandulang kalis ng pagtalik.

Kahinaan natin ang magwatak-watak:
kilusan ng masang Tundo ang naglunsad
windang sa Cavite at nagpangkat-pangkat - -
halos amba pa lang, himagsika'y wasak!

Bakit tayu-tayo itong naglalaban,
bakit 'di maglaho iyong kasibaan,
bakit 'di mawala ang pag-uulutan,
ang onor ng iba bakit inaagaw?

- - mula sa isang chapter sa tulang epiko ni Tony Donato - "VIVORA"

From our school history text books to some history books of today, which our "Big brother America" wrote for us said that the Philippine flag was sewn by Marcela Marino de Agoncillo with the help of her daughter Lorenza and Delfina Herbosa de Natividad in Hong Kong. It was based on the "design" of Emilio Aquinaldo, though to some it was Feliciano Jocson, a treasurer of the Katipunan under Andres Bonifacio who really designed the flag. Jocson who also fought in the revolutionary war of 1896, according to Gen. Artemio "Vivora" Ricarte, Jocson saw a Cuban flag while reading a newspaper and with this he designed a flag which became the basis for the flag we are using today. Ricarte added that Aquinaldo can not claim in designing the flag, because even before he returned to the Philippines from his self exile in Hong Kong in 1898, it was already being used by Gregorio del Pilar's men, "Tropa ng Pasong Balite" who were left behind by del Pilar and was with Aquinaldo in Hong Kong. The same flag was displayed in Battle of Alapan, in Imus Cavite, on May 28, 1898 -- known today as the Philippine Flag Day.

The original design of the flag adopted a mythical sun with a face, a symbol common to several former Spanish colonies like Cuba & Puerto Rico. The similarity of the Philippine flag with these two countries' flag were seen at the Treaty of Paris, where Spanish commissioners argued that Manila (Intramuros) the only remaining city which Filipino revolutionaries have not yet claimed because of the requested of their American ally, Spanish-Manila not had surrendered after the ceasefire and that the Philippines could not be demanded as a war conquest, but they eventually yielded. The treaty specified that Spain would cede her remaining island colonies; Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines with Guam to the United States for 20 million dollars. Based on anecdotal evidence and the few surviving flags from the era, historians argue that the colors of the original Philippine flag were the same blue and red as found on the flag of Cuban and Puerto Rico. From one of the founders of "La Solidaridad" Mariano Ponce, remembered about the original "colors" that the blue is "azul oscuro (dark blue)" between "azul marino (navy blue)" and "azul cielo (sky blue)."

The three stars on the Philippine flag symbolize Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The 8 rays represent the 8 provinces that took part in the revolution against the Spain; Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga/Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna and Batangas. Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, who wrote the Philippine Declaration of Independence, who read and explained it on the occasion of its proclamation on June 12, 1898 added that these eight provinces were declared in a state of war almost from the start of the revolution. It says that the white triangle of Masonry signifies the emblem of the Katipunan, the secret society that opposed Spanish rule.

So where are the Visayans who also raised their arms against Spain? The Magbanuas, Papa Faustino, The Pulajanes, Dagohoy, Papa Rios, were they forgotten by Aquinaldo? Mindanao was also excluded, is it because the Spaniards went only as far as Zamboanga and didn't stayed long. They have to built Port de Pilar to protect themselves from the fierce Muslims who refused their presences. The Spaniards failed in Mindanao, so as the Americans and the Japanese armed forces during WW II. Gen. Arthur MacArthur's caliber 38 can't stop the "invisible Moros" already been hit but still can attack, slash, kill them with their bolos, they have to request US armory to produced a more powerful caliber that gave us the now caliber 45. So if Mindanao was not colonized by any imperialist country, why was Mindanao included to the purchase of $20 million at the Treaty of Paris? The Americans knew it and decided to keep quiet, while acting like it was part of the purchase. Because of the Treaty of Paris purchase of the Philippines by America, our fight for freedom & resistance on their colonization was branded as an "insurrection" and not a revolution.

The slash on "Pampanga/Tarlac" is mine, the NHC wanted to take "Bataan" out of the original eight provinces that took part in the initial revolution against the Spain and replaced by "Tarlac." Pampanga borders Tarlac and its confusing how Aquinaldo or Jocson who claimed they designed the flag missed this problem. How can they forget the great and honest Gen. Francisco Makabulos and Gen. Servillano Aquino the grand father of Ninoy Aquino who are both from Tarlac? Aguinaldo made his last stand in Tarlac before he fled to the mountainous North where he was eventually captured by the Americans. It was in Tarlac where the Republic fell as the Philippine-American War deteriorated into scattered guerrilla operations. These are not the only questions that needed answers just on our flag alone. Why did Aquinaldo replaced Bonifacio's Katipunan flag, is it because of the new revolutionary government created at the controversial Tejeros convention? Why did Aquinaldo needed an election, change of government and a new flag, when the revolution is still going on and independence is not yet accomplished? It is the same problem that the Philippines is going through from the time of Aquinaldo to the present... GREED! We lost a lot of good Filipinos who could have made our country great again, as great as when the Philippines was the center of trade during Asia's great maritime empire of SRI VIJAYA which was even before that lamed navigator Magellan claimed he "discovered" the Philippines.

ka tony
the 28th of May, 2011

The Assassination of Governor Bustamante in 1719 Was the First Recorded People Power.

2011-02-26T20:24:00.000-08:00

Vigan born Ventura de los Reyes a wealthy merchant and member of the Royal Corps of Artillery of Manila, who took part in the Ilocos revolt led by Diego Silang in 1762, was the Filipino representative to the Spanish Cortes - 1810-1813. He wanted the abolition of the galleon trade, he gave the reason to the Spanish court that it brought vast wealth to only a few while the masses of Manila and Acapulco suffered. It's also the main cause of graft and corruption between the colonial government, rich merchants and the church. This became one of the reasons caused by the assassination of Governor Marshal Fernando Manuel de Bustamante y Bustillo was the first recorded "PEOPLE POWER" also led by the Catholic Church in the Philippines! Before he became the Governor General of the Philippines, Bustamante was the Mayor of Tlaxacala, Mexico. Upon arrival in Manila, Bustamante discovered that the treasury contained a mere pittance of gold and silver, but thousands of promissory notes and receipts of sums due to Spain.

Bustamante embargo galleon ships like Santo Cristo de Burgos who avoided payment, seized goods and properties of rich merchants who owed the Public Treasury money. He pursue investigation of activities of the persons who held royal offices in trust before arrival. As a result, Auditor General Antonio Torralba and many royal officials were found guilty in book-keeping, allowing funds to disappear without accounting. Upon Bustamante's investigation, he learned there were corruption involved on the part of the government, rich Spanish, Chinese merchants and the clergy! Many arrested, imprisoned, seizure of their properties, Spanish population into a tumult! Guilty party who have not been investigated or arrested sought help from heads of religious orders. Bustamante learning the conspiracy and plot against him, decided to call on imprisoned Antonio Torralba who, sensing a chance at freedom agreed to cooperate.

Bustamante, appointed a new Audencia, which then arrested more guilty Spanish, Chinese and members of different religious order. Later Don Antonio de Osejo, a notary public took sanctuary in the church like the others and took with him records of his office. The Audencia then issued a decree requiring Archbishop Francisco de la Cuesta to return the records, which the Archbishop refused. The archbishop complained and later excommunicated Bustamante who in turn
issued a call to arms, jailed de la Cuesta and other powerful religious personages in Fort Santiago. October, 1719 intense situation and the streets of Manila was deserted. The night came, convent of St. Augustine opened, out came a procession of friars and "the religious" chanting... "Long live the faith ...Long live the church! ...Long live King Felipe V!" ...and they were joined by people of all classes.

Next morning, bells ringing, mob in the street towards the Governor's palace...

"The Franciscans, Dominicans and Augustinians came out from their convents, each as a body, carrying in their hands crucifixes and shouting, ‘Long Live the Church! Long Live King Felipe V!’… they were joined by people of all classes and proceeded to the Church of San Agustin…
The governor who was roused from his sleep and informed of the arrival of the mob sprang up and ordered the guards to keep back the crowd… He dispatched an order to the fort to discharge artillery at the crowd; but he was so little obeyed that, although they applied a match to two cannons, these where aimed so low that the balls were buried in the middle of the esplanade of the fort.
Without opposition, this multitude arrived at the doors of the palace… As for the soldiers of the guard, some retreated in fear, and others in terror laid down their arms. The mob climbed up by ladders and entered the first hall, the halberdiers not firing the swivel-guns that had been provided, although the governor had commanded them to do so…
Bustamante attempted to discharge his gun at a citizen standing near and it missed fore; then the governor drew his saber and wounded the citizen; the latter, and with him all the rest at once attacked the governor. They broke him right arm, and a blow on his head from a saber caused him to fall like one dead."

Bustamante's son rushed to his help him, but the mob turned on him. The body of the Governor was roped and dragged down from the palace, finally left on a couch in the royal prison together with his son's dead body. Prisoners were freed and "Te Deum" was sung in the streets of Manila. Archbishop Francisco de la Cuesta took over the functions of the Governor General. Investigations indicted no one, since the Philippines was so far from mother Spain and accounts were written by the friars. Finally, Governor Bustamante, his dead son's body and their remaining relatives, were banished to the galleons to return to Mexico and the murder of the honest Governor Marshal Fernando Manuel de Bustamante y Bustillo was forgotten.

People Power, corruption, conspiracy, involvement of clergy, assassination, unsolved murder, forgotten crime, kulang na lang "yellow ribbon" at parang sirang plaka na paulit-ulit ang kasaysayan ng nakakapandiring pulitikang Pilipino!

*Thanks to "Traveler on Foot" for the photo of Hidalgo's painting of "Assassination of Governor Bustamante"

Ang tunay na pangyayari at mga katanungan ukol sa paglilitis sa Bayaning Gat Andres Bonifacio.

2010-12-04T11:28:00.000-08:00

Matapos pinawalang bisang eleksyon sa Tejeros, ni Gat Bonifacio, kaniyang inimbita ang isang Kolonel Agapito Bonzon, alyas "Kolonel Yntong" noong Abril 27, 1897 magkipagalmusal, sa pansamantalang tinutuluyang bahay ng Supremo. Matapos ang kainan at palitan ng balita, si Kol.Yntong ay namaalam na at ang ito naman ay pinabaunan pa nang sigarilyo ng Supremo pati na ang kaniyang mga kasama.

Kinabukasan, nagbalik sa tinutuluyang bahay ng Supremo si Kol.Yntong, na pinatuloy naman ng mga tanod sapagkat kahapon lamang ang Kolonel pati na ang mga kasama ay nakipagalmusal pa. Nagpaulan ng punlo si Kol.Yntong at ang mga kasama nito sa bahay ni Bonifacio na ikinamatay ni Ciriaco, kapatid ng Supremo.

Lumabas si Bonifacio, at nakiusap na maging mahinahon ang lahat. May sumigaw sa hukbo ni Yntong, "...Humarap ang walanghiyang Supremo na magtatakas ng aming salapi!!!" Gulat at awa sa pinaslang na kapatid na si Ciriaco, ang Supremo ay mahinahon at payakap na sumagot... "Mga kapatid, ako'y walang ginawang kawalanghiyaan." Sa pagkakasabi nito, sabay na may bumaril sa kaniya't dumaplis sa balikat at tinamaan ang kasama na nasa kaniyang likod na ikinamatay nito. Muling nakiusap ang Supremo... "Mga kapatid, tingnan ninyo na ang pinatay ninyo ay inyo ring kapuwa Tagalog." Sa pagkakasabi nito ay pinaulanan siya ng punlo, na kaniyang ikinatumba.

Nakahiga ang Supremong sugatan, sinamantala ni Kol. Ignacio Pawa ang pagkakataon at paulit-ulit na sinaksak ang Supremo sa leeg. Sa buong akala ng lahat na patay na ang Supremo, kinamkam ang lahat nang kanilang sandata ni Kol.Yntong. Si Procopio na kapatid ng Supremo ay nakagapos at pinalo sa mukha ng riple.

Si Aling Orang (Gregoria de Jesus), na maybahay ng Supremo ay dinakip rin sa Indang, Cavite ni Kol.Yntong na pinilit na papasukin sa bakanteng bahay upang pagsamantalahan, na ayon sa testimonya ng nakakita... "sa talagang kilos ilugso ang kapurihan." Nakiusap at nagmakaawa ang Supremo kay Tomas Mascardo sa masamang hangarin ni Kol.Yntong.

Sa paglilitis ng hukuman sa Cavite laban sa magkapatid na Bonifacio at Aling Orang, ang bintang nila Kol.Yntong at Kol. Ignacio Pawa ay ang magkakapatid ang na unang nagpaulan ng punlo sa kanila. Ang halos hindi makapagsalitang Supremo ay nagsabing kinumpiska ang kaniyang baril, na naroroon bilang ebidensya sa hukuman at lahat nang punlo ay nasa baril na wala man lamang napaputok! Subalit ang lahat nang mga ebidensya at pangagatuwiran ng magkapatid ay binali wala ng hukuman ni Kol. Pantaleon Garcia. Hukuman Militar naman ay kinabubooan nila: Opisyal: Mariano Riego; Kinatawan: Crisostomo Riel, Esteban Infante, Tomas Mascardo, at Sulpicio Antoni; Tagapagtangol: Placido Martinez, Teodoro Gonzales Piskal: Jose Elises.

Ang testimonya naman ni Aling Orang sa hukuman, na siya ay nagkubli sa isang magubat na lugar samantalang pinapaulanan ng punlo ang kanilang bahay na tinutuluyan. Siya ay hinuli at pilit na tinatanong kung saan nakatago ang salapi ng Supremo, tunay na kaniyang sinabi na wala silang salaping daladala. Nang hindi ito paniwalaan ni Kol.Yntong, siya ay ipinagagapos sa isang puno at ipinagulgulpi sa mga tauhan, na hindi naman ito sinunod sa dahilang siya ay babae at naguumiyak. Sa pagpapatuloy ni Aling Orang ng kaniyang sanaysay, inagaw pa ni Kol.Yntong ang singsing na pangkasal nila ng Supremo, pati na ang kaniyang labingdalawang piso at mga punlo. Tumawid sila ng daan at nagtungo sa isang bahay na sinabihan ang mga nandoroon na magsipagalis. Siya ay pinilit na paakyatin sa bahay na walang tao. Sa pagbibigkas nito, bigla na lamang tumahimik at hindi na makapagsalita si Aling Orang, napapahiya at naiiyak! Sa ikinilos ni Aling Orang, tila maliwanag na nangyari ang makahayop na pangagahasang isinagawa sa kaniya ni Kol.Yntong! Samantalang ang dugu-duguan na Supremong kumot lang ang saplot na basang-basa sa dugo, naiiyak sa testimonya ng kabiyak na mas mahapdi pa sa mga sugat na taglay ang nadarama, sa naririnig na hinatnan!

Nang matapos na ang paglilitis at paghuhukom, hinatulan ang magkapatid na Bonifacio nang kamatayan!!!

Ayon sa sanaysay ni Lazaro Macapagal...
Noong ika 10 ng Mayo, 1897 araw na nilusob ng Kastila ang bayan ng Maragondon, Cavite. Tinangangap ko ang kautusan mula kay Heneral Mariano Noriel na dahilhin ang magkapatid na Andres at Procopio, sa Tala, Maragondon. Inabot sa akin ni Heneral Noriel ang selyadong sobre, na huwag bubuksan at sundin ko ang kautusang nilalaman nito, pagsapit sa nasabing pook.

Habang aming ianaakyat ang matarik na bundok, itinatanong sa akin ng magkapatid na baka raw sila babarilin. Ang tugon ko'y hindi, at ang orden sa akin ay dalhin sila sa Tala upang ilayo marahil sa laban.

Buhat-buhat ang sugatang Supremo sa duyan, kami ay dumating sa paanan ng budok Tala. Si Don Andres ay nagsabi, "Kapatid malapit na rin lang tayo sa bundok ng Tala ay baka mabubuksan na iyong pakete o sulat at ng malaman namin kung saan mo kami iiwan." Aking binuksan at binasa sa lahat ang sulat na nilalaman ng sobre, na pinaguutos na patayin ang magkapatid.

Nang kanilang marinig na barilin ang magkapatid, napalundag sa pagkakaupo si Procopio, sabay nagwika... "Naku kuyang!" Ang Andres ay napaluhod at akmang ako ay yayapusin nagsabi, "Patawarin ninyo ako, kapatid!" Tugon ko'y, kinalulungkot ko, kailangan kong isagawa ang ipinaguutos sa akin.

Aking iniutos sa aking mga kawal na barilin nang patalikod, ang malakas pang si Procopio. Ang kaniyang bangkay ay ibinaon nang mababaw, sa dahilang bayoneta at bolo lamang ang gamit na panghukay.

Samantalang ako ay lumalakad nang papalapit kay Andres, siya ay nagsabi... "Patay na ang kapatid ko. Patawarin ninyo ako kapatid!" Muli kong sinabi na kailangan kong sundin ang laman nang sulat.

Si Andres ay nagtangkang tumakas, subalit ang kapaligiran ay masukal at siya ay naabutan namin sa may ilog, na binaril namin siya sa likod. Binaon rin ang kaniyang bankay sa mababaw na hukay, na tinabunan na lang namin ng mga dahon at sanga ng punong kahoy.

Kami'y nagbalik sa bayan ng Maragondon, sinalubong kami ng kaniyang maybahay na si Gregoria de Jesus at nagtanong kung nasaan ang magkapatid. Sa aking awa ako'y hindi makasagot, 'pagkat malaking lumbay ang idudulot sa kaniya. Gayon man napilitan akong sumagot. "Magpatuloy kayo at itanong sa Pangulo sa Tala."

Habang kay daming mga ulat at pananaliksik ukol sa kinahinatnan ng Dakilang Supremo, lalo naman dumadaming katanungan at mga ulat na dapat liwanagin.

1. Bakit nais ng samahang Magdalo (pangkat ni Aquinaldo), magkaroon ng "PAMAHALAANG HIMAGSIKAN" kapalit sa itinatag na pamahalaan nang Katipunan, ganoong ang kalayaan ay hindi pa nakakamit?

2. Bakit nangagailangang isali sa halalan ang Supremo, samantalang siya ang pinuno at inanyayahan lang siya upang magmasid at mamagitan sa nagtatalong samahan MAGDALO at MAGDIWANG?

3. Ayon kay Heneral Artemio Ricarte at Santiago Alvarez, bago pa man magkaroon ng halalan sa Tejeros, si Daniel Tirona (ang sumalungat sa pagkahahalal sa Supremo bilang Ministro ng Interior, sapagkat wala itong pinagaralan), ay nagkakalat na nang balita laban kay Bonifacio. Na ang Supremo ay isang Mason, na hindi naniniwala sa Diyos, walang relihyon at galit sa cruz. Ispiya ng mga Aleman, mayroong kapatid na babae na "querrida" ng pare sa Tondo. Ang Supremo raw ay ginagamit at ninanakaw ang pondong pera ng Katipunan. Kaya ng hulihin ang Supremo ng mga tauhan ni Aquilnaldo, kasama si Kol.Yntong, ang kanilang bintang ay... "humarap ang walanghiyang Supremo na magtatakas ng aming salapi!"

4. Ayon pa rin sa mga 'memoirs' nila Heneral Ricarte at Santiago Alvarez, nang ipasa ang mga balota ni Daniel Tirona sa mga depotado, ang mga papel na iyon ay mayroon ng mga pangalan ng kandidato! Isang ginoo na nagmamalasakit kay Bonifacio, Diego Mojica ay binalaan na si Bonifacio sa dayaan na mangyayari, subalit ang Supremo ay hindi ito binigyan ng halaga.

5. Bago maghalalan sa Tejeros, ang Supremo ay nagsabi na... "Atin pagkasunduan na tayo ay susunod sa kagustuhan at ihahalal ng nakakarami, ano man ang katayuan sa lipunan ng isang kandidato" Subalit ito ay sinuway ni Daniel Tirona nang ihalal at manalo ang dating Supremo bilang Ministro ng Interior.

6. Hindi ba tama lang ang pagwawalang bisa ng Supremo sa halalang naganap kung ito'y tunay na hindi malinis, hindi patas, dayaan at mayroong pinapanigang kamaganak at kababayan?

7. Saan napapunta ang nilagdaang kasulatan ng 45 na katao, kasama na dito ang Supremo na "Acta de Tejeros" na nagsasaad sa pagwawalang bisa nang halalan dahilan sa dayaang nangyari?

8. Totoo nga kaya ang bintang na sidisyon ang pagpupulong sa Naik, Cavite ng magkakapatid na Andres, Ciriaco, Procopio at kasamang mga Katipunero o ito'y upang protektahan lang ang kanilang nangaganib na buhay sa mga Caviteno?

9. Kung tunay na makatarungan at naaalinsunod sa batas ang pamahalaang Tejeros ni Aquinaldo, bakit binaliwala at ni hindi binigyan nang paganyaya na lumahok ang dating Supremo sa panunumpang ginawa sa mga nahalal. Hindi ba sana ay hinigan siya ng pormal na pagbibitiw ng tunkulin at nagproklama ng ibang Ministro ng Interior?

10. Nabigyan ba nang hustisya ang walang katuturan na pagpaslang sa kapatid ng Supremong si Ciriaco ng mga tauhan ni Aquinaldo sa Naik?

11. Kung tunay na hangarin ni Aquinaldo na dakpin at litisin ang Supremo, bakit pinaulanan ng punlo at paulit-ulit na pinagsasaksak. Hindi ba't sa ginawang ito kay Bonifacio siya ay pilit na dakpin patay man o buhay?

12. Bakit binaliwala ang katibayan sa akusadong Supremo na siyang nagpasimuno nang barilan, samantalang ang kaniyang baril ay puno pa rin ng punlo?

13. Bakit hindi pinahalagahan at siniyasat ni Aquinaldo kasama ng kaniyang pamahalaan ang salang panggagahasa sa kabiyak ng Supremo. Ang salarin ay hindi ordinaryong kawal, subalit isang opisyal ng militar sa ilalim ni Aquinaldo. Nasaan ang pinaalis ni Kol.Yntong na mga tao sa bahay na nakasaksi sa naganap na kaharasan?

14. Kung napatunayan ang paratang na sidisyon, malinis, makatarungan ang ginawang paglilitis at ang naging hatol ay kamatayan, BAKIT HINDI IPINAPATAY ANG MAGKAPATID SA PAMAMAGITAN NG "FIRING SQUAD" AT IPINAMULAT SA MADLA bilang isang masamang halimbawa?

15. Bakit tila hindi malaman kung paano ang gagawin sa dali-dali at hindi maayos na eksekusyon na pagpatay na ginawa sa magkapatid? Bakit kailangang itago, ngayong ang paghuhukom ay ginawa sa Cavite, na poder ni Aquinaldo at samahang Magdalo? Bakit kailangang pataksil? Bakit ang eksekusyon sa magkapatid ay sa tago na liblib na gubat, palihim, hindi ibinalita, hindi ipinakita sa madla upang huwag tularan, 'di ba't ang kasalanang sidisyon sa kapanahunan ng himagsikan ay napakalaking pagkakasala? Bakit hangang sa ngayon ay mahiwaga pa rin ang ipinagkakatago-tagong tunay na pangyayari tulad ng pagkakapatay kay Ninoy Aquino?

...Pangagahasa, dayaan sa halalan, kataksilan, ingitan, asasinasyon, dahas, kasinungaligan, pagtatakip sa krimen, walang katarungan, kasakiman na magkapusisyon sa pamahalaan at pagpapangkat-pangkat, ang mga krimen at kasalanan na naganap sa Tejeros. Ito'y atin natutunan, inako at ating daladala bilang isang Pilipino, tila isang "original sin" na nangangailangan na tayo ay ipanganak na muli sa bisa ng 'binyag' upang banlawan ang ating "kasalanan" upang magkaroon tayo ng "Pilipino Identity."

Ang krimen at kasalanan sa Tejeros ay paulit-ulit na nangyayari sa ating bayan. Ito kaya marahil ang dahilan sa naputol na himagsikang pinundar ng Dakilang Supremo? o ang kaluluwa ng Dakilang Supremo na nagpupumiglas upang mabigyan muli ng pangalawang buhay at ipagpatuloy ang naputol na tunay na himagsikan!
"History repeat itself" ...ito'y hindi totoo, tayong mga Pilipino ang nagpapaulit sa ating kasaysayan, sanhi ng paulit-ulit na kasibaan at kagahaman!

...ang mga paksa na to ay hango sa aking mga nasaliksik noon ako'y namamasukan pa sa National Heroes Commission. Samantalang ang iba naman ay mula sa aking Lola Poleng na naging kaibigan ng Supremo at kaniyang kapatid na si Procopio at matalik na kaibigan ni Espiridiona Bonifacio, na pinakabatang kapatid ng Supremo.
- - ka tony
ika 30 ng Nobyembre, 2008

Why are khakis called chinos?

2010-03-09T23:34:00.000-08:00

The word Khaki derives from the Hindustani word meaning dust. In 1846, a Punjab-based British named Lieutenant Harry Lumsden got tired of his British uniform of sweltering and peacock color bright red felt. Not only the enemy can recognize, make you an easy target, but the issued uniform was tough to maintain, uncomfortable in a hot and humid country like India. Borrowing the idea from the natives, he dyed the natural cotton with an extract of a plant called “mazari” local to India. From that day Lumsden distinguished himself as the only comfortable Anglo Saxon inventor of saffron colored cotton south of Liverpool, England.

Lumsden’s imitators tried to dye their cotton with coffee, tea, tobacco juice, ink and mud. It wasn’t until 1884, that a standard tawny-colored dye was patented back home in Manchester. In 1897 it became the official color of His/Her Majesty’s Royal Army Regiments serving in the region of Peshawar, India, properly dyed khaki uniforms for active service and summer dress. The original khaki fabric was a closely twilled cloth of linen or cotton. A darker shade of khaki “serge” was adopted for the other branches of the Royal Military Services’ uniform in 1902.

In 1898 the US Army utilized khaki uniform during the Spanish American War. It has become “de riqueur” or military uniforms of militaries in the world. This followed by the US Navy, the US Marine Corps, police forces of South Asian countries, US States and counties. Khaki – cool, durable, and sensibly perfect against the sandy, hot, humid, rainy conditions of America’s newly bought and acquired last island colonies from Spain; Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines with Guam.

Before the US acquired the Philippines as a colony, the Manila/Acapulco Gallon Trade made its capital Manila center of commerce in Asia & the Americas, though the city was only used as “warehouse for Asian goods” specially products from China. Attracted by the economic opportunities, the Chinese began to come in greater numbers. The Chinese barter activities for the purpose of securing goods that they could ship out, developed the production of Philippine produce like; abaca, sugar, resin and tobacco. Chinese men intermarry with native women which produce Chinese mestizos and by 1750, the mestizos were already a recognized and distinct element in Philippine society and had become the elite of society. They took over commerce, haciendas, produce, trading and economy of the Philippines.

During US colonial years in the Philippines, Chinese and Chinese mestizo merchants stocked and sold khaki to the military and civilians. The Philippines once a colony of Spain for 300 years, speak Spanish as second language. When someone asked “Donde puedo encontar pantalon khaki?” (Where can I find khaki pants?) the reply was “los Chinos” (the Chinese). Hence the term Chinos was referred to any cotton twill pants. Khaki once again… just one of the many colors of chino pants. Chino gained popularity in the U.S. in the 1900s, military men returning from the Philippines after the Spanish–American War brought back their cotton military trousers.

Benigno Servillano "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. (November 27, 1932 – August 21, 1983)

2009-11-27T09:35:00.000-08:00

The assassination of Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. in August 21, 1983 like GOMBURZA's execution triggered the Pilipino people to say..."tama na, sobra na!" stood up & raised their arms! But who was Benigno Servillano Aquino, Jr. besides being the rallying point of “The EDSA Revolution?”

In 1899, Aguinaldo made his last stand in Tarlac before he fled to the mountainous North where he was eventually captured by the Americans, with help from the Macabebe Scouts. It was in Tarlac where the Republic fell as the Philippine-American War deteriorated into scattered guerilla operations. One of Aguinaldo’s generals, Servillano Aquino, native of Angeles, retired & resettled in Concepcion to tend to his farm & raise his children, one of whom was Benigno Aquino Sr., Ninoy’s father.

It was also in Tarlac where Pampanga’s revolutionary funds amounting to one million silver pesos ended up & got lost, according to historian Rafaelita Hilario Soriano in her book “The Pampangos.” Soriano’s father, Gen. Tiburcio Hilario, then Governor of Pampanga, turned over the funds to Gen. Antonio Luna in the house of Julian Santos in Tarlac, Tarlac, in the presence of witnesses. Three days later, Gen. Luna was assassinated & nobody knows to this day where the money went, although there are whispers that a prominent family in Tarlac got hold of it.

Ninoy got his political instincts from the Aquino family. His grandfather Servillano Aquino during the struggle against the Gringos, rose to the rank of general! Gen. Servillano was captured & condemned to death for shooting Gringo prisoners, because he said... "they eat too much!" But he was pardon after serving four years in Gringo's jail. To show his hatred & resistance to the US, he refused to learn English & only spoke Tagalog & Spanish, 'till his death.

History was written by the victors & they have the unopposed opportunity to right the wrong they may have committed. Victors without their collaborators, most of the time victory is unattainable. Unfortunately collaborators who joined the losers retained the bad title "collaborator of the enemy" & while collaborators who joined the victors, upgraded their title to "heroes!" ...amazing difference, right? A very good example was the case of Manuel Roxas, a very close associate of Gen. McArthur. During US colonial administration was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, a senator & a member of Quezon cabinet. Upon the escape of Quezon & McArthur from Corregidor because of the sure victory of the invading Japanese forces, Quezon signed a decree making Roxas in line with Qsmena to the presidency in case of his death.

April of 1942, Roxas surrendered or captured, was in the hands of the Japanese. The Japanese aware of Roxas' political innovations, offered the "puppet" presidency before offering the position to Jose Laurel. The assurance of presidency by Quezon under the US might have stop Roxas in accepting the offer. June of 1943, Roxas was the principal author of the "puppet" constitution & worked in the Laurel cabinet as Minister Without Portfolio.

As the 1944 "US Invasion of the Philippines Part II" near, Laurel & his cabinet member fled to Baquio. April 1945 US troops were in Baquio, Laurel's cabinet; Roxas, Jose Yulo, Quintin Paredes, Antonio de las Alas & Teofilo Sison "crossed the US troop lines. Press released by McArthur (like I mentioned, a very close friend of Roxas) indicated; Yulo, Paredes, de las Alas & Sison as "captured." Roxas was reported "liberated." Latter in our history Manuel Roxas was "the first president of the independent Republic of the Philippines."

To name few "Sajonistas" (as Pilipino revolutionaries called Gringo collaborators), now "heroes" Jose Abad Santos, Cayetano Arellano, Pedro Guevara, Efifanio delos Reyes, Luis Quezon, Sergio Osmena & many, many more.

1935 an abortive uprising against the Gringos by the SAKDAL movement headed by Benigno Ramos went to Japan, the country who have been supporting the Philippines against Spain. In 1937 Ramos came back to the Philippines & formed GANAP. The short live GANAP in 1942 was dissolved by the Japanese forces in the Philippines & incorporated it to form KALIBAPI "Kapisanan sa pag Lilingod sa Bagong Pilipinas” or KALIBAPI.

Benigno Aquino Sr., being brought up in a family with a strong resistance against the Gringos & at the young age of 23 was the Speaker of the Lower House, he immediately proposed independence from the US & have close ties with neighbor countries in Asia. Agreeing to head the Kalibapi as its Director-General & his secretary-general was a pro-Japanese former congressman Pio Duran. Aquino made tours of the provinces setting up Kalibapi chapters. Kalibapi was the chief medium for carrying Japanese directions & policies. May, 1943 Kalibapi established "Philippine independence." The National Assembly elected Benigno Aquino Sr. as its speaker. He was replaced by Camilo Osias as director-general.

Benigno Aquino Sr. was incarcerated for treason after WW II for promoting Kalibapi during the Japanese occupation. He was freed on bail & unfortunately while watching a boxing match at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Benigno Sr. suffered a heart attack & died. Pilipino nationalist of yesterday & to this day glorify Benigno Sr. for his defiance of the US imperialism!

Ninoy was 14 & pleaded his father's case,
"...why should he have been judged for working with the Japanese when others were praised for cooperating with the Americans? They are both foreigner."

Japan who was a big supporter of Philippine revolution against Spain considered El Presidente Aquinaldo & Gen. Artemio "Vivora" Ricarte to be the "puppet" president during the Japanese occupation. Surprisingly after WW II El Presidente Aquinaldo was offered a government position by the Gringos, but El Presidente ...Refused!!!

At age 17, Ninoy Aquino was the youngest war correspondent to cover the Korean War for the newspaper The Manila Times under Joaquin "Chino" Roces. Because of his journalistic feats, he received a Philippine Legion of Honor award from President Elpidio Quirino at age 18. At 21, he became a close adviser to then defense secretary Ramon Magsaysay.

HukBaLaHap (Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon) or HUK, was a socialist poor peasants fighting for reforms, resisting Japanese & other imperialist invaders. Though fighting with USAFE against the Japanese, but were not funded or given help. Outlawed after WW II, that forced them into guerrilla warfare on Mt. Arayat. With anti communist propaganda by the US, big & small time crimes blamed by the puppet Philippine government to them. Pilipinos feared & had a bad image of the weak & misunderstood Huks.

1953 Magsaysay received a secret message from the head leader of the Huks Ka Luis Taruc, suggesting a talk. With Magsaysay's approval, Manahan preparing to reply, but the young Manila Times reporter Ninoy Aquino was trying on his own to interview Taruc. Aquino knowing proper contacts, challenged Manahan & Manahan fearing leakage, cooperated.

Ninoy & Taruc first met in a village north of Manila in January 1954. Taruc after digging Ninoy's family background, trusted the young reporter. Taruc discussed about poverty, injustice, Philippine agrarian reform & insisting for a complete pardon. Finally on May, Magsaysay asked Ninoy to meet Taruc for the second time. Meeting was set early in the morning at Barrio Santa Maria, Pampanga. This time troops was with him, surrounded the area. Meeting was at 6:30 am & if Ninoy failed to return by 9:00 am, the troops will blow the place down!

According to Ninoy... "Taruc was surrounded by the peasants and he looked like them, in a gray peasant shirt, brown pants & straw hat."

After shaking hands, Ninoy said... “Do you accept the president's terms?"

Ka Luis Taruc said... "I accept."

Ninoy got his front page & boosted his career!!!

1972 a constitutional convention in which the dictator marcos pressed for a change from a presidential to parliamentary, making the him prime minister immediately. Scared that he might not have a chance with the coming 1973 election, with presidential candidates; senator Benigno Aquino Jr., Raul Manlapuz (has been backed & financed by the CIA) & Jaime Ferrer.

January 3, 1969, Jose Ma.Sison head of Kabatang Makabayan & 11 students secretly met in Mangatarem, Pangasinan proclaimed the Communist Party of the Philippines. The 12 had the problem of finding an armed force to carry the plan. Senator Benigno Aquino had an intimate, feudalist relationship with former Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan, Bernabe Buscayno (Commander Dante), who after dissolving HMB had maintained his own unit in Tarlac, around Hacienda Luisita, a sugar plantation own by the Cojuangco family (Cory Cojuangco Aquino's family). Aquino brought Sison & Dante together. Benigno Aquino, Sison & Buscayno close ally, provided funds to launch CPP/NPA, was the basis for the dictator marcos case against Aquino used to detain him under martial law!
(*) note that one of the first acts of President Cory Aquino was to release Sison & Buscayno from prison.

marcos upset US government, by proclaiming martial law on September 12, 1972 & instituted rule by his own. marcos’ martial law objective was the crushing of rivals of Pilipino elite. Bourgeois opponents arrested, senators Benigno Aquino, Diokno, Osmena & Lopez families. Seizure of Lopez's Meralco, Jacinto's Iligan Steel & many more. In 1980 Benigno Aquino was released from detention & allowed to go to the US for medical reasons. "New Society" was maintained, marcos oppositions in jail, Pilipino people brain washed by the marcos' controled media, he lifted martial law.

August 21, 1983 Aquino who had close association with the State Department & with old CIA contacts, prepared for a return to the Philippines to lead an anti-marcos political movement. Arrived in Manila & was escorted from his plane at the Manila International Airport, “assassinated by a man by the name of Rolando Galman.” Ninoy Aquino's funeral was the biggest & longest funeral since Mahatma Gandhi. The well "orchestrated CIA People Power" followed!

marcos without his "friend" Ronald Regan's support, was forced to agree to leave Malacanang Palace. Disillusion, disoriented, sick, drugged...he though that the plane was taking him & his family to PAOAY , Ilocos, instead they landed in HAWAII in his "friend" Ronald's order.

...let the truth prevail & be the basis for building our identity as a Pilipino,

ka tony (Nov. 27 ’09)

"Ang Maigsing Buhay ni Emilio Jacinto"

2009-06-08T23:05:00.001-07:00

(Disyembre 15,1875 - Abril 16,1899)
...tagapagpayo, kalihim, tagapangasiwa, tagapagpaganap, tagapagtala, tagapaglimbag, mangangatha, makata, heneral at utak ng himagsikang Katipunan.

Ang sityo ng Tondo ang maaaring tawaging “kuna ng himagsikan” Ang mga Tondeno ay nagtaas ng kanilang kamao laban sa mga imperyalistang/kolonyalistang Kastila. Taong 1587 ay tinaguriang “Tondo Conspiracy” na pinamunuan ni Agustin de Legazpi. Kasama ni de Legazpi ang tiyo niyang si Lakan Dula at mga Tondeno na sina; Magat Salamat, Martin Pangan, Juan Bernal, Geronimo Basi, Gabriel Tuambakar, Calao, Luis Amanicaloa, Gustin Manuguit at Pitongatan. Ito’y kumalat, umabot sa Taquig, Navotas, Bulacan at Pampanga, ito’y nabuo sa pamamagitan ng “unang lansangan” ng mga “taga ilog” (Tagalog), ang ilog Pasig. Sa pampang ng ilog Pasig nabansagan ang panagalan ng mga “Kapampangan” (ka pam pang). Nagbigay nang pagtulong sa nasabing pagaalsa ay ang bansang Hapon at ang Sultan ng Brunei.

Tulad ng nakararaming pagaalsa, isang Hudas na pinagkakatiwalaan ni Magat Salamat, na si Antonio Surabao ang nagsaad sa lihim na himagsikan laban sa mga Kastila ng mga Tondeno. Si Surabao ay nagtungo kay Gobernador Santiago de Vera at sinumbong ang lihim na pagaalsa. Ang mga pinuno ng “Tondo Conspiracy” ay binitay at ang iba naman ay piniit at kinumpiska ang kanilang ari-arian. Sina Calao, Luis Amanicaloa, Gustin Manuguit at Pitongatan, naman ay ipinatapon sa bayan ng mga Asteka, Mexico. Sila ang pinakaunang mga Pilipino na nanirahan nang permanente sa bayang ito.

Nakaraan ang 309 taon sa sityo na naman ng Tondo, sumulpot muli ang pinunla ni Agustin de Legaspi, dalawang hugot sa masang Tondeno na magsisimula at ipagpapatuloy ang nasawing “Tondo Conspiracy” …Andres Bonifacio at Emilio Jacinto!

Bago isinilang at nagkaroon ng Arhentinong Che Guevara na utak ng himagsikan ng bansang Cuba, ang Pilipinas ay na unang nagkaroon ng Emilio Jacinto. Siya ay nabuhay nang napakaigsi, subalit malalagpasan si “Che” sa nagawang kontribusyon sa larangan ng himagsikan. Ang henyo at matapang na Emilio Jacinto ay pumanaw ng napakabata – 24 taong gulang, napakaigsi, walang drama at kulay! Pumanaw sa sakit at hindi sa digmaan. Subalit maigsi man ang kaniyang naging buhay, napakarami at napakamahalaga ang kaniyang nagawa para sa himagsikan! Kung hindi kay Jacinto ang 300 Katipunero ay hindi dumami nang hangang 30,000. Binigyan niya nang nararapat na direksyon, disiplina, at asal upang marating ang tumpak na layunin ng lihim na samahang Katipunan.

Siya ay anak nila Mariano Jacinto, isang “tenedor de libro” sa isang malaking kalakalan sa Binondo at Josefa Dizon, isang “comadrona” na mula sa kilalang mayaman angkan ng mga Dizon. Anim na taon gulang pa lamang si Jacinto ay marunong na siyang magsalita nang Kastila (“lengua de tienda” o mababang uri ng kastila).

Nang sumakabilang buhay ang kanyang ama, naghirap ang buhay ng magina. Ang magina ay lumipat sa Trozo, Tondo ang pook pang masang prolitaryo. Nagiisang naghahanap-buhay ang kaniyang ina kaya’t hindi kayang balikatin ang kanilang dating pamumuhay. Ang ang gamit na damit ni Jacinto ay mga lumang baro na nabili mula sa bahay-sanglaan, tinatabas na muli at nililiitan ng kaniyang ina upang maisuot ng batang Jacinto. Nang magsimulang pumasok si Jacinto sa paaralan ni Pascual Ferrer, naging tuksuhan siya ng kaniyang mga kamag-aral na tila basahan at napakalaki para sa kaniya ang suot na mga damit. Ang sinturon ay gawa mula sa lumang saya ng ina, ang sintas ng kaniyang sapatos ay mula sa itim na basahan.

Dahilan sa kanilang kahirapan sa buhay, napilitan ang ina na ipaapon ang anak sa kanyang kapatid na si Jose Dizon, tiyo ni Jacinto na bandang huli ay isa sa mga martir na binaril sa Bagumbayan, dahilan sa kaniyang pagsapi sa Katipunan. Sa pamamagitan nang tulong ng kaniyang tiyo, nakapagtapos si Jacinto ng “Bachelor of Arts, sa San Juan de Letran. Tapos nito’y nagpatala naman siya sa Universidad de Santo Tomas’ upang mag-aral ng abogasya. Marahil sa sinapit na panunukso, paghamak na tinanggap mula sa pagkabata at mga nababasang propaganda nila Rizal at M.H. del Pilar tunkol sa pagmamalupit ng mga Kastila, ang mapusok na batang 17 taong gulang ay naakit nang tuluyan sa himagsikan.

Hulyo 7,1892, dinakip si Rizal at ipinatapon ng mga Kastila sa Dapitan, Mindanao. Sumapit ang gabi ng araw na iyon, sinimulan ni Andres Bonifacio ang balak na himagsikan sa tahanan ni Deodato Arellano, na nasa kanto ng Azcarraga at Ylaya, Tondo. Nandoon rin sina Ladislao Diwa, Valentin Diaz at Teodoro Plata, itinatag ang “Kataastaasan,Kagalanggalangan Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan.” Sila ay sumumpa at nangako na sisimulan ang himagsikan at magaakit ng iba pang mga sasapi.

Sumunod na taon, si Deodato Arellano ay pinalitan ni Roman Basa bilang supremo ng Katipunan. Subalit tulad ni Arellano, hindi rin natupad ni Basa ang tungkulin bilang supremo, hinirang at pinapilitan ni Andres Bonifacio si Basa. Habang nanunungkulan si Bonifacio sa isang kalakalan, Fressel Company, dito’y nakilala si Jacinto. Palibhasa’y magkatugma ang kanilang pakikibaka, himagsikan at kalayaang inaasam, buwan ng Mayo 1893, sumapi sa Katipunan ang dalawang istudyante, si Jacinto at Pio Valenzuela na nagaaral ng medisina

Napahanga ni Jacinto ang Supremong Bonifacio sa taglay na talino, sipag, at katapatan ng 12 taon gulang na mas bata sa Supremo. Siya ay pinagkatiwalaan at hinirang na Tagapagpayo, Kalihim, Heneral ng Morong, Ministro at Piscal ng Katipunan. Minsan’y pinain ni Bonifacio ang sarili sa panganib upang iligtas ang buhay ng batang Jacinto. Yapos ni Bonifacio, ang punlo na sana’y tatama at ikakamatay ni Jacinto ay nagdaan sa kohelyo ni Bonifacio.

Minsa’y nautusan siya ng Supremo upang sagipin sa kamay ng mga Kastila at tuloy na hikayatin si Rizal na sumapi at pamunuan ang Katipunan, habang ang sinasakyan ni Rizal na barko ay nakadaong. Patungong Maynila si Rizal, upang doon naman ay lumulan sa barkong patungong Cuba. Si Rizal ay nagboluntaryo maging mangagamot sa ilalim nang bandila ng Espanya. Ang Cuba na kolonya rin ng Espanya tulad ng Pilipinas, ay kasalukuyang naghimagsik laban sa mga Kastila. Ang mga kolonyalistang Kastila ay nangagailangan ng mga mangagamot, upang mabigyan nang pangunang lunas ang mga sugatan nilang Cazadores doon. Si Jacinto ay nagpangap na isang kargador na Insik upang makasakay sa barkong lulan ni Rizal. Natagpuan ni Jacinto si Rizal sa isang silid ng barko at doon sila ay nagusap at sinaad ni Jacinto ang sanhi ng kaniyang pagbabalatkayo, pagligtas at pamumuno ni Rizal ng Katipunan. Nasawi ang ninanasa nila Bonifacio at Jacinto, sapagkat si Rizal ay buo sa kaniyang kalooban ang balak na gawain sa Cuba, bukod dito'y siya ay hindi sangayon sa himagsikang Pilipino, tinangihan ang alok at binabalak nila Bonifacio at Jacinto para sa kaniya. Si Rizal, tulad ng hinihingi ng mga Creole at mga Ilustrado, sila ay maging kapantay ng mga Penisulares at Insulares sa lipunan ng kolonyang Pilipinas. Sa hinihingi ng tadhana ng dumating si Rizal sa Maynila, ang barkong kaniyang sasakyan ay nakaalis na patungong Cuba. Ano kaya ang nangyari kung si Rizal ay nakarating nang maaga at nakasakay sa naturang barko at naging mangagamot sa Cuba?

Sa tindi ng kapusukan, maihahambing si Jacinto sa mga batang lider na aktibista noong panahon ng diktador na si marcos. Labag sa utos ng ina, tumigil si Jacinto sa pagaaral upang ibuhos ang kaniyang panahon at talino sa ikabubuti, pagpapalawak at pagtagumpay ng himagsikan. Sumulat siya ng “Panatang Panunumpa” para sa mga sumasapi sa Katipunan. Siya rin ang sumulat nang “Kartilya ng Katipupunan” aral at batas na dapat sundin ng mga Katipunero. Sumulat rin siya nang pilosopyang/politikal na aklat na hindi nalibag, “Liwanag at Dilim.” Hindi lang ito ang aklat na naisulat, marami pang iba, tulad ng; “Pahayag,” “Sa mga Kababayan,” “Ang Kasalanan ni Cain,” “Pagkatatag ng Pamahalaan sa Hukuman ng Silangan” at “Samahan ng Bayan sa Pangangalakal.” Sina Bonifacio, Valenzuela at Jacinto ay nagtulong-tulong sa pagsulat, paglimbag at pagkakalat nang pahayagan ng himagsikan, “Kalayaan.” Si Jacinto rin ang nangasiwa sa paggawa ng pulburang gamit sa bala ng baril, siya rin ang pinuno at tagapagisip nang mga espiya ng Katipunan.

Nakatangap ng balita mula sa kanilang espiya sila Bonifacio na nabunyag ang lihim na samahang Katipunan at sila’y hinahanap upang dakpin ng mga Kastila, sila’y tumakas at nanawagan sa lahat ng mga Katipunero na magtungo sa Balintawak. Agosto 21,1896, nagpulong sila Bonifacio at Jacinto sa bahay ni Apolonio Samson sa pook ng Kangkong upang pag usapan ang nararapat gawin.

Ang Kangkong ay bahagi ng Caloocan, ito’y bukirin, magubat ang paligid ng kamaynilaan at ligtas sa mata ng mga kaaway. Dito ay muling silang nagtipon pagkaraan nang 2 araw sa bakuran naman ni Juan Ramos anak ni Tandang Sora - Melchora Aquino. Napagkaisahan nilang simulan na ang himagsikan, Agosto 29,1896. Pinunit nila ang kani-kaniyang mga “cedula” at sumigaw na hindi na sila magpapailalim sa Espanya kailanman.

Kinabukasan sila ay lumipat sa bahay ni Tandang Sora upang ‘di mapuna ng mga taga Balintawak ang nangyayari. Sumunod na araw sumalakay ang pangkat ng Kastila, dahilan sa kapos sa sandata maliban sa mga itak, napilitang tumakas ang mga Katipunero sa Balara na inabot nang hating gabi, at patuloy na tumakas hangang sa bundok ng Marikina.

Sa dinamang pagurong at kakulangan sa sandata, sila ay nagbalak na salakayin at agawin ang mga armas sa El Deposito, ang pook na imbakan ng tubig para sa Maynila, San Juan del Monte (ngayon ay Pinaglabanan, San Juan). Agosto 30, 1896, pinamunuan nila Bonifacio, Jacinto at mayroong 800 Katipunero, sinalakay ang El Deposito na doon ay mayroong 100 sundalong Kastila na nagsipagurong at nakulong.

Bitbit ng mga Katipunero ang naagaw na mga sandata at balak salakayin ang Maynila, ngunit sa Caloocan pa lamang sila ay sinalubong ng hukbong sandatahang Kastila na patungo upang sumaklolo sa El Deposito. Nangagsiurong ang mga Katipunero na umabot sa kalayuan ng Mandaluyong. Mahigit na 150 na mga Katipunero ang napatay at 200 naman ang nadakip ng mga Kastila, karamihan dito ay binitay sa Bagumbayan nang huwag tularan ng kapuwa Pilipino.

Matapos ang piyasko at pagkatalo sa El Deposito, hinirang ni Bonifacio si Jacinto na Pinunong Heneralisisimo ng mga Katipunan sa Maynila at paligid, Laguna, Bulacan at Nueva Ecija. Patuloy rin si Jacinto bilang pinunong tagapagpayo at kalihim ng Supremo Bonifacio.

Siya ang ingat-yaman ng mga abuloy na salapi at gamit, taga pamahala nang mga; baril, bala at iba pang sandata. Nilimbag rin niya ang mga makabayang tula at mga kathang awit ni Julio Nakpil. Siya rin ang na mamahala ng mga propaganda at ang pahayagan ng Katipunan, “Kalayaan.”

Laging abala, kulang sa pagtulog, pagkain at hirap sa dami nang gawain, sunud-sunod na pagkatalo sa malakas, mas marami at maarmas na hukbong Kastila, si Jacinto nagkaroon ng karamdaman. Labag si Jacinto sa pagtungo ni Bonifacio sa Tejeros, Cavite, upang mamagitan sa hindi magkaisang Magdalo at Magdiwang na mga Katipunero. Bukod sa may karamdaman upang sumama kay Bonifacio, siya’y pansamantalang inatasan ng Supremo na maiwan at pamunuan ang hukbo. Kasama ni Bonifacio ay ang maybahay niyang, si Gregoria de Jesus at ang dalawa niyang kapatid, Procopio at Ciriaco. Dito sa Tejeros, Cavite naganap ang malagim na katapusan ng Supremo, kaniyang dalawang kapatid at paggagahasa sa kaniyang maybahay, sa kamay ng mga kawal at kautusan ni Emilio Aguinaldo, Mayo 1897.

Pinaslang ang minamahal niyang punong Supremo, ang salamin ng katotohanan, ang pinunong hugot sa masang Tondo at ang liwanag ng Sosyalistang Silangan. Sa tindi nang lungkot at galit ni Jacinto ito’y tumanging kilalanin ang pamahalaan at ang pamumuno ng Katipunan na inangkin at inagaw ni Aguinaldo. Sa kahilingan ng mga Katipunerong tapat sa pinaslang na Supremo, ipinagpatuloy ni Jacinto ang pamumuno sa Laguna laban sa mga Kastila na tulad ng habilin sa kanya ni Bonifacio.

Octubre 8,1897, dala marahil ng matinding kalungkutan, sinulat ni Jacinto ang tulang, “A La Patria” (Para sa Bayan), habang siya ay nasa ilalim ng punong niyog sa Santa Cruz, Laguna. Binatay niya ito sa “Mi Ultimo Adios” (Huling Paalam) ni Rizal, ang tula ay nilagdaan ng isa sa dalawa niyang lihim na pangalan, “Dimasilaw” (Pingkian, ang isa naman), ang tulang ito ang nagsilbing huling paalam ni Jacinto.

Pebrero 1898, siya ay kasamang nakipagdigmaan sa mga masandatahang Kastila na “Cazadores” sa barrio Maimpis, Magdalena, Laguna. Natamaan siya ng punlo sa kaniyang hita at ito ang naging sanhi ng kaniyang pagkabihag. Kaladkad siya ng mga kaaway habang sugatan sa simbahan ng Magdalena, dito siya ay hindi binigyan ng pangunang lunas, hangang sumapit sila sa simbahan ng Santa Cruz na dito lang siya ginamot ng mga Cazadores nang mahubha niyang sugat.

Pinarusahan at siniyasat siya ng mga kaaway, sa kabutihang palad nasa kaniyang pitaka ang “permiso” ng isang taksil na Pilipinong espiya ng Kastila. Nagpanggap siyang “Florentino Reyes,” ang Pilipinong tiktik ng mga Kastila. Ipinakita niya ang “permiso” ni Reyes, at nagkunwa na siya nga ang nasabing espiya. Pinaniwalan ng mga kaaway at pinawalan si Jacinto. Ang buong katotohanan, nadakip ng mga Katipunero ni Jacinto ang tunay na Florentino Reyes, itinago ni Jacinto ang “permiso” upang kung sakaling madakip siya, tulad nang nangyaring ito'y kaniyang magagamit. Matapos siyang palayain sa Laguna, nagtago siya sa Maynila.

Habang nagpapagaling at bumabawi ng lakas si Jacinto, Mayo 1,1898 ang hukbong dagat ng Amerika sa pamumuno ni George Dewey, pinataob ang pang hukbong dagat ng Espanya, kasama na rito ang pangunahing barko ni Admirante Patricio Montojo na “Maria Cristina” sa Manila Bay. Ang mga Katipunero naman’y napasuko na ang lahat halos nang mga pook sa paligid ng Maynila (Intramuros), patuloy ang paglulunsad nang pagsalakay sa loob ng Maynila (Intramuros). Pinutol ng mga Katipunero ang rasyon nang tubig at pagkain sa Intramuros. Tuloy lahat ng mga naninirahan sa loob ng lunsod ay walang mainom at makain. Ang mga naninirahan dito ay umaasa na lang sa ulan at napakaduming tubig mula sa balon. Mga kabayo, aso, pusa pati na daga ang kinakain ng 250,000 taga Intramuros. Tambak ang mga basura sa lansangan, tuloy marami ay nagkasakit. Hindi nagtagal, dahilan sa tindi nang sinasapit sa loob ng Maynila, ang mga Kastila’y nakipagkasunduan sa mga Amerikano. Tunay na kahiya-hiya na sumuko sila sa mga “Indio” at kung maaari ay sa mga kapuwa “puting balat” na lamang sila susuko. Nagmakaawa na pigilan ng mga Amerikano ang pagpasok at pagsalakay ng mga Katipunero sa loob ng Intramuros. Ang mga kolonyalista namang Gringo ay pumayag at isinagawa ang “lutong macao” na pagsuko, Agosto 13, 1898, ng mga Kastila sa Intramuros. Dito’y ipinasa ng Espanya sa Estados Unidos ang kanilang mahigit na 300 taon pagsakop sa Pilipinas. Ang mga Gringo naman ay itinirik ang kanilang bandila sa Intramuros at inangkin ang tagumpay!

Lito at ‘di malaman kung ano ang gagawin, si Jacinto ay sumulat kay Apolinario Mabini na naghahangad na ipagpatuloy ang kaniyang pag-aaral nang batas sa binabalak at ilulunsad na pamantasan ng mga Pilipino sa Malolos, Bulacan. Kinagalak ito ni Mabini sa binabalak ng henyong Jacinto at pinagpayuhan ang binata na magpalista at magmatrikula bago mag-Disyembre 1,1898.

Ang balak ay hindi natuloy at tila nagibang isip si Jacinto, nagbalik siya sa Laguna sa kahilingan ng mga tapat sa kaniyang mga Katipunero. Pinamunuan niya ang nagsisiklab na alitan ng mga Pilipino at mga Amerikanong mananakop sa Pilipinas. Sa inaasahang mangyayaring ay sumabog nga, ang digmaan ng Pilipino at Gringo noong Febrero 4,1899. Nakipagpulong at pinagunahan ni Jacinto ang paghahandang pagkikipagdigmaan sa bundok ng Majayjay. Sa kasawiangpalad si Jacinto ay dinapuan ng malaria. Marahil sa pagod, kalungkutan, sa mga sugat na natamo sa digmaan, pagpupuyat, kulang sa pagkain, humina ang katawan at napakadaling dapuan ng sakit. Sumakabilang buhay ang binatang 24 taon gulang lamang, Abril 16,1899, ang utak ng Katipunan, ang tagapagpayo ng Supremo, ang mapagpaakit sa idolohiyang pangmasa ng Pilipinas, na sana ay pinakaunang bayan sa buong mundo… SOSYALISTANG REPUBLIKA ng PILIPINAS!!!

ka tony
ika-8 ng Hulyo, 2009
Ito’y alay ko sa aking ama na si Antonio Donato I, na ang kaarawan ay ika-8 ng Hulyo,1906. Sa aking sumakabilang buhay na bayaw at manunulat, Jose Buhain na nagbigay inspirasyon ayon sa buhay ni Emilio Jacinto.