According to Dr. Luis Derry, the place of Bonifacio’s death was in
Limbon (Indang) on April 23, 1897 and he was buried on April 26, 1897,
in this case he is also denying the trial of Supremo Bonifacio. Scholars
could not agree on the exact place where Bonifacio was murdered; for
Teodoro Agoncillo it was in Mt. Tala, for Santiago Alvarez it was Mt.
Buntis and for some it was Maragondon. This article is looking for
answers why Dery over looked the following facts if he was acknowledged
by his colleagues for having spent countless hours going through books,
manuscripts, periodicals and microfilm in search of material that has
since been shared in academic conferences and in his many books to come
out with his thesis "The Trial and Death of Andres Bonifacio: A Myth"
# ...If the Supremo was killed in Limbon according to Dery, why did
Aquinaldo government decided to bury his body in Maragondon, a distance
of 39 Km about 46 minutes by a car now a days? The fact is, the trial of
Supreno Bonifacio, begins in Naic and ends in Maragondon, for Naic fell
to the Spanish forces during the trial and Aquinaldo had to move his
government to Maragondon. On May 6, the court-martial found the Supremo
and Procopio Bonifacio guilty of trying to overthrow the government and
asked for the death penalty.
# ...If the Supremo was killed in
Limbon on April 23, 1897 according to Dery, how can Supremo be able to
write separate letters dated Abril 24,1897 to Emilio Jacinto and to
Julio Nakpil, then on April 27 to Gen. Mariano Alvarez (Gen. Mainam),
the letter stated...
27 April 1897
My dear General Mainam:
Our recently concluded election at Mapagtiis [San Francisco de Malabon]
has left a large poisonous thorn in my heart. I reiterate to you my
nullification of all that had been agreed upon there. Ay, General, I
never expected that my complacency and loyalty would be rewarded with
avarice and insult upon my person by your fellow townsmen who are
spurious patriots. I shall make them realize when I set foot on Morong
[Rizal province] soil that it was not I whom they insulted but the whole
country.
Send me food at once and faithful followers of the
Mother Country here at Limbon as a fulfillment of your promised help
when I left in disquietude.
Your supremo,
And. Bonifacio, Maypagasa.
# ...In the evening of April 29, 1897, some Magdiwang leaders met at
the invitation Of Secretary of War Ariston Vilanueva and Secretary of
Finance Diego Mojica in a house in Naic, the purpose of which is to
discuss a plan to rescue the Supremo and his brother who were held
prisoner of the Magdalo. They did not invite Gen. Mariano Alvarez (Gen.
Mainam) and his son Gen. Santiago Alvarez (Gen. Apoy) because the former
was with the Magdalo-sponsored "Philippine Republic," as director of
welfare while the latter was patently opposed to any move that would
lead to a civil war. Those present approved of a plan to organize a bolo
regiment that was to pretend to reinforce the infantry contingent
guarding the Naic estate house and at a given signal, it was to make a
sudden, simultaneous attack and then, capture the guns and the
fortifications. However, the plans never materialized because of
unexpected attack by the Spaniards, which led to the capture of Naic and
Indang.
- - The next day Gen. Luciano San Miguel reported to Gen.
Apoy (Santiago Alvarez) what transpired at the meeting but the latter advised against such a
plan because he thought it would lead the country to perdition and
said...
"- - Ano ang sasapitin ng kaunting magkakasama na
maghihiwa-hiwalay at magsusukat ng kani-kanyang lakas? Kung
magkakagayo'y sa ibabaw ng atin ding kapalaluan magdaraan ang makapal na
Kaaway, sapagka't walang pagtatanggol na magagawa laban sa kanila,
dahil sa masamang pag-iimbot, na lupigin ang kapatid na kapatid din
niya, gayong ang ating dugo at buhay ay walang sadyang pinaglalaanan
kundi ang Kalayaan ng Inang-Bayan."
# ...The trial of the
prisoners, Supremo Andres Bonifacio and his companions, was held on 29
and 30 April 1897, in Naic, Cavite, before a court martial headed by
Col. Pantaleon Garcia.
The following is a deposition of Gen. Mariano Noriel which was presented before the court:
Col. Agapito Bonzon reported that when he arrested the Supremo and his
companions in the village of Limbon, with his persuasive best to
convince him to comply with summons from the Government of the
Philippine Republic, the Supremo not only refused him but is belligerent
and ordered his troops to shoot. Col. Bonzon had to shoot back in
self-defense, thus, the unexpected shedding of blood and taking of
lives. Two soldiers of the Philippine Republic and a brother of the
Supremo, Ciriaco was killed. The above is the report of Colonel Bonzon
which I am submitting to you.
(Sgd.) Mariano Noriel
Brigadier General
To the Honorable President of the "Philippine Republic" Mr. Emilio Aguinaldo:
This letter should be acknowledged by the War Council which should appoint a colonel as judge to try the case.
# ...The President's memo was sent to Col. Pantaleon Garcia who upon
receiving his appointment as judge advocate in the trial, immediately
set up a court in Naic with Capt. Lazaro Macapagal as secretary. The
trial started on April 29, 1897 before the officers of the court
martial, Garcia and Macapagal. The accused answered the questions
truthfully and in a straightforward manner. The following are the
samples of their testimonies on the first day of trial.
- - Testimony of Benito Torres...
He was one of the head soldiers of the Supremo, with Pedro Giron as
colonel, Roxas as captain and Juan Liwanag as lieutenant. He did not
know where their guns came from, but even when they are in Balara, he
knew that the supremo already had many guns. He was not aware of a
government with a higher power than the Highest Council of the Katipunan
of the Sons of the people. They were getting to leave Cavite and were
only waiting for the Supremo's order and he had no knowledge of the
trouble in Indang; all he knew was that the troops sent by the Supremo
were not only refused aid but also scolded.
- - Testimony of Procopio Bonifacio...
He was not aware of the new government, he did not know how many guns
they had but all of them were already in their possession when they were
in Balara. He did not know if the Government of the Philippine Republic
had guns mixed with the ones from Balara. In the event that this had
happened, Pedro Giron should know, for he was the only one authorized by
the army to come in and go out of camp freely.
They had prepared to
retreat to the hills of Rizal where they had planned to regroup and
establish a new front in order to disperse the enemy. They had
envisioned this to be of benefit to Cavite because the concentration of
the enemy forces in the area would be broken. But since they were not
ready to leave yet, they had encamped at Limbon to defend it and keep
the enemy from entering Indang. They did not know of the existence of a
government with power over them and he had not written to any head
soldier in the Magdalo camp to join their group. His brothers, Andres
and Ciriaco could attest to this.
No meeting whatsoever was held at
Limbon. Aside from his natural disposition and force of habit, it was
also his duty as Supremo to cultivate fraternal love and sympathy even
with those considered to be dangerous to society. He could make them
embrace brotherly love for the sake of freedom for the native land. And
now it was he who was considered dangerous! There was never any meeting
or private conversation in Limbon that was against the government they
said had been established or against President Aguinaldo. And there was
no plan whatsoever to overthrow the government of whose existence we
were not even aware of.
- - Testimony of the Supremo Andres Bonifacio...
His position was that of Supremo of the Katipunan and president of the
Revolution. He did not know of other government that should be respected
and established by the revolutionary nation. He knew that there was an
army in Cavite led by Gens. Santiago Alvarez, Emilio Aguinaldo, Artemio
Ricarte and Pio Del Pilar. As organizer of the Katipunan, authority
emanated from him and he did not ask permission from anyone.
He had
fifty guns brought to Cavite to help defend the province. However, only
17 Remingtons were left after Magdalo troops borrowed it. He was not
sure if there are guns marked Magdalo, but that should not be the case
since none of the guns borrowed were ever returned.
He knew Messrs.
Torres, Giron, Ritual and Pio Del Pilar but never written to any of the
above gentlemen for the purpose of enticing them and their troops to
defect to his army.
He did not call a meeting at Limbon and talked
only with his own men. he never met Giron who claimed to have been
ordered by him to kill the president of the new government. Giron's
claim was a lie and was motivated by avarice. Messrs. Silvestre and
Diego Mojica had passed by at Limbon on their way to Buena Vista but
very briefly that they barely had time to exchange greetings.
He had
given no orders to his brothers and his men to the troops who attacked
them. When they saw these troops, they had already surrounded the
residence as was witnessed by everybody including the villagers.
One
colonel had asked permission to talk to him, that they had to do
something about the news in Indang that the Balara detachment was
planning to ambush his troops at Paso but after seeing for themselves
that the news was false, he had to apologize. He even shared a meal with
the colonel and when they left, he (the Supremo) had presented them
with several packs of cigarettes and matches.
After a while, one of
his soldiers reported that their outside battery had been captured by
those to whom they had just given presents and that these men had given
stern orders not to let anyone go out or come into the fort. They also
seized the guns of troops guarding the fort, raided all houses and
ordered the detainment of his troops.
In order to find out if it's
true, he had sent some men outside to investigate. When these did not
return, he had asked Captain Martin and Gen. Santos Nocon and later
Dorong Puti, to do the same but these emissaries could report nothing
except that the assaulting party refused to make explanations.
If
his election as president was acknowledged and respected, still these
questions had to be answered: Why was he 'not so proclaimed'? And why
were 'Policies and Guidelines' not disseminated? Instead, hasty decrees
were imposed on people who were not aware of them. People had been
grilled on whether or not they accepted the existence of the "Philippine
Republic" or if they have a permission to stay or assemble in a given
place. These interrogations are untenable since there were no decrees or
orders to that effect. Moreover, these were the revolutionary times and
it was the duty of all to defend the freedom of the Motherland.
Why did Mr. Emilio Aguinaldo 'insist on his claim' to the presidency
despite the decision of the presiding officer of the meeting at Tejeros
and the speeches and manifestos circulated by the leaders during the
election? Why did he take his oath of office in secret with a priest,
Fr. Cenon Villafranca when he knew that the latter was under the
jurisdiction of the Roman pontiff? No one in history had read or heard
of a national president taking his oath of office in secret before the
representative of the pope in Rome. This was unthinkable, considering
that the Philippine revolution was the result of outbursts of
nationalist feelings of Dr. Rizal, Burgos, Zamora, and other defenders
of freedom.
For reasons already stated, he was not aware that Mr.
Aguinaldo was president of the "Philippine Republic." Made in the name
of God and the Motherland, the valuable statements above composed of the
deposition of the Supremo Andres Bonifacio.
- - Testimony of Mrs. Gregoria de Jesus (Wife of Supremo Bonifacio)...
She did not know who fired the first shots because she had run to the
woods as soon as she saw the great number of men attacking the place
where they were staying.
She had seen the five men captured and
punished by Ciriaco Bonifacio. They admitted they were spies for the
Spaniards, assigned to report on the position and number of guards in
the revolutionary forces. After they had confessed, they had begged for
mercy and were spared but Ciriaco had their heads, eyebrows, and
eyelashes shaved to keep them from escaping. To avoid condemnation from
others, word had been spread around that the prisoners were being
punished for theft.
Not a single meeting had been held at their
residence in Limbon; she did not know that the Philippine Island had a
president and she did not know of any instructions the Supremo had
issued to the effect that his men were to halt all troops passing by the
Limbon fort. (The supposed order to halt was to be given three times;
if after the third time any passing troops did not take heed, then they
were to be fired at with a machine gun.)
# ...Aguinaldo commuted
the sentence to deportation on May 8, 1897, but Pio del Pilar and
Mariano Noriel, both former supporters of Bonifacio upon learning of
this, persuaded him to withdraw the order for the sake of preserving
unity and were supported by other leaders. The Bonifacio brothers were
executed on May 10, 1897 in the mountains of Maragondon. Aguinaldo
pardoned Generals Noriel and Del Pilar was ordered to return to their
posts, even testified against the Bonifacio brothers.
# ...A
fascinating exception are the unpublished memoirs of Revolutionary
Veteran Castor de Jesus, first cousin of Bonifacio’s wife Gregoria.
Veterano de Jesus was among the first recruits of the Katipunan,
followed the Supremo to Cavite, was in Maragondon during the trial and
execution of the Bonifacio brothers and his memoirs, in Tagalog, pack
detail so densely that scene after scene is recreated for the reader.
According to the memoirs, the Supremo left for Cavite early in
December, at five in the afternoon, carrying with him for expenses only
27 pesos. Accompanying him were his wife, who was pregnant, his
secretary Emilio Jacinto and a few others, all of them on horseback.
Left in command of the Katipunan headquarters at the Real de Balara was
Julio Nakpil, segundo supremo. Before he rode away, Bonifacio spoke to
his men: "Brothers, I must leave you because duty calls, but I feel sad
to be separated from you, since we have been together in suffering from
the start. If I leave you well, I hope to find you well on my return,
like harmonious brothers with one mother. I shall not stay there long: I
merely wish to gratify our brothers who are inviting me."
De
Jesus notes that the sky darkened as the Supremo rode away, and that the
men left behind felt melancholy: "We worried, as though conscious of
some mishap threatening to befall them on their trip."
When De
Jesus next visited Cavite, the Supremo was already inflight. De Jesus
joined the flight and was captured along with the Bonifacios.
His
memoirs give an intimate account of the last day in Maragondon. On May
9, Bonifacio’s wife suddenly realized that it was her birthday and began
to weep as she recalled how her parents never let the day pass without a
celebration. Bonifacio, who was feverish from his wounds (he had been
wounded during his capture), tried to console his wife: "Alas, you tied
yourself to a troubled life!" She hastened to assure him that she was
not lamenting her lot: "It had always been my dream to find as my
companion in life a man with a golden love for freedom and for our
country. It seems that the fortune you dream of is the fortune you get.
And if now these moments of misfortune come to us, what shall we do?
They come to us from the Lord."
According to the memoirs, Colonel
Lazaro Makapagal, accompanied by Jose Zulueta, came that night to the
house where Bonifacio was kept, and announced that he had orders to
fetch the prisoner. The prisoner had to face a brief hearing but would
be returned at once. His wife protested that he had been in pain all
night and she begged for bandages with which to dress his wounds, which
had begun to fester. The colonel explained that his soldiers had brought
a hammock in which to carry the prisoner. Because Bonifacio was taken
away in the night, a belief arose that he had been executed at midnight.
- - the memoirs of the Katipunero Castor de Jesus written in Tagalog
was donated by his family to the National Heroes Commission, under the
safekeeping of the Philippine National Library.
- ka tony
the 10th of May, 2014
references: Pilipino Heritage # La Independencia (newspaper) # The
Tribune (newspaper) # Memoirs of Gen. Artemio Ricarte # Katipunan and
the Revolution (S.Alvarez) # A Question of Heroes (N.Joaquin) #
Bonifacio Papers (J.Richardson)
...umaga, ika-1 ng Marso, 1888 mga creoles/Filipino, mestizos at ilang
ilustrados ay nagmartsa patungo sa tinitirhan ng pansamantalang
gobernador, Jose Centeno Garcia na isang mason, upang ibigay ang isang
petisyong pagtangal sa Dominikanong Arsobispo Pedro Payo at pagtatangal
din sa mga prayle at sa kanilang kapangyarihan sa ano man sanga ng
Katolikong simbahan. Ang pagmartsa ay pinangunahan nila Doroteo Cortez
na isang abogadong mestizo at Jose Ramos na hawak ang manipestong
nagtataglay ng mga krimen, kasalanan at pangaabusong ginagawa ng mga
prayle sa kolonyang "Filipinas," habang sila ay sumisigaw ng... "Viva
España! Viva el Rey! Viva el Ejercito! Fuera los Frailes!" ("Mabuhay ang
Espana! Mabuhay ang Hari! Mabuhay ang Hukbo! Ipatapon ang mga
Prayle!").
Ang nasabing manipesto ay nilagdaan ng 810 na katao at
ang kopya nito'y ipinadala sa Reyna Regente ng Espana. Hinihiling din
sa manipesto ang pagtataguyod ng Sekular na mga paring Filipino at
pagiging "Cura Parroco" ng mga ito sa iba't ibang parokya ng simbahan sa
kapuloan. Binangit din na ang kahilingang Sekularisasyon ay matagal ng
repormang kahilingan ni Padre Jose Burgos na naging sanhi ito ng
kaniyang kamatayan sa garrote. Ang nakalagdang autor ng manipesto ay ang
abogadong mestizo Doroteo Cortez, subalit ang tunay na nagsulat nito'y
ang henyong Marcelo H.del Pilar.
Makaraan ang isang lingong
pagsisiyasat sa naganap, napagalaman ng Kastilang Cortes na ang mga
taong nakalagda sa dokumentong ito'y hindi alam ang mga kahilingang nasa
manipestong kanilang pinirmahan at pinabulaan na hindi sila sangayon sa
pagpapatangal sa Arsobispo Pedro Payo at pagpapatagal din sa mga
prayle. Ang mga lider at mga namuno sa pagmartsang naganap ay biglang
naglaho na parang bula at iba nama'y ipinatapon sa malayong lugar na
tulad din sa pagkakatapon sa kapatid ni Marcelo del Pilar, Padre Toribio
Hilario del Pilar sa Isla ng Marianas sa pagkakasangkot niya sa "Cavite
Mutiny" na ibinintang din sa mga GOMBURZA. Ang pansamantalang
gobernador na Jose Centeno Garcia ay nagbitaw ng kaniyang tungkulin at
umuwi ng Espana, samantalang ang amo niyang Gobernador-Heneral Emilio
Terrero ay natapos ang termino at tungkulin sa kolonyang Filipinas at
pinalitan siya ng bagong Gobernador-Heneral Antonio Molto.
Ilang
buwan pa lamang ang nakakalipas sa pagmartsang ginawa at sa subersibong
manipestong sinulat, ay kumalat naman ang aklat ni Jose Rizal, "Noli me
Tangere" sa kapuloan. Upang huwag maakit ang mga nakabasa at magbabasa
ng subersibong aklat na Noli, ang Agostinong padre Jose Rodriguez ay
nagsulat ng isang dokumentong... "¡Caiñgat Cayo!: Sa mañga masasamang
libro't, casulatan" na nagsasaad na ang pagbabasa ng aklat ni Rizal ay
isang mortal na kasalanan sa Diyos at simbahan. Bilang sagot naman sa
dokumentong ginawa ni padre Rodriguez, si Del Pilar ay sumulat ng...
"Caiigat Cayo" (Kadulas Kayo ng Igat") na kinagalit lalo ng mga pare at
prayle kay Del Pilar. Kaya naman ang Kastilang Cortes ay inakusahan ng
mapangganib na subersibo at paghuli kay Del Pilar, tuloy noong ika-28 ng
Oktubre, 1888, si Marcelo H.del Pilar ay iniwan ang kaniyang mga mahal
sa buhay at tumakas patungong Espana.
- ka tony
ika-1 ng Marso, '15
Ika-1 ng Hunyo 1565, nang ang galleon San Pedro sa ilalim ni Kapitan-Heneral Felipe Salcedo (apo ni Miguel Lopez de Legazpi), kasama si Fray Andres Urdaneta ay tumulak patungong Cabo Mendocino ng California, pagkatapos ay nagtungo sa porte ng Acapulco, Mexico. Ang mahaba, subalit iwas sa panganib na rutang ginamit ng galleon ito ng San Pedro na nagmula sa Cebu, ang naging huwarang padron na sinundan ng sumunod na mga galleon sa loob ng 300 taon ng Manila/Acapulco Galleon Trade.
Noon naman ika-18 ng Oktubre 1587, ang Manila galleon na Nuestra Senora de Esperanza sa ilalim ng Kapitan-Heneral Pedro de Unamuno kasama ang maraming tripolanteng Tagalog na kung tawagin ay "Luzon Indios" ay dumaong sa Morro Bay ng San Luis Obispo, California. Ang ginawang pagapak ng mga "Luzon Indios" sa Morro Bay ay tinawag ng mga Amerikano na... "the first landing of Filipinos in the continental United States." Sila ay nagtayo ng kuta sa Morro Bay at nagtirik ng malaking krus na gawa sa sanga ng punongkahoy, subalit dalawang araw palang sila sa lugar na ito'y sinalakay sila ng mga Native American Indians at isa sa mga Luzon Indios ang nasawi. Dahil sa nangyaring pagsalakay, hindi tinuloy ang pamamalagi ng mga tripolante upang halughugin ang kalawakan ng California. Ang pagdaong at pagtataguyod ng kuta ng mga Luzon Indios sa Morro Bay ay pinakauna sa kasaysayan ng Estados Unidos kaysa sa kinikilala at tinatawag sa kasaysayan ng Amerika... "the Landing of the Mayflower Pilgrims in 1620 at Plymouth, Massachusetts."
Ang sinimulan ng galleon San Pedro at ng galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza ay pinagpatuloy nila Francisco de Galli at Sebastian Cermeno, noong taon 1594 lulan sila ng galleon mula Manila upang halughugin ang kalawakan ng California at angkinin ito para sa bayang Espana. Sa kautusan ng Haring Felipe II ng Espana, taon 1606 sa Monterey, California ay itinirik ang bandila ng Espana ng mga Kastila sa tulong ng mga naglalakihang galleon mula Manila.
Ang dating hukom sa Manila, Pedro Enriquez Calderon ay nagmungkahi sa pamahalaang Madrid noong 1748, na magtayo ng permaneteng presidio at kuta sa Alta California, upang maiwasan ang pagtatangkang pagagaw ng kolonyang ito ng Espana ng mga Ingles at Ruso. Ibinigay ang tungkuling ito ng pamahalaang Madrid kay Jose de Galvez upang magpundar ng presidio, mga barrio, mga bukirin, pagpapalawak ng sakop na lupain at pagdadala ng maraming magsasakang Luzon Indios, mga butong pananim at punla mula Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng galleon sa Alta California. Ang napili naman ni Jose de Galvez na mamuno ng lakas militar ay ang Kapitan Gaspar de Portola at para mangasiwa naman ng missiong Katoliko at "encomienda sistema" ay si Fray Junipero Serra.
Si Junipero Serra y Ferrer ay isinilang noong ika-24 ng Nobyembre, 1713 sa Majorca, Espana. Ngayon ay kinikilala si Jenipero Serra, isang pareng Pransiskano na nagpundar ng siyam na Katolikong mission mula Baja, San Diego hangang sa San Francisco ng Alta California, na noon ay sakop ng Nueva Espana (Mexico). Habang naglalakbay si Junipero Serra mula sa Vera Cruz, kasama ang dating kapitan na naging Gobernador Gaspar de Portola, upang sakupin ang kalawakan ng Alta California, si Serra ay napilayan na naging sanhi ng kaniyang pangagailangan ng gabay sa paglalakad habang buhay. Ang naging alipin, tagaakay, taga pag buhat at taga pangasiwa ni Serra ay isang Luzon Indio na nangagalang Narciso. Matapos makapagtayo ng siyam na mission si Serra ay namalagi na lamang siya sa mission ng Santiago de Queretaro bilang superbisor, tuloy natuto ng wika ng mga "Pame Indios" na ginagamit niya sa pagsulat ng dasal at gamit na wika para misa.
Pinalawak ni Serra ang mission mula Baja, San Diego, hangang San Francisco ng Alta California sa tulong ng mga Luzon Indios (kung tawagin ng mga Mexicano ay "Chinos" sapagkat sila ay sakay mula sa mga galleon na ang lulan ay kalakal na karamihan'y gawang Tsina) at Native American Indians pamamagitan ng "encomienda sistema" o "forced labor" na ang pangakong kapalit ay kaligtasan ng kanilang kaluluwa laban sa demonyo, sa pamamagitan ng bisa ng sakramentong binyag. Maraming Luzon Indios o Chinos na binigyan ng mataas na tungkulin sa mga mission, sapagkat sila ay maaasahan di tulad ng mga Native American Indians. Tulad ng Kapampangan na si Vicente Tallado at 20 na mga Luzon Indios na kasama, dating mga tripolante ng galleon San Jose, si Tallado ay tagapangasiwa sa mission ng Monterey.
Maraming Luzon Indios ang hindi makatiis sa mahigpit na pamamalakad ng encomienda sa Alta California, sila ay tumakas habang sila ay nasa Gulf of Mexico, na kung saan dinadala ang ibang kalakal ng Manila galleon upang ipadala sa Espania sa pamamagitan ng Dagat Atlantiko. Napadpad ang karamihan sa Louisiana at nanirahan sa tagong kasapaan ng Lake Borge, Saint Malo ng Louisiana at doon sila ay tinawag na "Manila Men."
Si Junipero Serra ay binawian ng buhay noong ika-28 ng Agosto 1784, na hanagang sa huling sandali ng kaniyang buhay ay nasa tabi niya ang tapat na tagaakay niyang Luzon Indio na si Narciso. Si Junipero Serra ay nilibing sa sangtuaryo ng Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, Carmel, Monterey California.
- ka tony
ika-19 ng Enero, 2015
Day
before the execution of Jose Rizal Magdiwang and Magdalo leaders met
to discuss how to settle differences in revolutionary struggle and also a
plot to snatch Rizal on the eve of his execution scheduled by the
Spanish colonial authorities, also exploration of unified leadership
fails because of dispute over which leadership should prevail; Supremo
Bonifacio asks Aguinaldo, secretary of
the meeting to record a motion forwarded re-framing of a constitution,
despite the fact that the Katipunan Government already had one, but
Aguinaldo asks that the matter be deferred at the moment.
After
the execution of Jose Rizal at Bagumbayan, Josephine Bracken with
Paciano & Trinidad Rizal (her brother & sister-in-law, the
latter a Katipunera & a Mason), according to Santiago Alvarez’s
Memoirs, said that the Rizals came at past one o'clock in the afternoon
of December 30, 1896 at San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias).
Andres Bonifacio, the Katipunan supremo, received the Rizals himself at
the house of Mrs. Estefania Potente where he was staying. Was requested
by the Rizals to translate Rizal's poem ("Mi Ultimo Adios" originally
untitled, unsigned and undated) to Tagalog. Supremo Bonifacio asked if
he could keep for some time a copy of Rizal’s poem so that he could
translate it into Tagalog with the assistance of Diego Mojica, President
of the Popular Council Mapagtiis & local Cavite poet & writer
in Tagalog. This Tagalog translation by the Supremo Bonifacio is now
known as "Pahimakas."
The following day a meeting was held
between the Magdalo and Magdiwang parties of the Katipunan at Imus,
Cavite, December 31, to determine the leadership of Cavite in order to
end the rivalry between the two factions. The issue of whether the
current Katipunan Government should be replaced by a revolutionary
government was brought up by the Magdalo, the Magdiwang favored the old
Katipunan Government, though both factions agreed that Cavite should not
be divided. Supremo Bonifacio and the Magdiwang contended that the
Katipunan already functioned like a full-fledged and served as their
revolutionary government since it had its own constitution, laws and
provincial and municipal governments. Magdiwang is major Katipunan force
in Cavite, with 3,400 guns compared to Magdalo's 2000 and had decidedly
bigger territories covered.
In the same meeting, a Magdalo
engineer and general named Edilberto Evangelista made a draft of a
constitution. Aguinaldo himself publicly recommended Evangelista to head
the revolutionary government that would be established in place of the
Katipunan Government, according to Aquinaldo, Evangelista is "the most
educated" in the organization and that Evangelista could "command the
respect of the Spaniards." Evangelista presented his draft constitution
for the proposed government to Supremo Bonifacio but this had earlier
been rejected as too similar and finding it plagiarized from the Spanish
"Maura Law" - the same law that laid the basic foundations for Spanish
Municipal Government in the Philippines. It is named after its author,
Antonio Maura y Montaner the Spanish Minister of Colonies at the time.
The Maura Law established tribunales, municipales and juntas
provinciales and these foundations laid by the Maura Law were later
adopted, revised and strictly followed by the American and Filipino
governments that succeeded Spanish rule in the country. Evangelista's
constitution contradicts the objectives of the Katipunan Government;
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity...
1) To advocate complete independence from Spain, to be achieved through armed struggle.
2) To take back lands, gold, personal savings, personal properties
confiscated by the church and Spanish Cortes from the poor masses. They
also saw it as their personal responsibility to help the poor, the
oppressed and to teach them good manners, hygiene and morality.
3) To dismiss the elite society and social classes, instead create an equal social status.
The Imus Assembly presided by Supremo Andres Bonifacio, ended without a
resolution of the conflict and issues. Upon the event of restructuring,
according to Santiago Alvarez and Artemio Ricarte, the assembly agreed
to appoint Supremo Bonifacio as the head of a legislative committee and
was given the authority by both factions to appoint members he considers
worthy in setting up a new government. The Supremo requested for the
minutes of the meeting to establish this given authority, but these were
never provided.
- ka tony
the 29th of December, 2013
On February 23, 1918, an Act was passed to build a national monument
for Supremo Andres Bonifacio, known as Father of Philippine Revolution
for picking up his gun and bolo fighting for the total independence of
Haring Bayang Katagalugan against the Spanish colonizers. Act No. 2760
was passed by the Philippine Legislature, of which former Katipuneros,
specially Supremo's friend and comrade, Guillermo Masangkay led the
move to build the national monument. Inaugurated on the 70th birth
anniversary of Bonifacio (November 30, 1933), the monument demonstrates
National Artist Guillermo Tolentino's philosophy that a megalith should
be factual and symbolical. Tolentino painstakingly researched and
interviewed people who had known Andres Bonifacio, going so far as to
even consult a "espiritista" (spirit medium) to discern the true
likeness and character of the Supremo.
Supremo Bonifacio wears a
"Balintawak Costume" white camisa de chino and red pants, Tolentino
basing it on the yearly fiesta of San Bartolome of Malabon, the patron
saint of knives and bolos, the only time Tagalogs were allowed by the
Spanish Cortes to carry knives and bolos to be bless during the fiesta
wearing their "Balintawak" costume . And on this occasion the Supremo
took advantage of the fiesta to stage the "First Cry of the Revolution"
at Balintawak, the place where devotees passed on the way to Malabon.
The massive structure with figures and design symbolizing the causes of the Philippine Revolution:
# ...Supremo is facing Tondo the place of his birth
# ...octagonal base with an eight-rayed sun symbolized the first eight
provinces placed under martial law for revolting against Spain
# ...45-foot tall pylon bearing the winged figure of Victory
# ...pylon or obelisk is composed of five parts corresponding to the
five aspects of the society, Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalang na Katipunan
ng mga Anak ng Bayan
# ...the base is an octagon, the eight sides standing for the first eight provinces to rise against Spain
# ...the base rises in three steps, each step alluding to each century of Spanish rule
# ...the very pools of water that surround the central obelisk were a
nod to Rizal's comparison of the Filipino temper to water vital, its
mien ever-changing, raging when provoked, an "elemental force," which
was among the motifs used in his El Filibusterismo: "That water is very
mild and can be drunk, but that it drowns out the wine and beer and puts
out the fire, that heated it becomes steam, and that ruffled it is the
ocean, that it once destroyed mankind and made the earth tremble to its
foundations!"
...Tolentino modelled the figure's bone structure
after Bonifacio's surviving younger sister Espiridiona. Tolentino's
sacred classical realist aesthetic has, perhaps, given us a Bonifacio so
unlike the volatile man of action that has bled into our collective
psyche but was nonetheless the best approximation of the man so few
could ever define so accurately.
- ka tony
- the 23 of November, '14
Nais kong bigyan ng pagpuna ang bantayog na dinesenyo ng maestro
Guillermo Tolentino para sa Supremo Bonifacio na punong-puno ng
kahulugan. Nais ko rin ihambing ang bantayog ng Supremo na ang tanging
layunin ay para sa buong kalayaan ng Haring Bayang Katagalugan, sa
monumento ni Rizal na ang hangarin ay reporma sa abusadong mga prayle ng
simbahang Katoliko at sa pamamalakad ng Kastilang cortes.
#
...maestro Guillermo Tolentino, lokal na eskulptor ang siyang nagdesenyo
ng bantayog ng Supremo Bonifacio. Isang naman istranhero Suwisong
esculptor, Richard Kissing ang nagdesenyo sa monumento ng ilustradong
Rizal.
# ...punong-puno ng kahulugan ang bawat sulok ang bantayog ng
Supremo. Kompara naman sa wala ni ano mang kahulugan ang monumentong
"“Motto Stella (Guiding Star) ni Rizal bukod sa tatlong tala na
sumasagisag ng Luzon, Bisayas at Mindanao.
# ...ang imahen ng Supremo
ay inihulma ng maestro Tolentino sa mukha ni Espiridiona Bonifacio,
taging nabubuhay na kapatid ng Supremo noon. Bilang isang esperitista,
si maestro Tolentino ay tinawag ang espirito ng Supremo upang bigyan
siya ng pahintulot at maalinaw ang kaanyuhan ng bayani. Ang imahen ni
Rizal ay itinulad ng eskulptor na Richard Kissing sa napakaraming mga
larawan ng sikat na ilustradong Rizal.
# ...sa bantayog ng Supremo
siya ay may hawak na baril at tabak na nagsasagisag na taging armadong
himagsikan lamang matatamo ang kabuoang kalayaan ng ating bayan laban sa
kolonyalismo. Si Rizal ay ipinakitang may hawak na dalawang aklat na
kaniyang sinulat at ibinunyag ang pagaabusong at kalupitang ginawa ng
mga prayle at pamahalang cortes.
# ...ang namuno upang maitayo ang
bantayog ng Supremo ay ang kasamang Katipunero at tapat na kaibigan
niyang Guillermo Masangkay. Ang humiling na magtayo ng monumento ni
Rizal ay ang United States Philippine Commission at ginawa naman itong
batas Act No. 243 ni Governor-General William Howard Taft.
# ...ang
bantayog ng Supremo ay nasa masang lugar ng Balintawak na kung saan ang
daanan araw-araw ng mga manggagawa na pumapasok sa kanikanilang
pinagtatrabahuhan. Ang pinagtirikan ng bantayog ng Supremo sa Balintawak
ay isa sa pinaniniwalaan na kung saan ginanap ang "Unang Sigaw" bilang
simula ng armadong himagsikan para sa ating kabuoang kalayaan. Ang
pinagtatayuan ng monumento ni Rizal ay isang parke na pangturista, na
dati'y napakaraming makabayan, bayani ang pinatay at nagbuwis ng
kanilang buhay, Bagumbayan o Luneta subalit ang lugar na ito'y
ipinangalan na Rizal Park, alay sa pangunahing bayani na pinili ng mga
kolonyalistang Amerikano para sa atin. Dito rin inilipat, inilibing ang
labi ni Rizal at dito rin ginaganap ang taon-taong selebrasyon ng ating
pekeng kalayaang deneklara ng taksil na Aquinaldo.
# ...ang imahen ng
Supremo sa kaniyang bantayog ay nakatingin sa pinagmulan niyang masang
Tondo, na tila naghihintay sa kung sino ang magpapatuloy sa kaniyang
naputol na masang himagsikan. Ang imahen ni Rizal sa kaniyang monumento
ay nakaharap at nakatingin sa malayong dagat na tila nais na muling
maglakbay at iwanan, talikuran na muli ang bayang punong-puno ng
suliranin, kaya siguro mayroong nagbabantay na sundalo sa kaniyang
monumento.
...taong 2011 ang Rizal Park ay lalong pinaganda at
muling binigyan ng panibagong pangaalaga ng National Parks Development
Committee, tulad ng Dancing Fountain, Flower Clock, ang Noli Me Tangere
Garden at ang Luzviminda Boardwalk, para sa ika-150 selebrasyon ng
kapanganakan ni Jose Rizal. Kamakailan ay binigyan ng malaking pagpuna
ng media at mga mamamayan tungkol sa isang mataas na gusaling itinatayo
na nakakasira raw sa paningin sa monumento ni Rizal.
Ang bantayog
ng Supremo Bonifacio sa Balintawak ay tila uling sa dumi dahil sa
makakapal at malagis na usok ng mga nagdadaanang sasakyang pampubliko.
Ito'y napapaligiran ng malalaswa at bayolenteng mga nagtataasang
billboard ng mga sinehan. Natatakpan pa ito ng napakataas at napakaingay
na LRT, tuloy hindi na makita ng Supremo ang kaniyang pinagmulang
masang Tondo. Kaawa-awang Supremo, inagawan na ng liderato, pinatay ng
pataksil ng mga mapulitikong Magdalo, inaagawan pa ng mga kabayanihang
titolo! Subalit tulad mo, hihintayin namin ang susunod na "Bonifacio"
upang ipagpatuloy ang naputol mong masang himagsikan na iyong sinimulan.
Mabuhay ka aming Supremo Bonifacio!!!
- ka tony
ika-23 ng Nobiyembre '14
para sa ika-151 kaarawan ng Supremo Bonifacio
Every
month of November an icon is borne across Manila Bay to honor this
patroness of the galleons - "Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga"
or commonly known as Our Lady of Porta Vaga, is the patroness of Cavite
province. She is titled as "Reina de Cavite," "La Excelsa Patrona y La
Celestial Guardiana y Protectora de la Provincia
de Cavite y su Puerto" is one of the most reverent Marian images in the
Philippines. She witnessed galleons built at Sangley Point and blessed
hundreds of galleons sailed and returned of the 250 years of the
infamous Manila/Acapulco Galleon Trade.
Her feast is celebrated
every second Sunday of November in Cavite City, where She is honored as
the Patroness of the entire city. Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta
Vaga is also celebrated during Lenten rites as well as the customary
observance of All Saints/All Souls Day, where she's referred to as
"Inang Magkakandila," the image is given a Pontifical high mass at
Binondo Church (Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz). In 1892, the
Philippine National Anthem composer Julian Felipe, composed a hymn
called "Reina de Cavite" on her honor.
On March 16, 1984, the
icon was stolen, after months of search it was recovered on August,
1984, the icon was stripped off all its original gold decorations and
precious stones. Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga - the
patroness of the galleons was re-enshrined in her altar by devotees
include OFWs and other foreign nationals who flock Manila Bay and Cavite
to join the Porta Vaga Festival.
- ka tony
**photo courtesy of our good friend Jing Lo Puertollano
