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

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"

(Disyembre 15, 1875 - Abril 16, 1899)
...tagapagpayo, kalihim, tagapangasiwa, tagapagpaganap, tagapagtala, tagapaglimbag, manunulat, makata, heneral at ang utak ng himagsikan.

Ang sityo ng Tondo at San Nicolas/Binondo ay maaaring tawaging “kuna ng himagsikan,” dito ay nagtaas ng kamao at tabak laban sa mga kolonyalistang Kastila. Makaraan ang 20 taon ng pinakaunang himagsikan ni "Dayahi" ng Mactan (Dayami Revolt of 1567), laban sa kolonyalismo, taong 1587 ay ika-apat na paghihimagsik laban sa mga Kastila ang tinawag na “Tondo Conspiracy of 1587" o "Maharlika Conspiracy." Hindi tulad ng ibang himagsikan na nauna, ang Tondo Conspiracy ay pinanggunahan ng mga Rajah, Lakan at Datu; Agustin 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), Ilog Pasig. Umabot patugong Hilaga na karugtong ng ilog Pasig na mga kapangpang - “Kapampangan” (ka-pampang), nagbigay din ng tulong 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 nagsumbong sa lihim na binabalak na himagsikan laban sa mga Kastila ng mga Maharlikang 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, ay ipinatapon sa Nueva Espana (Mexico). Sila ang pinakaunang mga Pilipino na nanirahan ng permanente sa bayang ito.

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

Bago isinilang at nagkaroon ng Argentinong Che Guevara, utak ng himagsikan ng Cuba, ang Pilipinas ay na unang nagkaroon ng Emilio Jacinto. Siya ay nabuhay nang napakaigsi, subalit malalagpasan ang nagawang kontribusyon ni "Che" sa larangan ng himagsikan. Ang henyo at matapang na Emilio Jacinto ay pumanaw ng napakabata - 24 taong gulang, napakaigsi, walang drama at hindi makulay. Pumanaw sa sakit at hindi sa larangan ng digmaan. Subalit maigsi man ang kaniyang naging buhay, napakarami at napakamahalaga ang kaniyang iniwang nagawa para sa Katipunan at himagsikan. Kung hindi kay Jacinto ang 300 Katipunero ay hindi dumami at umabot 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, sila ay lumipat sa Trozo, Tondo ang pook ng masang prolitaryo. Nagiisang naghahanap-buhay ang kaniyang ina na namamasukan sa pabrika ng sigarilyo "La Insular Cigar" sa Plaza Calderon de la Barca sa Binondo, kaya’t hindi kayang balikatin ang kanilang dating maluhong pamumuhay. 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 si Jacinto sa kanyang kapatid na si Jose Dizon na bandang huli ay isa sa mga martir na binaril sa Bagumbayan, dahil isa siya sa liderato ng Katipunan. Sa pamamagitan nang tulong ng kaniyang tiyo, nakapagtapos si Jacinto ng “Bachelor of Arts, sa San Juan de Letran. Tapos ay 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 tungkol sa kalupitan ng mga Kastila, ang mapusok at aktibistang 17 taong gulang ay naakit nang tuluyan sa himagsikan at tuloy nakibaka.

Buwan ng Hulyo ika-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 tinitirhan ni Deodato Arellano na nasa kanto ng Azcarraga at calle Elcano, San Nicolas/Binondo. Nandoon rin sina Ladislao Diwa, Valentin Diaz at Teodoro Plata, itinatag ang “Kataastaasan Kagalanggalangan Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan.” Sila ay nanumpa at nangako na sisimulan ang himagsikan at magaakit nang 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 layuning pakikibaka, idelohya at kalayaang inaasam, buwan ng Mayo 1893, sumapi sa Katipunan ang dalawang istudyanteng Emilio Jacinto at Pio Valenzuela na nagaaral ng medisina.

Napahanga ni Jacinto sa taglay niyang talino, sipag at katapatan ang may 12 taon mas bata sa Supremo Bonifacio. 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, niyapos at inilag ni Bonifacio ang batang Jacinto sa punlo na sana’y tatama at ikakamatay nito na tumama sa kohelyo ng Supremo Bonifacio.

Nabigo sa natangap na balita ang Supremo Bonifacio mula kay Pio Valenzuela na kararating lang mula Dapitan, inatasan niya ito upang hikayating pamunuan ni Rizal ang himagsikan. Hindi pa rin nasiraan ng loob ang Supremo, inutusan naman si Jacinto upang sagipin sa kamay ng mga Kastila at tuloy na hikayatin na muli si Rizal na sumapi sa Katipunan. Ika-6 ng Agosto, 1896 ang barkong "Espana" mula Dapitan na sinasakyan ni Rizal ay nakadaong sa Manila Bay, upang mula dito'y lumulan naman si Rizal sa barkong "Isla de Panay" patungong Cuba, dahilan sa kahilingan ni Rizal na nagboluntaryong bilang mangagamot sa ilalim nang bandila ng Espanya. Ang Cuba na kolonya rin ng Espanya tulad ng Pilipinas, ay kasalukuyan noon 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 ipinaalam ni Jacinto ang sanhi ng kaniyang pagbabalatkayo, balak na pagligtas at alok na pamunuan ni Rizal ang Katipunan. Nasawi ang ninanasa nila Bonifacio at Jacinto, sapagkat si Rizal ay buo sa kaniyang kalooban ang balak na gawain sa Cuba, bukod dito siya ay hindi sangayon sa armadong himagsikan ng masang Katipunan, tinangihan ang alok at binabalak pagsagip nila Bonifacio at Jacinto para sa kaniya. Si Rizal, tulad ng hinihiling reporma mga Insulares at mga Ilustrado upang sila ay makapantay ng mga Penisulares sa elite na lipunan ng kolonyang Pilipinas. Sa hinihingi ng tadhana, ng dumating si Rizal sa Maynila, ang barkong "Isla de Luzon" na kaniya sana'y sasakyan ay nakaalis na patungong Cuba, kaya nga't dumaong ng matagal ang barkong "Espana" sa Manila Bay at nakapagusap ng matagal ang batang Jacinto at Rizal, bago ito sumakay sa barkong "Isla de Panay" na susunod naman na papuntang Cuba.

Sa tindi ng kapusukan na 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 tagumpay ng himagsikan. Sumulat siya ng “Panatang Panunumpa” para sa mga sumasapi sa Katipunan. Siya rin ang sumulat nang “Kartilya ng Katipunan” aral at batas na dapat sundin ng mga Katipunero. Sumulat din siya nang pilosopyang/politikal na aklat na hindi nalibag, “Liwanag at Dilim.” Sinulat din niya ang; “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, “Ang Kalayaan” na ang lihim na imprenta ay nasa calle Lavezares San Nicolas, malapit lang sa bahay ni Valenzuela. Si Jacinto rin ang nangasiwa sa paggawa ng pulburang gamit sa bala ng baril, siya rin ang pinuno, tagapagisip at pagpaplano ng pagespiya para sa Katipunan.

Nakatangap ng balita mula sa kanilang espiya ang Supremo 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. Ika-21 ng Agosto, 1896, nagpulong sila Bonifacio at Jacinto sa bahay ni Apolonio Samson sa pook ng Kangkong upang pagusapan ang nararapat gawin. Ang Kangkong ay bahagi ng Caloocan (ka-luko-lukukan), 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, buwan ng Agosto 1896, isinabay sa kapistahan ng patron ng mga patalim, San Bartolome ng Malabon. Pinunit nila ang kanilang mga “cedula” at sumigaw na hindi na sila magpapailalim sa Espanya kailanman.

Kinabukasan sila ay lumipat sa bahay ni Tandang Sora upang hindi mapansin 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). Ika 30 ng Agosto, 1896, pinamunuan nila Bonifacio, Jacinto at mayroong 800 Katipunero kanilang sinalakay ang El Deposito na doon ay mayroong 100 sundalong Kastila na nagsipagurong at kinulong. Bitbit ng mga Katipunero ang naagaw na mga sandata at balak salakayin ang Maynila (Intramuros) ngunit sa Caloocan pa lamang sila ay sinalubong ng hukbong sandatahang Kastila na patungo upang saklolohan ang El Deposito. Nagsiurong 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 upang huwag tularan ng kapuwa Katagalugan.

Matapos ang piyasko at pagkasawi sa El Deposito, hinirang ni Bonifacio si Jacinto na Pinunong Heneralisisimo ng mga Katipunan sa Maynila at paligid pook; 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, tagapamahala nang mga; baril, bala at iba pang sandata. Nilimbag din 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 lakas ng Kastila, si Jacinto nagkaroon ng karamdaman. Labag si Jacinto sa pagtungo nila ni Bonifacio sa Tejeros, Cavite, upang mamagitan sa hindi magkaisang Magdalo at Magdiwang na mga Katipunero. Bukod sa may karamdaman siya’y pansamantalang inatasan ng Supremo na umuwi sa kamaynilaan at pamunuan ang hukbo. Naiwan si Bonifacio, ang maybahay niyang si Gregoria de Jesus at ang dalawa niyang kapatid, Procopio at Ciriaco. Sa Cavite naganap ang malagim na katapusan ng Supremo, kaniyang dalawang kapatid at panghahalay sa maybahay ng Supremo, 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 Tondeno at ang liwanag ng Sosyalistang Silangan. Sa tindi nang lungkot at galit ni Jacinto ito’y tumanging kilalanin ang ilustradong pamahalaan at ang pamumuno ng himagsikan na inangkin at inagaw ni Aguinaldo. Sa kahilingan ng mga Katipunerong tapat sa pinaslang na Supremo, ipinagpatuloy ni Jacinto ang pamumuno ng masang Katipunan sa Laguna laban sa mga Kastila na tulad ng habilin sa kanya ni Bonifacio.

Ika-8 ng Octubre,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 espiya 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 kamaynilaan.

Habang nagpapagaling at nakabawi 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 hindi 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 ika-4 ng Pebrero, 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, mahina ang katawan at napakadaling dapuan ng sakit. Sumakabilang buhay ang binatang may 24 taon gulang lamang, ika 16 ng Abril, 1899, ang utak ng Katipunan at himagsikan, ang tagapagpayo ng Supremo, ang mapagpaakit sa idolohiyang pangmasa para sa sambayanan na sana ay kauna-unahang bayan sa buong mundo… SOSYALISTANG REPUBLIKA ng KATAGALUGAN!!!

- - ka tony
ika-8 ng Hulyo, 2009
Ito’y alay ko sa aking ama na si Antonio Donato Sr. 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.

Who is ISABELO DONATO?

I came across a book by Ambeth R. Ocampo, titled "Bones of Contention" The Bonifacio Lectures. In Ocampo's book lecture # 56 and # 57, was about Gat Andres Bonifacio's bolo. Ocampo wrote...
1938 Catalogue Of Paintings, Sculptures and Historical Objects published by the National Library and History there were three bolos in the State collection one of them described as follows: "BOLO OF ANDRES BONIFACIO (19th century) Bonifacio had this bolo with him when the Katipuneros gathered in Balintawak." Unlike the other bolos listed, it had no government property number, because it was not donated to the museum but merely placed on indefinite loan by a certain ISABELO DONATO who issued an affidavit published in the column of Alfredo R. Roces that reads:

" 28 August 1896, three days after the incident in Balintawak which ignited the revolution, Procopio Bonifacio, the brother of the hero and Donato's friend, sought refuge in his home located at 189 Calle Soler, Tondo. Procopio was followed latter by Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto. There, the hero left a bundle for safe-keeping. Meanwhile, Donato after some discussion with a neighbor, Mariano Gomez, decided that his house was not too safe a refuge for the Bonifacios, and so three days later, Andres Bonifacio and his companions were spirited to another home in Calle Lavezares, Binondo. After about a month's of stay, the refugees decided to leave for Cavite. On the night of their departure a dinner was given in their honor in the house of Mariano Gomez. It was in the evening of this departure, after the dinner, that Donato returned to Bonifacio the bundle entrusted to him on the night the hero arrived in Donato's house. Bonifacio opened the bundle which contained a pistol and a bolo and, keeping the pistol, he said to Donato: "I give you this bolo because it would only be a cumbersome to me" This bundle had been opened in the presence of Mariano Gomez"
...from Alfredo R, Roces, Which Bolo is genuine?" Sunday Times April 10, 1966, p.4)

Donato also stated in the affidavit that the sister of Bonifacio and a certain Vicente Carmona were like wise present and could verify his claims. The so-called Bonifacio bolo was already in the museum as early as 1918 because in the December 5, 1918 issue of La Vanguardia quoted in Roces, Acting Library and Museum Director Jose Escaler thanked Donato for his "voluntary gift" of the bolo. But on January 6, 1919 Donato made it clear to Escaler and the general public that the bolo was not donated but entrusted to the museum for safekeeping. It was not a permanent gift. The museum was destroyed during the Battle of Manila in 1945 and Bonifacio bolo was believed destroyed, too."
It's unfortunate that Bonifacio's bolo was one of the many victims cause by the shelling and bombardment by the Americans, in the Battle of Manila!

…and I'm very proud to say that ISABELO DONATO is my Lolo! According to my father Antonio Donato Sr., the reason why the brothers Bonifacio & Emilio Jacinto only stayed in my Lolo's house for four days, Mariano Gomez felt it was not safe because persons close to Father Mariano Gil the priest who exposed the Katipunan, live around the neighborhood.

My Lola Poleng (Hipolita San Juan), accompanied by the wife of Mariano Gomez found a place at 840 Clavel near the corner of Elcano in San Nicolas, where the three can spend some time. But again did not stay there long, either. The Supremo "did not find it to his liking." It was near the site where the printing press of "Kalayaan" the Katipunan organ was discovered by the Spanish authorities.

The three moved to 116 Calle Lavezares, a few blocks from Pio Valenzuela's residence where Bonifacio & his wife Gregoria stayed for a time. The Supremo knew San Nicolas quite well & in case of detection, escape is easy. My Lolo Isabelo took care of the daily food, supplies & important news for them. Being a good friend of his brother Procopio, Andres Bonifacio trusted my Lolo Isabelo for intelligence work, the strength, movements of the enemies & their collaborators, in the few days they were together. My Lola Poleng was the niece of Lieutenant Colonel Felipe San Juan, commander of Company I of the Guardia Civil, who was later to join Gen. Aquinaldo as a general. The reason why my Lolo Isabelo could get in & out of the Spanish headquarters in Intramuros without arousing suspicion.

In an interview conducted on August 13, 1965 by historians, my Lola Poleng told the researchers that my Lolo was constant danger. She said he had asked her to hang a red blanket on their window should he get detected & the Spanish authorities look for him in their house, so he would know. She said, my Lolo Isabelo was ready to flee to the mountains with the Supremo in the event that their activities were discovered. This was the man entrusted by Bonifacio to handle espionage work for the Katipunan. San Nicolas a most unlikely place, a growing Manila suburb, dangerously close to the enemy fortress, that Bonifacio chose to set up his headquarters, to direct the operations of the Katipunan, to plot out the next move to wrest the city from Spanish hands. He would leave the place only to inspect the troops in the areas around Manila, to look into their problems, to help them solve their difficulties. It was for the same purpose that he left his San Nicholas headquarters in late November, never to come back.

Having reorganized the Katipunan chapters in Manila & the suburbs, Bonifacio must have decided to look into the conditions of the provincial chapters, particularly Cavite where he had been invited to mediate in the conflict between the Magdalo & Magdiwang factions.

On the day of departure & the request by brothers Andres & Procopio & Emilio Jacinto, Mariano Gomez prepared a farewell dinner for them at their house. At the table were gathered the Bonifacio brothers & their sister, Emilio Jacinto, Mariano Gomez, with his son in law Vicente Carmona, my Lola Poleng & my Lolo Isabelo Donato. After dinner, my Lolo returned to Bonifacio the bundle entrusted to him on the night the hero arrived in his house. Bonifacio opened the bundle which contained a pistol and a bolo and, keeping the pistol, he said to my Lolo: "I give you this bolo because it would only be a cumbersome to me."
With Guardia Civils watching like hawks the areas of Tondo, Binondo & San Nicolas, because of its involvement with the Katipunan, my Lola Poleng said during her interview... "I gave the three my baro't sayas. It's funny they all fitted into them. And Emilio - we could not help laughing he really looked like a maiden." Dressed like women, the three were able to pass the heavily guarded place. From Tondo, Gomez & my Lolo drove the quiles bearing the Supremo & his companion to Tejeron in Makati near the British cemetery.

Latter, off to Cavite the Supremo Andres Bonifacio with Gregoria & his two brothers: Procopio & Ciriaco went to the web of the factional strife between the Magdalos & the Magdiwangs. The brothers not sensing their end is near, our country's freedom & the socialistic dream of greatness ended with them!

ka tony
the 16th of March, 2009