Katipunan

Katipunan
Katipunan
Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mg
Anak ng Bayan

Flag of the Katipunan in 1897

Abbreviation

K.K.K.

Motto

See the Kartilya ng Katipunan

Formation

July 7, 1892

Extinction

May 10, 1897

Type

Secret militant society

Legalstatus

Defunct

Purpose/focus

See Katipunan aims

Membership

Masonic

Officiallanguages

Tagalog, regional languages

President

Deodato Arellano (1892-1893)

Roman Basa (1893-1895)
Andrs Bonifacio (1895-1897)

Mainorgan

Kalayaan (dated January 1896, published March 1896)

Katipunan
President

Andrs Bonifacio (1892-1897)

Slogan

Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan

Founded

July7,1892

Headquarters

Tondo, Manila; Kawit, Cavite

Newspaper

Kalayaan

Ideology

Filipino nationalism

Political position

Syncretic

International affiliation La Liga Filipina

Colors

Red and White

Politics of Philippines
Political parties
Elections

The Katipunan was a Philippine revolutionary society founded by anti-Spanish Filipinos in Manila in 1892, whose
primary aim was to gain independence from Spain through revolution. The society was initiated by Filipino patriots
Andrs Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata, Ladislao Diwa, and others on the night of July 7, when Filipino writer Jos Rizal
was to be banished to Dapitan. Initially, the Katipunan was a secret organization until its discovery in 1896 that led
to the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution.

Katipunan
The word "katipunan," literally means 'association,' comes from the root word "tipon," a Tagalog word meaning
"gather together" or "society." Its official revolutionary name was Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan
ng mg Anak ng Bayan[][1] (English: Highest and Most Honorable Society of the Children of the Nation, Spanish:
Suprema y Venerable Asociacin de los Hijos del Pueblo). The Katipunan is also known by its acronym, K.K.K.
Being a secret organization, its members were subjected to the utmost secrecy and were expected to abide with the
rules established by the society. Aspirant applicants were given standard initiation rites to become members of the
society. At first, membership in the Katipunan was only open to male Filipinos; later, women were accepted in the
society. The Katipunan had its own publication, Kalayaan (Liberty) that had its first and last print on March 1896.
Revolutionary ideals and works flourished within the society, and Philippine literature were expanded by some of its
prominent members.
In planning the revolution, Bonifacio contacted Rizal for his full-fledged support for the Katipunan in exchange for a
promise of rescuing Rizal from his detainment. On May 1896, a delegation was sent to the Emperor of Japan to
solicit funds and military arms. The Katipunan's existence was revealed to the Spanish authorities after a member
named Teodoro Patio confessed the Katipunan's illegal activities to his sister, and finally to the mother portress of
Mandaluyong Orphanage. Seven days after the Spanish authorities learned of the existence of the secret society, on
August 26, 1896, Bonifacio and his men tore their cdulas during the infamous Cry of Balintawak that started the
Philippine Revolution.

Etymology
The word "katipunan" literally means "association", and comes from the root Tagalog word "tipon", meaning "gather
together" or loosely, "society". Its official revolutionary name is Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galang Katipunan ng mga
Anak ng Bayan[]

History
Being a secret organization, its members were subjected to stringent discretion and were expected to abide with the
rules established by the Society. Aspirant applicants were given standard initiation rites to become members of the
Association. At first, membership in the Katipunan was only open to male Filipinos; later, women were admitted.
The Katipunan had its own publication, Kalayaan ("Liberty") that had its only print in March 1896. Revolutionary
ideals and works flourished within the society, and Philippine literature were expanded by some of its prominent
members.
In planning the revolution, Bonifacio contacted Rizal for his full-fledged support for the Katipunan in exchange for a
promise of rescuing Rizal from his detainment. In May 1896, a delegation was sent to the Emperor Meiji to solicit
funds and military arms. The Katipunan's existence was revealed to Spanish authorities after a member named
Teodoro Patio confessed the Katipunan's illegal activities to his sister, and finally to the other portress of
Mandaluyong Orphanage. Seven days later, on 26 August 1896, Bonifacio and his men tore their cdulas in the
famous Cry of Balintawak that started the Philippine Revolution.

Katipunan

Formation
Influence of the Propaganda Movement
The Katipunan and the Cuerpo de Compromisarios were,
effectively, successor organizations of La Liga Filipina, founded
by Jos Rizal, as part of the late 19th century Propaganda
Movement in the Philippines. Katipunan founders Andrs
Bonifacio, Ladislao Diwa, and Teodoro Plata were all members of
La Liga and were influenced by the nationalistic ideals of the
Propaganda Movement in Spain.
Marcelo H. del Pilar, another leader of the Propaganda Movement
in Spain, also influenced the formation of the Katipunan.
Modern-day historians believe that he had a direct hand in its
organization because of his role in the Propaganda Movement and
his eminent position in Philippine Masonry; most of the
Katipunan's founders were freemasons. The Katipunan had
initiation ceremonies that were copied from masonic rites. It also
had a hierarchy of rank that was similar to that of freemasonry.
Rizal's Spanish biographer Wenceslao Retana and Filipino
biographer Juan Raymundo Lumawag saw the formation of the
Katipunan as Del Pilar's victory over Rizal: "La Liga dies, and the
Katipunan rises in its place. Del Pilar's plan wins over that of
Rizal. Del Pilar and Rizal had the same end, even if each took a
different road to it."[citation needed]

A late 19th century photograph of leaders of the

Propaganda Movement: Jos Rizal, Marcelo H. del
Pilar and Mariano Ponce. Photo was taken in Spain in
1890.

Founding of the Katipunan

Captured Katipunan members (also known as Katipuneros), who were also members of La Liga, revealed to the
Spanish colonial authorities that there was a difference of opinion among members of La Liga. One group insisted on
La Liga's principle of a peaceful reformation while the other espoused armed revolution.[2]
On the night of July 7, 1892, when Jos Rizal was banished and exiled
to Dapitan in Mindanao, Andrs Bonifacio, a member of the La Liga
Filipina, founded the Katipunan in a house in Tondo, Manila.
Bonifacio did establish the Katipunan when it was becoming apparent
to anti-Spanish Filipinos that societies like the La Liga Filipina would
be suppressed by colonial authorities. He was assisted by his two
friends, Teodoro Plata (brother-in-law) and Ladislao Diwa, plus
Valentn Daz and Deodato Arellano. The Katipunan was founded
An early flag of the Katipunan
along Azcarraga St. (now Claro M. Recto Avenue) near Elcano St. in
Tondo, Manila. Despite their reservations about the peaceable reformation that Rizal espoused, they named Rizal
honorary president without his knowledge. The Katipunan, established as a secret brotherhood organization, went
under the name Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mg Anak ng Bayan (Supreme and Venerable
Society of the Children of the Nation).[3]
The Katipunan had four aims, namely:
to develop a strong alliance with each and every Katipunero
to unite Filipinos into one solid nation;

Katipunan

to win Philippine independence by means of an armed conflict (or revolution);

to establish a republic after independence.
The rise of the Katipunan signaled the end of the crusade to secure reforms from Spain by means of a peaceful
campaign. The Propaganda Movement led by Rizal, del Pilar, Jaena and others had failed its mission; hence,
Bonifacio started the militant movement for independence.

Organization
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Katipunan

5
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Administration
The Katipunan was governed by the Supreme Council (Tagalog: Kataastaasang Sanggunian). The first Supreme
Council of the Katipunan was formed around August 1892, a month after the founding of the society. The Supreme
Council was headed by an elected president (Pangulo), followed by the secretary/secretaries (Kalihim); the treasurer
(Tagaingat-yaman) and the fiscal (Tagausig). The Supreme Council also had its councilors (Kasanguni); the number
varied through presidencies. To distinguish from presidents of lower sanggunian or councils (below) the president of
the Supreme Council was called the Supreme President (Tagalog: Kataastaasang Pangulo; Spanish: Presidente
Supremo). Initially, the Supreme Council was headed by Deodato Arellano, and the following as officials:
Position

Name

Supreme President Deodato Arellano

Comptroller

Andrs Bonifacio

Fiscal

Ladislao Diwa

Secretary

Teodoro Plata

Treasurer

Valentn Daz

In February 1893, the Supreme Council was reorganized, with Romn Basa as Supreme President and Bonifacio as
the fiscal. In January 1895, Bonifacio assumed the Supreme Presidency of the Katipunan. At the outbreak of the
1896 revolution, the Council was further reorganized into a 'cabinet' which the Katipunan regarded as a genuine
revolutionary government, de facto and de jure.

Katipunan

Position

Name

Supreme President

Andrs Bonifacio

Secretary of state

Emilio Jacinto

Secretary of War

Teodoro Plata

Secretary of Justice

Briccio Pantas

Secretary of Finance Enrique Pacheco

In each province where there were Katipunan members, a provincial council called Sangguniang Bayan was
established and in each town was an organized popular council called Sangguniang Balangay. Each Bayan and
Balangay had its own set of elected officials: Pangulo (president); Kalihim (secretary); Tagausig (fiscal);
Tagaingat-yaman (treasurer); Pangalawang Pangulo (vice president); Pangalawang Kalihim (vice secretary); mga
kasanguni (councilors); Mabalasig (terrible brother); Taliba (guard); Maniningil (collector/auditor); Tagapamahala
ng Basahan ng Bayan(custodian of the People's Library); Tagapangasiwa (administrator); Manunulat (clerk);
Tagatulong sa Pagsulat (assistant clerk); Tagalaan (warden); and Tagalibot (patroller). Each Balangay were given a
chance to expand their own spheres of influence, through triangle system in order to elevate their status to
Sangguniang Bayan. Every Balangay that did not gain Sanggunian Bayan status were dissolved and annexed by
greater provincial or popular councils.
The towns/cities which supported the Katipunan cause were given symbolic names, such as Magdiwang (To
celebrate) for Noveleta; Magdalo (To come) for Kawit; Magwagi (To win) for Naic; Magtagumpay (To succeed) for
Maragondon; Walangtinag (Never-diminished) for Indang and Haligue (Wall) for Imusall are in the province of
Cavite.
Within the society functioned a secret chamber, called Camara Reina,[4] which was presided over by Bonifacio,
Jacinto, and Po Valenzuela. This mysterious chamber passed judgment upon those who had betrayed their oath and
those accused of certain offenses penalized by Katipunan laws. Every katipunero stood in fearful awe of this
chamber. According to Jos P. Santos, throughout the existence of the secret chamber, about five katipuneros were
convicted and sentenced to die by it. The death sentence was handed down in the figure of a cup with a serpent
coiled around it.

History of administration
In 1892, after the Katipunan was founded, the members of the Supreme Council consisted of Arellano as president,
Bonifacio as comptroller, Diwa as fiscal, Plata as secretary and Daz as treasurer.
In 1893, the Supreme Council comprised Ramn Basa as president, Bonifacio as fiscal, Jos Turiano Santiago as
secretary, Vicente Molina as treasurer and Restituto Javier, Briccio Pantas, Teodoro Gonzales. Gonzales, Plata, and
Diwa were councilors. It was during Basa's term that the society organized a women's auxiliary section. Two of its
initial members were Gregoria de Jess, whom Bonifacio had just married, and Marina Dizon, daughter of Jos
Dizon. It was also in 1893 when Basa and Diwa organized the provincial council of Cavite, which would later be the
most successful council of the society.
The Filipino scholar Maximo Kalaw reports that Basa yielded the presidency to Bonifacio in 1894 because of a
dispute over the usefulness of the initiation rites and Bonifacio's handling of the society's buts. Basa contested
Bonifacio's practice of lending their funds to needy members, complete with promissory notes. Moreover, Basa
refused to induct his son into the organization.
It was also in 1894 when Emilio Jacinto, a nephew of Dizon who was studying law at the University of Santo
Tomas, joined the Katipunan. He intellectualized the society's aims and formulated the principles of the society as
embodied in its primer, called Kartilla. It was written in Tagalog and all recruits were required to commit it to heart
before they were initiated. Jacinto would later be called the Brains of the Katipunan.

Katipunan

At the same time, Jacinto also edited Kalayaan (Freedom), the society's official organ, but only one edition of the
paper was issued; a second was prepared but never printed due to the discovery of the society. Kalayaan was
published through the printing press of the Spanish newspaper Diario de Manila. This printing press and its workers
would later play an important role in the outbreak of the revolution.
In 1895, Jos Turiano Santiago, a close personal friend of Bonifacio, was expelled because a coded message of the
Katipunan fell into the hands of a Spanish priest teaching at the University of Santo Tomas. Since the priest was a
friend of Santiago's sister, he and his half-brother Restituto Javier were suspected of betrayal, but the two would
remain loyal to the Katipunan and Santiago would even join the Philippine revolutionary forces in the
PhilippineAmerican War. Jacinto replaced Santiago as secretary.
In early 1895, Bonifacio called a meeting of the society and deposed
Basa in an election that installed Bonifacio as president, Jacinto as
Fiscal, Santiago as secretary, Molina as secretary, Po Valenzuela and
Pantaleon Torres as physicians, and Aguedo del Rosario and Doreteo
Trinidad as councilors.

A Katipunan officer's sword.

On December 31, 1895, another election named Bonifacio as president,

Jacinto as Fiscal, Santiago as secretary, Molina as secretary, Po Valenzuela and Pantaleon Torres as physicians, and
Aguedo del Rosario and Doreteo Trinidad as councilors.
The members of the Supreme Council in 1895 were Bonifacio as president, Valenzuela as fiscal and physician,
Jacinto as secretary, and Molina as treasurer. Enrico Pacheco, Pantaleon Torres, Balbino Florentino, Francisco
Carren and Hermenegildo Reyes were named councilers.
Eight months later, in August 1896, the fifth and last supreme council was elected to renamed offices. Bonifacio was
named Supremo, Jacinto Secretary of State, Plata Secretary of War, Bricco Pantas Secretary of Justice, Aguedo del
Rosario Secretary of Interior and Enrice Pacheco Secretary of Finance.

Members
Over the next four years, the Katipunan founders would recruit new
members. By the time the society was uncovered, the American writer
James Le Roy estimated the strength of the Katipunan at 100,000 to
400,000 members. Historian Teodoro Agoncillo estimated that the
membership had increased to around 30,000 by 1896. The Ilocano
writer Isabelo de los Reyes estimated membership at 15,000 to 50,000.
Aside from Manila, the Katipunan also had sizeable chapters in
Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and
Nueva Ecija. There were also smaller chapters in Ilocos Sur, Ilocos
A late 19th century photograph of armed Filipino
rebels, known as the Katipuneros.
Norte, Pangasinan and the Bicol region. The Katipunan founders spent
their free time recruiting members. For example, Diwa, who was a
clerk at a judicial court, was assigned to the office of a justice of the peace in Pampanga. He initiated members in
that province as well as Bulacan, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija. Most of the Katipuneros were plebeian although several
wealthy patriots joined the society and submitted themselves to the leadership of Bonifacio.
Katipunero (plural, mga Katipunero) is the demonym of a male member of the Katipunan. Katipunera (plural, mga
Katipunera) refers to female members.

Katipunan

Triangle system and grades

Two infographs depicting the ranks within the Katipunan and the Triangle system of recruitment.
It was the original plan of Bonifacio to increase the membership of the Katipunan by means of sistemang patatsulok
or triangle system. He formed his first triangle with his two comrades, Teodoro Plata and Ladislao Diwa. Each of
them re-instituted Katipunan thoughts into another two new converts. The founder of the triangle knew the other two
members, but the latter did not know each other. On December 1892 the system was abolished after proving it to be
clumsy and complicated. A new system of initiation, modelled after the Masonic rites was then adopted.
When the Katipunan had expanded to more than a hundred members, Bonifacio divided the members into three
grades: the Katipon (literally: Associate) which is the lowest rank, the Kawal (soldier), and the Bayani (Hero or
Patriot). In the meeting of the society, Katipon wore a black hood with a triangle of white ribbon having the letters
"Z. Ll. B.", corresponding to the roman "A. N. B.", meaning Anak ng Bayan (Son of the People, see below). Kawal
wore a green hood with a triangle having white lines and the letters "Z. LL. B." at the three angles of the triangle, and
also wore a green ribbon with a medal with the letter
(ka) in Baybayin script above a depiction of a crossed
sword and flag. The password was Gom-Bur-Za, taken from the names of the three martyrs Mariano Gomez, Jose
Burgos and Jacinto Zamora. Bayani (Hero) wore a red mask and a sash with green borders, symbolizing courage and
hope. The front of the mask had white borders that formed a triangle with three Ks arranged as if occupying the

Katipunan

angles of a triangle within a triangle, and with the letters "Z. Ll. B." below. Another password was Rizal.
Countersigns enabled members to recognize one another on the street. A member meeting another member placed
the palm of his right hand on his breast and, as he passed the other member, he closed the hands to bring the right
index finger and thumb together.
Color designations:
Katipon. First degree members. Other symbols: Black hood, revolver and/or bolo.
Kawal. Second degree members. Other symbols: green ribboned-medallion with Malayan K inscription.
Bayani. Third degree members. Other symbols: Red hood and sash, with green borders.
Katipon could graduate to Kawal class by bringing several new members into the society. A Kawal could become a
Bayani upon being elected an officer of the society.
Membership
Any person who wished to join the Katipunan was subjected to certain initiation rites, resembling those of Masonic
rites, to test his courage, patriotism, and loyalty. New recruits underwent the initiation rite three at a time so that no
member knew more than two other members of the society. The neophyte was first blindfolded and then led into a
dimly lighted room with black curtains where his folded cloth was removed from his eyes. An admonition, in
Tagalog, was posted at the entrance to the room:

Kung may laks at tapang, kaw'y

[5]
makatutuloy!
(If you have strength and valor, you can proceed!)

Kung ang pag-uusisa ang nagdal sa iy dito'y umurong

ka.
If what has brought you here is only curiositygo away!

Kung di ka marunong pumigil ng iyong masasamang hilig, umurong ka; kailan man ang pintuan ng
May-kapangyarihan at Kagalanggalang Katipunan ng mg Anak ng Baya'y hindi bubuksan nang dahil sa
iy.
If you cannot control your passions, retire. Never shall the doors
of the Supreme and Venerable Society of the Sons of the People be opened to you.

Inside the candle-lit room, they would be brought to a table adorned with a skull and a bolo. There, they would
condemn the abuses of the Spanish government and vow to fight colonial oppression:
1. An ang kalagayan nitng Katagalugan[6] nang unang panahun? (In what condition did the Spaniards find
the Tagalog land when they came?)
(Expected answer) "When the Spaniards came to the Philippine shores on March 16, 1521, the Filipinos
were already in a civilized state. They had freedom of government; they had artillery; they had silk
dresses; they had carried on commerce with Asia; they had their own religion and their own alphabet. In
short, they had liberty and independence."
2. An ang kalagayan sa ngayn? (In what condition do they find themselves now?)
(Expected answer) "The friars have not really civilized the Filipinos, since enlightenment was contrary
to their interests. The Filipinos (called Tagalogs by the Katipunan) were merely superficially taught
formulas of Catechism for which they paid numerous costly fiestas for the benefit of the friars."
3. An ang magiging kalagayan sa darating na panahun? (What hopes do they have for the future?)
(Expected answer) "With faith, valor, and perseverance, these evils will be remedied."

Katipunan

10

During Bonifacio's time, all of the Filipino people are referred collectively by the Katipunan as Tagalogs, while
Philippines is Katagalugan.
The next step in the initiation ceremony was the lecture given by the master of ceremonies, called
Mabalasig/Mabalasik (terrible brother), who informed the neophyte to withdraw if he lacked courage since he would
be out of place in the patriotic society. If the neophyte persisted, he was presented to the assembly of the brethren,
who subjected him to various ordeals such as blindfolding him and making him shoot a supposedly a revolver at a
person, or forcing him to jump over a supposedly hot flame. After the ordeals came to final ritethe pacto de sangre
or blood compactin which the neophyte signed the oath with blood taken from his arm. He was then accepted as a
full-pledged member, with a symbolic name by which he was known within Katipunan circles. Bonifacio's symbolic
name was Maypagasa; Jacinto was Pingkian and Artemio Ricarte was Vibora.
Admission of women to the society

Katipunan

Part of the Philippine

Revolution

Flag of the Katipunan, 1892

Background
Events

Various revolts and uprisings

Factions

Magdalo
Magdiwang

Key organizations Propaganda Movement

La Liga Filipina
Objects

Noli Me Tngere
El filibusterismo
La Solidaridad

Organization
Leaders

Andrs Bonifacio
Emilio Aguinaldo
Ladislao Diwa
Gregoria de Jess
Teodoro Plata
Deodato Arellano
Valentn Daz
Jos Dizon

Katipunan

11
Members

Melchora Aquino
Po Valenzuela
Emilio Jacinto
Antonio Luna
Josephine Bracken
Artemio Ricarte
Daniel Tirona
Jos Santiago
Manuel Tinio
Len Kilat
Arcadio Maxilom
others

At first, Katipunan was purely a patriotic society for men. Owing to the growing suspicion of the women regarding
nocturnal absences of their husbands, the reduction of their monthly earnings and "long hours of work", Bonifacio
had to bring them into the realms of the KKK. A section for women was established in the society: to become
admitted, one must be a wife, a daughter, or a sister of a male katipunero. It was estimated that from 20 to 50 women
had become members of the society.
The first woman to become member of the Katipunan was Gregoria de Jess, wife of Bonifacio. She was called the
Lakambini ng Katipunan (Princess of the Katipunan). Initially, there were 29 women were admitted to the
Katipunan: Gregoria de Jess, Maria Dizon, president of the women's section; Josefa and Trinidad Rizal, sisters of
Dr. Jos Rizal; Angelica Lopez and Delfina Herbosa Natividad, close relatives of Dr. Rizal; Carmn de Rodriguez;
Marina Hizon; Benita Rodriguez; Semiona de Rmigio; Gregoria Montoya; Agueda Kahabagan, Teresa Magbanua,
Trinidad Tecson, rendered as "Mother of Biak-na-Bato"; Nazaria Lagos; Patronica Gamboa; Marcela Agoncillo;
Melchora Aquino, the "Grand Old Woman of Balintawak"; Marta Saldaa and Macaria Pagilinan.
The women rendered valuable services to the Katipunan. They guarded the secret papers and documents of the
society. Whenever the Katipunan held sessions in a certain house, they usually made merry, singing and dancing
with some of the men in the living room so that the civil guard were led that there was nothing but a harmless social
party within.
Though women are considered to be members of the Katipunan, information regarding the women's section were
scarce and sometimes conflicting. Teodoro Agoncillo, for example, disregarded Marina Dizon and concluded that
Josefa Rizal was the only president of the said section. Gregorio Zaide, on the other hand, mentioned Dizon's
presidency in his 1939 publication History of the Katipunan but changed his mind when he adopted Dr. Po
Valenzuela's notion that women-members did not elect officers, hence there is no room for president.
Notable Katipuneros
Andres Bonifacio (18631897) - Supremo, third leader and founder of the Kilusang La Liga Filipina.
Emilio Aguinaldo (18691964) - First and only president of the then First Philippine Republic, Katipunan's
successor. He was also a war general and head of the Magdalo faction that led to a strife among the Katipuneros.
During his presidency, he ordered the execution of Andrs Bonifacio in 1897.
Emilio Jacinto (18751899) - called as the Brains of the Katipunan. He wrote several papers during the
Revolution like the Kartilya (Primer).
Gregoria de Jess (18751943) - called as the Lakambini ng Katipunan (Muse of the Katipunan) and nicknamed
Aling Oryang, she was the wife of Bonifacio before marrying Julio Nakpil after the former's death. She was also
regarded as one of the first women members of the Katipunan.
Gregorio del Pilar (18751899) - entered the Katipunan circle when he joined the First Philippine Republic's
army against the Americans. He died during the Battle of Tirad Pass.
Licerio Gernimo (18551924) - Aguinaldo's war general during PhilippineAmerican War.

Katipunan
Vicente Lukbn (18601916) - Americans regarded him to be the mastermind of the bloody Balangiga massacre
in 1901 during PhilippineAmerican War.
Antonio Luna (18661899) - Aguinaldo's brigadier general, he led the war against the Americans during
PhilippineAmerican War; was killed by kawit troops.
Miguel Malvar y Carpio (18651911) - commander of the Katipunan and was one of the causes of strife among
the society members.
Enrique Pacheco - Alias Resurreccion Macabuhay. Secretary of Finance, and head of the Macabuhay Council.
Macario Sakay- head of Katipunan in Trozo, Manila. Future founder of Republika ng Katagalugan that will
oppose American occupation in the Phils.
Antonio Soliman
Paciano Rizal - Paciano Rizal was the brother of the national hero Jos Rizal was a personal friend of Padre Jose
Burgos during his youth, and joined the Katipunan years before Jose's return from Dapitan.
Manuel Tinio (18771924) - youngest general of the Katipunan, he later became the governor of Nueva Ecija
from 1907-1909.
Aurelio Tolentino
Jacinto Tolentino
Solomon Doma
Julian Felipe (18321835) - composer of Lupang Hinirang, teacher and member of La Liga Filipina, he later
served as legal advisor to the Katipunan. His tenacious ability in argumentative reasoning earned him the
nickname "demente viejo" among the colonial Principala.[7] In spite of being devout Catholic, Carpio, like other
Filipino revolutionaries, was a member of the Freemasons before the formation of the Katipunan. In Manila,
Julian ran a private law school which many of his personal socio-political ideals succeeded to his students.
Notable Katipuneros under his tutelage was Gregorio Aglipay[8] and Miguel Malvar.
Supporters:
Melchora Aquino (18121919) - also known as Tandang Sora (Old Sora) and nicknamed as the Grand Woman of
the revolution as well as Mother of Balintawak, she has been notable for her heroic contribution to wounded and
ailing Katipuneros during revolution.

Literature of the society

12

Katipunan

13

The triumvirate of Katipunan (from left to right): Bonifacio, Jacinto, and Valenzuela.

Written works
During Katipunan's existence, literature flourished through prominent writers of the Katipunan: Andrs Bonifacio,
Emilio Jacinto and Dr. Po Valenzuela. Each of the three's works were stirring literature of patriotism and are aimed
to spread the revolutionary thoughts and ideals of the society.
Bonifacio works. Probably one of the best works done inside the Katipunan was written by Andrs Bonifacio, the
Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa (Love of Fatherland),[9] a poem of sincere patriotic sentiment. Pag-ibig was
published in the Kalayaan only issue of January 1896 under his nom-de-plume Agapito Bagumbayan. According
to Manuel Artigas y Cuerva, the name Agapito Bagumbayan was a corruption of combination agap-ito,
bagum-bayan, which, if translated from Tagalog to English word by word, means "the new nation is here, and
ready. There is no known original source of Pag-ibig, especially that there is no surviving Kalayaan issue. The
two available texts accessible reprinted through books is the one published by Jose P. Santos in 1935. The other
one, with familiar discrepancies to Santos' print, was archived in military annals of Madrid.
After Rizal's execution at Bagumbayan on December 30, 1896, Bonifacio wrote the first Tagalog translation of
the former's Mi ltimo adis (Final Farewell), in which he gave the name Pahimakas (Farewell). He also wrote
the prose Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Z. Ll. B. (Duties of the Sons of the People), that was never published
because he believed that Jacinto's Kartilya was superior than his. Bonifacio also wrote Ang Dapat Mabatid ng
Mga Tagalog (What the Tagalogs Should Know), which is a politic-historical essay.
Jacinto works. Emilio Jacinto is considered the Brains of the Katipunan, later the Revolution. His poetical
masterpiece, written in Laguna on October 8, 1897, was A la Patra (To My Fatherland), with an inspiring
melody paralleled from Rizal's Mi ltimo adis He also wrote a touching ode entitled A m Madre (To My
Mother). His masterpiece in prose, the Kartilla (Kartilya, Primer) became the Bible of the Katipunan.(see below)
His other prose writing was Liwanag at Dilim (Light and Darkness), a series of articles on human rights, liberty,
equality, labor, government, and love of country. His nom-de-plume was Dimas-Ilaw.
Valenzuela works. Dr. Po Valenzuela was a medical doctor by profession. In 1896, during the first publication
of Kalayaan, Valenzuela assisted Bonifacio and Jacinto in editing the newspaper. He also wrote Catuiran? (Is it
Fair?), which described the cruelties of the Spanish priest and civil guards of San Francisco del Monte (now in
Quezon City) on a helpless village lieutenant. He also collaborated with Bonifacio in writing the article Sa Mga
Kababayan (To my Countrymen), an essay addresses to the motherland. His nom-de-plume was Madlang-Away.
During the infamous Cry of Balintawak, Valenzuela had the position as physician-general of the Katipunan.

Katipunan

14

Kalayaan
"Ang Kalayaan" redirects here. For other uses, see
Kalayaan.
Kalayaan (Liberty/Freedom) was the official organ and newspaper
of the Katipunan. It was first published March 1896 (even though
its masthead was dated January 1896.) The first Kalayaan issue
has never been followed.
In 1895, the Katipunan bought an old hand-press with the money
generously donated by two Visayan co-patriots Francisco del
Castillo and Candido Ibanwho returned to the country after
working as shell and pearl divers in Australia and had some money
from a lottery win. They bought the press and a small quantity of
types from Antonio Salazar's "Bazar el Cisne" on Calle Carriedo,
and Del Castillo transported it to the house of Andrs Bonifacio in
Santa Cruz, Manila. On January 1, 1896, Valenzuela accepted the
position as the Katipunan "fiscal" in exchange of Bonifacio's
consent to send the printing press on his house in Calle de
Lavezares, San Nicolas, Manila, "so that he could assist and edit a
monthly publication which would be the Katipunan's main organ".
Bonifacio agreed, and on mid-January, the press was delivered in
San Nicolas.

Facsimile of the first page of Kalayaan.

The name Kalayaan was suggested by Dr. Po Valenzuela, which

was agreed both by Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto. Even though
Valenzuela was chosen to become the editor of the organ, they all
decided to use the name of Marcelo H. del Pilar as its editor. To
fool the Spanish authorities, the Kalayaan was also decided to
carry a false masthead stating that it was being printed in
Yokohama, Japan.
That very same month, January 1896, the publication of Kalayaan
was started. Valenzuela expected it to finish at the end of the
month, so they dated it as January. The existence of the press was
kept in utmost secrecy. Under the supervision of Valenzuela, two
printers, Faustino Duque, a student from Colegio de San Juan de
Letran, and Ulpiano Fernndez, a part-time printer at El Comercio,
printed the revolutionary literature of the society and Kalayaan.

Imprenta Press (1860) V John Sherwin (Casa

Real Shrine-Museum, Malolos City) printing
machine used by the First Philippine Republic
(now the Case Real Shrine), where the
newspapers La Independencia, El Heraldo de la
Revolucion, Kalayaan, and Kaibingan ng Bayan
were printed. During the Japanese occupation,
the "Bulacan Military Area", under Capt. Alejo
Santos, used this machine, against the Japanese.

When Valenzuela was appointed as the physician-general of the

Katipunan, he dropped his obligation as the editor and passed it to
Emilio Jacinto. Jacinto took the job, editing articles after his
pre-law classes in University of Santo Tomas. Since the press was
in the old orthography and not in the new "Germanized" alphabet,
as called by the Spaniards, there are no Tagalog letters such as "k",
"w", "h" and "y". To solve this problem, Jacinto obliged his
mother, Josefa Dizon, to buy types that resembles such letters. The types used in printing were purchased from
publisher Isabelo de los Reyes, but many were taken surreptitiously from the press of the Diario de Manila by
Filipino employees who were also members of the Katipunan.

Katipunan

15

According to Valenzuela, the printing process is so laborious that setting eight pages of typesets require two months
to complete. For weeks, Jacinto, Duque and Fernndez (and sometimes Valenzuela) took turns at preparing the pages
of the Kalayaan, which was approximately nine by twelve inches in size. On March 1896, first copies were issued
(dated January 1896), and about 2,000 prints had been circulated in secret, according to Valenzuela. According to
Epifanio de los Santos, only 1,000 copies were printed: 700 was distributed by Bonifacio, 300 by Aguinaldo, and
some 100 by Valenzuela himself.
The first issue contained a supposed editorial work done by del Pilar, which, in fact, was done by Jacinto himself. It
also includes Bonifacio's Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa, Valenzuela's Catuiran? and several works that exposed
Spanish abuses and promoting patriotism. Copies spread to nearby Manila provinces, including Cavite, Morong
(now Rizal), Kalookan, and Malabon. Surprised by this initial success, Jacinto decided to print a second issue that
would contain nothing but his only works.
On August 1896, the second issue was prepared. It was during this time when Spanish authorities began to grow
suspicious about anti-government activities and supposition that a subversive periodical is in circulation (see below),
raided the place where Kalayaan is being printed, at No. 6 Clavel Street, San Nicolas, Manila. Fortunately, the
printers, Duque and Fernndez, warned in time, had destroyed the incriminating molds and escaped. Therefore,
Spanish authorities never found any evidence of the Kalayaan.

Kartilya ng Katipunan
The teachings of the Katipunan were embodied in a document entitled Kartilya ng Katipunan,[10] a pamphlet printed
in Tagalog language. Copies of which were distributed among the members of the society.
Kartilya was written by Emilio Jacinto, and later revised by Emilio Aguinaldo. The revised version consists of
thirteen teachings (though some sources, such as the one provided by Philippine Centennial Commission, list only
twelve). The term kartilya was derived from Spanish cartilla, which was a primer for grade school students before
going to school at that time.

Language and alphabet

According to Filipino writer and historian Hermenegildo Flores, the official language of the Katipunan is Tagalog,
and uses an alphabet nearly similar to Spanish alphabet but has different meaning and the way it was read was
changed. Diacritics were added, to emphasize the existence of ng and mga on Tagalog orthography. The following is
an excerpt from Flores' Kartilyang Makabayan: Mga Tanong at Sagot Ukol Kay Andrs Bonifacio at sa KKK
(English: Nationalist Primer: Questions and Answers about Andrs Bonifacio and KKK, Manila, 1922):[11]
30. Anong wika ang ginagamit ng mg kasapi sa Katipunan?
Ang tagalog; nguni't ang kahulugan ng ilang titik ng abakadang kastil ay iniba sa kanilang
pagsulat ng mg kasulatan at gayon din sa paglagd ng kanilang mg sagisag. Ang titik na "a" ay
ginawang "z", ang "c" at "q" ay ginawang "k", ang "i" ay "n", ang "l" at "ll" ay "j" ang "m" ay
"v", ang "n" ay "ll", ang "o" ay "c" at ang "u" ay "x". Ang f, j, v, x at z ng abakadang kastil ay
itinakwil pagka't hindi kailangan. Sa maliwanag na ulat ay ganit ang Abakad (alfabeto) ng
"Katipunan" kung itutulad sa abakada ng wikang kastil.
Rough translation:
30. What is the language used by the members of the Katipunan?
Tagalog; however, the meanings of some letters from the Spanish alphabet have been changed.
The letter "a" becomes "z", "c" and "q" become "k", the letter "i" is "n", the letters "l" and "ll"
are "j" letter "m" is "v", letter "n" is "ll", letter "o" is "c" and letter "u" is "x". The letters f, j, v,
x and z are not needed, and unused.
Presented below is the Katipunan alphabet, when compared to the Spanish alphabet.

Katipunan

16

Abakada ng kastil (Spanish alphabet)

A B C D E F G H I

J K LL M

O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Abakada ng "Katipunan" ("Katipunan" alphabet)

Z B K D Q H G H N L K

V LL C P K R S T X M W U Y -

Preparation for the revolution

Attempt to seek Rizal's support
The night when Governor-General Eulogio Despujol y Dusay exiled Dr.
Jos Rizal to Dapitan, Katipunan was founded.
In a secret meeting of the Katipunan at a little creek called Bitukang
Manok near Pasig on May 2, 1896, Bonifacio and his councilors
decided to enlist Rizal's support for the revolution. Bonifacio named Dr.
Po Valenzuela, an old friend of Rizal, to be Katipunan's emissary to
Dapitan. This was done in order to inform Rizal of Katipunan's plan to
launch a revolution and, if possible, a war against Spain.
On June 15, 1896, Dr. Valenzuela left Manila aboard the steamer Venus.
To disguise his real mission, he brought with him a blind man named
Raymundo Mata and a guide, going to Dapitan to seek Rizal's expert
medical service. (at the time, Rizal was renowned across the country for
his achievements in ophthalmology.)
Valenzuela arrived in Dapitan on June 21, where Rizal welcomed him.
Flags of the Katipunan (Casa Real Shrine)
After supper, Valenzuela told him the real reason why he went to
Dapitan and the necessity of securing Rizal's support.[12] According to
Valenzuela, Rizal only answered, "Huwag, huwag! Iya'y makasasama sa bayang Pilipino!" (No, no! That will harm
the Filipino nation!)
Rizal objected to Bonifacio's audacious project to plunge the country into a bloody revolution. He believed it was
premature for two reasons:
1. the people are not ready for a massive revolution; and
2. arms and funds must first be collected before raising the cry of revolution.
Because of this notion, Valenzuela made another proposal to Rizal: to rescue him. Rizal disapproved of this plan,
because he had given his word of honor to the Spanish authorities, and he did not want to break it. Instead, Rizal
advised Valenzuela to persuade wealthy Filipinos, so that they can solicit funds, where he recommended an elite
army officer name Antonio Luna to be Katipunan's war general, should a revolution break out. According to
Valenzuela's statement to the Spanish authorities, they almost quarreled over the matter and Valenzuela left the
following day instead of staying for a month as originally planned.
When Valenzuela returned to Manila and informed the Katipunan of his failure to secure Rizal's sanction, Bonifacio,
furious, warned Valenzuela not to tell anyone of Rizal's refusal to support the impending uprising. However,
Valenzuela had already spread the word, so that much fund proposals to the society were canceled. Despite Rizal's
rejection, the Katipunan was already trying to address its arms supply problem and had taken steps to smuggle in
weapons from abroad.
At his trial, Rizal denied that he knew Valenzuela, saying only that he met him first at Dapitan and that he
considered him a good friend because of what Valenzuela showed to him and his appreciation of medical tools

Katipunan
Valenzuela gave to him. He also said that this was the last time they met.

Attempt to solicit Japan's aid

Despite Rizal's rejection of an armed revolution, Bonifacio continued to plan for an armed conflict with Spain. The
Katipunan cast its eyes on Japan, which loomed then as the probable champion of Asian liberties against Western
oppression at the time. In May 1896, after Valenzuela's visit to Rizal, a delegation of Katipunan members, headed by
Jacinto and Bonifacio, conferred with a visiting Japanese naval officer and captain of a Japanese ship, named Kongo,
and the Japanese consul at a Japanese bazaar in Manila. The interpreter, a friend of Valenzuela, was Jos Moritaro
Tagawa who was married to a Filipino woman of Bocaue, Bulacan.
After the usual exchange of courtesies, Jacinto submitted the Katipunan memorial for the Emperor of Japan in which
the Filipinos prayed for Japanese aid in their projected revolution, "so that the light of liberty that illuminates Japan
may also shed its rays over the Philippines."
It was with good reason that the Katipunan solicited Japan's aid and alliance. Japan had been friendly to the Filipinos
since the Spanish colonial era. Many Filipinos who had fled from Spanish persecution had been welcomed there and
given full protection of Japanese laws. Bonifacio tried to purchase arms and ammunition from Japan, but failed due
to lack of funds and the uncovering of the Katipunan, Jose Dizon was part of the committee that the Katipunan
formed to secure arms from Japan with the connivance of the Japanese ship captain. Three months later, however,
the Katipunan was uncovered and Dizon was among the hundreds who were arrested for rebellion.

Discovery
As the Katipunan was busy preparing for the revolution, various denuinciations regarding its existence reached the
Spanish authorities. On July 5, 1896, Manul Sityar, a Spanish lieutenant of the guardia civl stationed at Pasig,
reported to Governor-General Ramn Blanco y Erenas the mysterious activities of certain Filipinos who had been
gathering arms and recruiting men for some unknown purposes. On August 13, 1896, Fr. Agustn Fernndez, an
Augustinian curate of San Pedro, Makati, wrote to Don Manul Luengo, Civil Governor of Manila, denouncing
anti-Spanish meetings in his parish.
The Katipunan was finally discovered by the Spanish authorities six days after Fernndez's letter to Luengo. On
early August 1896, two Katipuneros, namely Teodoro Patio and Apolonio de la Cruz, who were working for the
Diario de Manila printing press (leading newspaper during those times) had undergone misunderstanding regarding
wages. Press foreman de la Cruz and typesetter Patio fought over salary increase of two pesos, and de la Cruz tried
to blame Patio for the loss of the printing supplies that were used for the Kalayaan. As an action against de la Cruz,
Patio revealed the secrets of the society to his sister, Honoria Patio, an inmate nun at the Mandaluyong Orphanage.
That afternoon, on August 19, 1896, Honoria grew shocked and very upset to the revelation. The mother portress of
the Orphanage, Sor Teresa de Jesus saw Honoria crying so she approached her. Honoria told everything she heard
from her brother. At around 6:15 pm that day, Sor Teresa called Teodoro Patio and advised him to tell everything
he knew about the Katipunan through confession to Father Mariano Gl.
Controlled by his fear of Hell, Teodoro went to Father Mariano Gl, an Augustinian parish curate of the Tondo
convent. Though he is willed to tell anything about the Katipunan, Teodoro confessed to Father Gl that a
lithographic stone was hidden in the press-room of Diario de Manila, which was used by the society for printing
receipts. He also said that aside from the stone, there were also documents of membership (that uses member's blood
for signing) hidden, together with a picture of Dr. Jos Rizal and several daggers that was made for the
katipunero-employees of the newspaper.
Alarmed by the stunning truth of existence of a secret society, Father Gl, accompanied by local Spanish authorities,
searched the printing office of Diario de Manila and found the incriminating evidence. They also found Apolonio de
la Cruz in possession of a dagger used in Katipunan initiation rites and some list of new accepted members. After the

17

Katipunan
arrest, Father Gl rushed to Governor-General Blanco to denounce the revolutionary plot of the Katipunan. The
Spanish unleashed a crackdown and arrested dozens of people, where many innocent citizens were forced to go to
Fort Santiago.
Patio's alleged betrayal has become the standard version of how the revolution broke out in 1896. In the 1920s,
however, the Philippine National Library commissioned a group of former Katipuneros to confirm the truth of the
story. Jos Turiano Santiago, Bonifacio's close friend who was expelled in 1895, denied the story. He claimed that
Bonifacio himself ordered Patio to divulge the society's existence to hasten the Philippine revolution and preempt
any objection from members.
Historian Teodoro Agoncillo gives a differing version of events, writing that Patio revealed the secrets of the
society to his sister, Honoria, following on a misunderstanding with Apolonio de la Cruz, another society member
who worked with him in the Spanish-owned Diario de Manila periodical. Honoria, an orphanage inmate, was upset
at the news and informed Sor Teresa, the orphanage madre portera, who suggested that Patio tell all to Father
Mariano Gil. On August 19, Patio told Father Mariano what he knew of the secret society. Father Mariano and the
owner of the Diario de Manila searched the printing shop, discovering the lithographic stone used to print pring
Katipunan receipts. After this discovery the locker of Policarpio Turla, whose signature appeared on the receipts,
was forced open and found to contain a dagger, the rules of the society, and other pertinent documents. These were
turned over to the police, leading to the arrest and conviction on charges of illegal association and treason of some
500 prominent men.

First Filipino republic

From August 24, 1896, the Katipunan became an open insurgent government, and regarded themselves as a genuine
government. Even though the society did have a unified structure, own laws and a centralized leadership, it turned to
be working only when the revolution began.Wikipedia:Please clarify

Revolution
When the Katipunan leaders learned of the
arrests, Bonifacio called an assembly of all
provincial councils to decide the start of the
armed uprising. The meeting was held at the
house of Apolonio Samson at a place called
Kangkong in Balintawak. About 1,000
Katipuneros attended the meeting but they
were not able to settle the issue.
They met again at another place in
Balintawak the following day. Historians are
still debating whether this event took place
at the yard of Melchora Aquino or at the
house of her son Juan Ramos. The meeting
took place either on August 23 or August
Cry of Pugad Lawin Monument, Quezon City.
24. It was at this second meeting where the
Katipuneros in attendance decided to start
the armed uprising and they tore their cedulas (residence certificates and identity papers) as a sign of their
commitment to the revolution. The Katipuneros also agreed to attack Manila on August 29.
But Spanish civil guards discovered the meeting and the first battle occurred with the Battle of Pasong Tamo. While
the Katipunan initially had the upper hand, the Spanish civil guards turned the fight around. Bonifacio and his men

18

Katipunan

19

retreated toward Marikina via Balara (now in Quezon City). They then proceeded to San Mateo (in the province now
called Rizal) and took the town. The Spanish, however, regained it three days later. After regrouping, the
Katipuneros decided not to attack Manila directly but agreed to take the Spanish powder magazine and garrison at
San Juan.
On August 30, the Katipunan attacked the 100 Spanish soldiers
defending the powder magazine in the Battle of Pinaglabanan. About
153 Katipuneros were killed in the battle, but the Katipunan had to
withdraw upon the arrival of Spanish reinforcements. More than 200
were taken prisoner. At about the same time, Katipuneros in other
Typical Katipunero bolo.
suburban Manila areas, like Caloocan, San Pedro de Tunasan (now
Makati City), Pateros and Taguig, rose up in arms. In the afternoon of the same day, the Spanish Gov. Gen. Camilo
de Polavieja declared martial law in Manila and the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga,
Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. The Philippine Revolution had begun.
In Bulacan, the Bulacan Revolutionary Movement were attacked by the strongest artillery forces ever converged in
the capital town of Bulacan. This subsequently led to the Battle of San Rafael, where Gen. Anacleto Enriquez and
his men were surrounded and attacked in the Church of San Rafael.

The Battle of Kakarong de Sili

During the Philippine Revolution, Pandi played a vital and historical
role in the fight for Philippine independence, Pandi is historically
known for the Real de Kakarong de Sili Shrine - Inang Filipina Shrine,
the site where the bloodiest revolution in Bulacan took place, where
more than 3,000 Katipunero revolutionaries died. Likewise, it is on this
site where the 'Republic of Real de Kakarong de Sili' of 1896, one of the
first Philippine revolutionary republics was established. It was in
Kakarong de Sili, which about 6,000 Katipuneros from various towns of
Bulacan headed by Brigadaire General Eusebio Roque, better known
as "Maestrong Sebio or Dimabungo"[13] - List of Filipino Generals in
the Philippine Revolution of 1896 and the Filipino-American War of
1899 that the Kakarong Republic was organized shortly after the Cry of
Pugad Lawin referred to as 'The Cry of Balintawak' - Andrs Bonifacio
a Filipino nationalist and revolutionalist who led in 'The Cry of
Balintawak'.

Kakarong Republic

Inang Filipina Shrine

Panorama of the Park and the Shrine

Facade

History and researchers, as well as records of the National Historical Commission, tells that the 'Kakarong Republic'
was the first and truly organized revolutionary government established in the country to overthrow the Spaniards
antedating event the famous Malolos Republic and the Biak-na-Bato Republic. In recognition thereof, these three
"Republics" established in Bulacan have been incorporated in the seal of the province of Bulacan.
According to available records including the biography of General Gregorio del Pilar entitled Life and Death of a
Boy General written by Teodoro Kalaw, former director of the National Library of the Philippines, a fort was
constructed at 'Kakarong de Sili' that was like a miniature city. It had streets, an independent police force, a musical
band, a factory of falconets, bolos and repair shops for rifles and cartridges. The 'Kakarong Republic' had a complete
set of officials with Canuto Villanueva as Supreme Chief and 'Maestrong Sebio'- Eusebio Roque as Brigadaire
General of the Army. The fort was attacked and totally destroyed on January 1, 1897 by a large Spanish force headed

Katipunan
by the Commandant Olaguer-Feliu.[14] Gen. Gregorio del Pilar was only a lieutenant at that time and 'The Battle of
Kakarong de Sili' was his first "baptism of fire." This was where he was first wounded and escaped to nearby
barangay 'Manatal.'
The Kakarong Lodge No. 168 of the 'Legionarios del Trabajo' in memory of the 1,200 Katipuneros who perished in
the battle erected a monument of the Inang Filipina Shrine - (Mother Philippines Shrine) in 1924 in the barrio of
Kakarong of Pandi, Bulacan. The actual site of the 'Battle of Kakarong de Sili' is now a part of the barangay of 'Real
de Kakarong'. No less than one of the greatest generals in the Philippines' history, General Emilio Aguinaldo who
became first Philippine president visited this sacred ground in the late fifties.

Spanish response
Even before the discovery of the Katipunan, Rizal applied for a position as doctor in the Spanish army in Cuba in a
bid to persuade the Spanish authorities of his loyalty to Spain. His application was accepted and he arrived in Manila
to board a ship for Spain in August 1896, shortly before the secret society was exposed. But while Rizal was en route
to Spain, the Katipunan was unmasked and a telegram overtook the steamer at Port Said, recalling him to the
Philippines to face charges that he was the mastermind of the uprising. He was later executed by musketry on
December 30, 1896 at the field of Bagumbayan (now known as Luneta).
While Rizal was being tried by a military court for treason, the prisoners taken in the Battle of
PinaglabananSancho Valenzuela, Ramn Peralta, Modesto Sarmiento, and Eugenio Silvestrewere executed on
September 6, 1896 at Bagumbayan.
Six days later, they also executed the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite at Fort San Felipe Fort in Cavite.
The Spanish colonial authorities also pressed the prosecution of those who were arrested after the raid on the Diario
de Manila printing press, where they found evidence incriminating not only common folk but also wealthy Filipino
society leaders.
The Bicol Martyrs were executed by firing squad on January 4, 1897 at Bagumbayan. They were Manuel Abella,
Domingo Abella, priests Inocencio Herrera, Gabriel Prieto and Severino Daz, Camio Jacob, Tomas Prieto, Florencio
Lerma, Macario Valentin, Cornelio Mercado and Mariano Melgarejo.
They arrested and seized the properties of prominent businessmen Francisco Roxas, Telesforo Chuidian and Jacinto
Limjap. While there may be circumstantial evidence pointing to Chuidian and Limjap as financiers of the revolution,
the record showed no evidence against Roxas except that he was involved in funding the Propaganda Movement.
Even Mariano Ponce, another leader of the Propaganda Movement, said the arrest of Roxas was a "fatal mistake".
Nonetheless, Roxas was found guilty of treason and shot on January 11, 1897 at Bagumbayan.
Roxas was executed with Numeriano Adriano, Jos Dizon, Domingo Franco, Moises Salvador, Luis Enciso
Villareal, Braulio Rivera, Antonio Salazar, Ramon P. Padilla, Faustino Villaruel and Faustino Maalac. Also
executed with the group were Lt. Benedicto Nijaga and Corporal Geronimo Cristobal, both of the Spanish army.[15]
On February 6, 1897, Apolonio de la Cruz, Roman Basa, Teodoro Plata, Vicente Molina, Hermenegildo de los
Reyes, Joes Trinidad, Pedro Nicodemus, Feliciano del Rosario, Gervasio Samson and Doroteo Domnguez were also
executed at Bagumbayan.
But the executions, especially Rizal's, only added fuel to the rebellion, with the Katipuneros shouting battle cries:
Mabuhay ang Katagalugan! (Long Live Katagalugan!--Katagalugan being the Katipunan term for the Philippines)
and Mabuhay si Dr. Jos Rizal! (Long Live Dr. Jos Rizal!). To the Katipuneros, Jos Rizal is the Honorary
President of the Katipunan.

20

Katipunan

Schism and disestablishment

In the course of the revolution against Spain, a split developed between the Magdiwang faction (led by Gen. Mariano
lvarez) and the Magdalo faction (led by Gen. Baldomero Aguinaldo, cousin of General Emilio Aguinaldo), both
situated in Cavite.
At a convention in Tejeros, Cavite, the revolutionaries assembled to form a revolutionary government. There,
Bonifacio lost his bid for the presidency of the revolutionary government to Emilio Aguinaldo and instead was
elected Secretary of the Interior. When members of the Magdalo faction tried to discredit him as uneducated and
unfit for the position, Bonifacio declared the results of the convention as null and void, speaking as the Supremo of
the Katipunan. Despite this, Aguinaldo took his oath of office as president the next day in Santa Cruz de Malabon
(present-day Tanza) in Cavite, as did the rest of the officers, except for Bonifacio. Andrs Bonifacio and his brother
was later arrested upon orders of Gen. Aguinaldo and executed on May 10, 1897 at Mount Buntis in
Maragondon,Cavite. He and his brother Procopio was buried in an unmarked grave. Thus ended the existence of the
real Katipunan, replaced by Aguinaldo's own revolutionary government.

References
Notes and citations
[1] May be transliterated to modern Tagalog orthography as Kataastaasang, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan.
[2] The Founding of the Katipunan (http:/ / malacanang. gov. ph/ 4304-the-founding-of-the-katipunan/ )
[3] Gregorio Zaide translated as Highest and Most Respected Association of the Sons of the Country.
[4] Lamberto Gabriel,Ang Pilipinas:Heograpiya,Kasaysayan at Pamahalaan(Isang Pagsusuri) ISBN 971-621-192-9
[5] Kartilyang Makabayan, by Hermenegildo Cruz (http:/ / www. gutenberg. org/ files/ 14822/ 14822-h/ 14822-h. htm)
[6] Bonifacio declared that Katagalugan (lit. Tagalog land) is equivalent to all Philippine territories.
[7] Ileto 1998
[8] University, Princeton. The Catholic Historical Review, Volume 4. American Catholic Historical Association, 1919, p. 320.
[9] In other sources, this was titled as Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Bayan. They are both equivalent to English title Love of Fatherland.
[10] May be transliterated as Cartilla, Kartilla, or Cartilya depending on the speaker and user.
[11] Chapter 6 (http:/ / www. gutenberg. org/ files/ 14822/ 14822-h/ 14822-h. htm#VI), Question 30.
[12] Dr. Po Valenzuela, Memoirs, Unpublished manuscript.
[13] Halili 2004, p. 145 (http:/ / books. google. com. ar/ books?id=gUt5v8ET4QYC& printsec=frontcover#v=snippet& q=dimabungo& f=false).
[14] Halili 2004, p. 145-146 (http:/ / books. google. com. ar/ books?id=gUt5v8ET4QYC& printsec=frontcover#v=onepage& q=olaguer&
f=false).
[15] The Project Gutenberg eBook of Dimasalang Kalendariong Tagalog (1922), by Honorio Lpez (http:/ / www. gutenberg. org/ files/ 16656/
16656-h/ 16656-h. htm)

Published works
Agoncillo, Teodoro C. (1990) [1960]. History of the Filipino People (8th ed.). Quezon City: Garotech Publishing.
ISBN971-8711-06-6
Agoncillo, Teodoro C. (1956). The Revolt of the Masses: the story of Bonifacio and the Katipunan. Quezon City:
University of the Philippines Press
Artigas y Cuerva, Manuel (1911). "Andres Bonifacio y el Katipunan". La Vanguardia (Manila)
Borromeo-Buehler, Soledad Masangkay (1998). The Cry of Balintawak: a contrived controversy (http://books.
google.com/?id=RJnMSmXLvr4C). Ateneo de Manila University Press. ISBN978-971-550-278-8
Cruz, Hermenegildo (November 16, 1922). Tamiko I. Camacho, Jerome Espinosa Baladad and PG Distributed
Proofreaders, ed. Kartilyang Makabayan: Mga Tanong at Sagot Ukol Kay Andrs Bonifacio at sa KKK (http://
www.gutenberg.org/files/14822/14822-h/14822-h.htm) (in Tagalog) (Internet, Project Gutenberg ed.).
Manila: Guillermo Masangkay, Alvarado St., Brgy. 535, Manila. The reference is an e-book reproduction from
Project Gutenberg.

21

Katipunan
Cruz, Hermenegildo (November 16, 1922). Tamiko I. Camacho, Jerome Espinosa Baladad and PG Distributed
Proofreaders, ed. Kartilyang Makabayan: Mga Tanong at Sagot Ukol Kay Andrs Bonifacio at sa KKK (http://
www.gutenberg.org/files/14822/14822-h/14822-h.htm#VI) (in Tagalog) (Internet, Project Gutenberg ed.).
Manila: Guillermo Masangkay, Alvarado St., Brgy. 535, Manila. The reference is an e-book reproduction from
Project Gutenberg.
Diwa, Ladislao (December 24, 1926). "Andres Bonifacio y el Katipunan". La Opinin (Manila)
Fernandez, Leandro H. (1926). The Philippine Republic. New York: Columbia University Press.
Fernandez, Leandro H. (1930). "Autobiography of Gregoria de Jesus". Philippine Magazine (Manila)
Reynaldo, Ileto (1998). Filipinos and their revolution: event, discourse, and historiography. Ateneo de Manila
University Press
Guerrero, Milagros C. (1996). Balintawak: The Cry for a Nationwide Revolution. Sulyap Kultura (Manila:
National Commission for Culture and the Arts)
Halili, Maria Christine N. (2004). Philippine History (http://books.google.com.ar/
books?id=gUt5v8ET4QYC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false). Manila: Rex Book Store.
ISBN978-971-23-3934-9.
Jesus-Nakpil, Gregoria (1932). Mga Tala ng Aking Buhay at mga Ulat ng Katipunan. published by Jose P. Santos
Kalaw, Maximo M. The Development of Philippine Politics (18721920) (Manila: Oriental Commercial Co. Inc.,
1926; reprint ed., Manila: Solar Publishing Corp., 1986)
Kalaw, Teodoro M. (1925). The Philippine Revolution. Manila: Manila Book Store Company
National Historical Institute. Filipinos in History 5 vols. (Manila: National Historical Institute, 1989)
Reyes, Isabelo de los (1899). La Sensacional memoria sobre la revolucin filipina (in Spanish). Madrid: Tip. lit.
de J. Corrales
Retana, Wenceslao E. (1897). Archivo del biblio filipino. Madrid
Retana, Wenceslao E. Vida y Escritos del Dr. Jos Rizal. At Google Books (http://books.google.com/
books?id=K7OBAAAAIAAJ)
Retana, Wenceslao. Vida y Escritorios de Dr. Jos Rizal. Madrid: 1907.
Ricarte, Artemio (1926). The Hispano-Philippine Revolution. Yokohama This book was published by Ricarte
himself, includes his memoirs on the Philippine Revolution.
St. Clair, Francis (1902). "Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan Nang Manga Anac Nang Bayan" (http://
www.filipiniana.net/ArtifactView.do?artifactID=PRR004000014). Manila
Sagmit, Rosario S.; Sagmit-Mendosa, Lourdes (2007). The Filipino Moving Onward 5 (2007 ed.). Rex Bookstore,
Inc. ISBN978-971-23-4154-0.
Santos, Epifanio de los (1918). "Andres Bonifacio". The Philippine Review (Manila).
Santos, Epifanio de los (1961). The Trial of Rizal. Horacio de la Costa, S.J. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila
University Press
Santos, Jose P. (1930). "Kung Sino si Jacinto". Pagkakaisa (Manila).
Woods, Damon L. (2006) [2006]. The Philippines: a global studies handbook (http://books.google.com/
?id=2Z-n_kDTxf0C&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=katipunan+name&q=katipunan name). ABC-CLIO.
ISBN1-85109-675-2
Zaide, Gregorio F. (1984). Philippine History and Government. National Bookstore Printing Press.
Zaide, Gregorio F. (1957). Philippine Political and Cultural History: the Philippines Since the British Invasion II
(1957 Revised ed.). Manila: McCullough Printing Company.
Zaide, Gregorio (November 26, 1932). "The Women of the Katipunan". Philippines Free Press (Manila)
Zaide, Gregorio F. (1973). Manila during the Revolutionary Period. Manila: National Historical Commission.
citing a letter sent to him by Po Valenzuela dated December 19, 1931.
Zaide, Gregorio (1939). "History of the Katipunan". Loyal Press (Manila)
Zaide, Gregorio F. (1931). Documentary History of the Katipunan Discovery. Manila.

22

Katipunan
Zaide, Gregorio (October 25, 1930). "The Rise and Fall of the Katipunan Press". The Sunday Tribune Magazine
(Manila)
The Catholic Historical Review (Washington, D.C.: American Catholic Historical Association) 4. 1919.
The Catholic Historical Review (Washington, D.C.: American Catholic Historical Association) 4. 1919

External links
Draft of preliminary reading for initiation into the Katipunan (http://www.filipiniana.net/ArtifactView.
do?artifactID=PRR004000002).
Oaths and form of initiation into the Katipunan society (http://www.filipiniana.net/ArtifactView.
do?artifactID=PRR004000004).
Kartilyang Makabayan (http://www.filipiniana.net/ArtifactView.do?artifactID=BKW000000015) Pamphlet
about the Katipunan written by Hermenegildo Cruz.
Philippines - Historical Flags to 1899 (http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ph-histo.html).
(Spanish) El sitio de Baler: los ltimos de Filipinas (http://revista-arbil.iespana.es/(30)bale.htm) (The site of
Baler: Final locations in the Philippines)
Information about Katipunan (http://kasaysayan-kkk.info/)

23

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Katipunan Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=583806289 Contributors: 0hannah0, 23prootie, A3RO, Adi4094, Aeonx, Aficionado de het huis anubis, Againme, Agarjoshua,
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BrokenSphere, Charles Essie, Christian Mac Juane, Christopher Sundita, Colibri37, Colonies Chris, CommonsDelinker, Ctande, CymHastings, DARTH SIDIOUS 2, DVdm, Daniabenojar,
Danski14, Darwinek, DavidLeeLambert, Debresser, DerHexer, Doc9871, Docreader, Docu, Don akhong, Drmies, Dynassault, Earlyamericanbios, El C, Ericwho, Exec8, Filhistorydotcom,
Fry1989, Gafrin, Gaius Cornelius, Gimmetrow, GoingBatty, Gongshow, Gryphon Hall, Hakkon, Hariboneagle927, Hdt83, Hemingway10, Hmains, Hoho24, I dream of horses, Iandres, JL 09,
Jebrome, Jeffrey Mall, Jfgascon, Jimboy085, Jjmontalbo, Joaquin008, John of Reading, John-1107, Johnmperry, Jondel, Joseph Solis in Australia, KaElin, Kdammers, Keegscee, Kguirnela,
Kinky juan, Klemen Kocjancic, KrakatoaKatie, LOL, Lamiot, Lateg, Levineps, LilHelpa, Lmblackjack21, Lssrn45, Luna Santin, Lynyrd Salapare, M-le-mot-dit, MER-C, Materialscientist,
Migscags, Mimihitam, Miwasatoshi, Mk32, Mogism, Mrnfrigillana6400, Musketeer65, Mussyalovich, Neo139, Nick Number, Paladin.cross, Plowmenty, Polylerus, Pula Bughaw, Quebec99,
Quess, RainbowOfLight, Ramon FVelasquez, ReAbility, Rhianne 12, Rickgonz99, Ripepette, Rizalninoynapoleon, Rmcsamson, Rodsan18, Rrburke, Sciurin, Seav, Semorrison, Seth Nimbosa,
Sky Harbor, Spidey104, Steadfastfaith, Surachit, The Show-Ender, The undertow, TheCoffee, TheMoth&TheButterfly, Tollender, Tommy2010, Topbanana, Ubiquity, Ushiwaka, Uthanc,
Vegaswikian, Vera Cruz, VodkaDry, WORLD POETRY LIBRARY, Wavelength, Why Not A Duck, Woohookitty, Wtmitchell, Yamamoto Ichiro, Youlittlehandsomeguy, Zepheus, 424
anonymous edits

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Cavite, 1897
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