Lecture 1: Recap of the Events, 1896 1897

The Spanish Authorities Suspicious of Subversive Activities

As early as March 1895 some Spanish friars became suspicious
following rumors of overthrowing Spanish rule
In June 1895 a Recollect priest informed his superiors of a large
numbers of conspirators who were determined to overthrow the
Spanish sovereignty
In July 5, 1896 a Spanish Lieutenant Manuel Sityar, (commander of
the Civil Guardia to the Civil Governor of Manila Province) denouncing
seditious activities of certain men in San Juan and Mandaluyong. These
men were said to be:
--recruiting followers for some unknown end, making successful
candidates sign their names in their own blood, drawn from their cut
arm, and then exacting from each the promise not to reveal the end or
purpose of the association ---
The Discovery of the Katipunan by the Spanish Authorities
(Aug. 19, 1896)
Teodoro Patino, a native of Dao, Capiz
Katipunero and an employee of a printing shop of the newspaper
Diario de Manila
He became aware of the plot to rebel against the Spaniards
His sister Honoria (who was living in an Augustinian orphanage in
Mandaluyong) and a certain Bisayan named Sor Teresa de Jesus (the
madre portrera of that Orphanage) encouraged him to report to the
authorities
Arrived at a convent of the Tondo Church at 6:15 PM on August 19,
1896 to inform Father Mariano Gil of the plot
The Discovery of the Katipunan by the Spanish Authorities
(Aug. 19, 1896)
Patino told Padre Gil that:
The revolution is fast approaching
Friars would be massacred
Some Katipunero workers were secretly making daggers for months
They had a certain lithographic stone, stamps used for printing
Katipunan receipts and other documents
The names of the Katipunero employees were also given
Immediately the print shop was searched by Spanish Authorities and
the incriminating evidences were found!

The Cry of Balintawak (Aug. 26, 1896)

The Outbreak of the Revolution
(Aug 29, 1896)
Governor General Blancos Crackdown
Following the Battle (Massacre) of San Juan del Monte or
Pinaglabanan
On August 30, 1896 Gen. Blanco Proclaimed Martial Law in 8
provinces (Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna,
Cavite and Batangas)
Blanco promised to grant the rebels pardon if they surrender within
49 hours
The Spaniards did not keep their promise (Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
surrendered and was imprisoned at Fort Santiago)
The Spread of the Revolution (Aug. Sept, 1896)
Many joined the uprising including Emilio Aguinaldo, school
teachers ,Artemio Ricarte, and Tomas Mascardo and many others
The Revolution spread to Iloilo, Mindanao, and Jolo
Governor General Camilo de Polavieja Replaces Blanco (Dec. 3, 1896)
Soon, Gen. Blanco had became unpopular due to his inability to check
the Revolution
Replaced by Gen. Polavieja was a seasoned soldier, yet he was a
tactless and blundering executive
He instituted what is known as the Blood and Iron Policies
He ordered the arrest, deportation and execution of many Filipinos as
well as confiscation of their properties
Gen. Polavieja was the one who signed the death sentence of Dr. Jose
Rizal
Spanish Reign of Terror
The Spanish Authorities attempted to curb the spread of
Revolution
Those suspected of subversive activities were:
Imprisoned in Fort Santiago and other places
Tortured
Executed by Firing Squads in Bagumbayan and other places
The Execution of Rizal (Dec. 30, 1896)
Rivalry Between Aguinaldo and Bonifacio
Bonifacio was the Supremo, the original founder and organizer of the
Katipunan
2

Aguinaldo was a better military leader

Rival Organizations in Cavite (Magdiwang and Magdalo)
A Split in the Katipunan Leadership resulted as the Revolution
Progressed
Aguinaldo believed a new revolutionary government should replace
the old Katipunan to supervise the struggle for freedom
Bonifacio did not think it was necessary
The Madigwang Faction supported Bonifacio
The Magdalo Faction supported Aguinaldo

Convention in Imus (Dec. 31, 1896)

Bonifacio following the advice of his Madigwang Council move his
headquarters from Morong (Rizal) Province to Cavite before Christmas
1896.
Edilberto Evangelista, a graduate of engineering in Belgium proposed
a constitution, which aimed to create a new revolutionary government
The 2 factions met in Imus, Cavite on December 31, 1896 to consider
the feasibility of this constitution and the possibility of uniting the rival
factions
Nothing definite was accomplished except an agreement to meet
again at another time to discuss this issue
The Tejeros Convention (Mar. 22, 1897)
The Revolutionary Councils met again in Tejeros, San Francisco de
Malabon (Cavite) on March 22, 1897 to settle the issue of a new
Revolutionary Government
Jacinto Lumbreras served as the presided
Aguinaldo was in the battlefield (not present)
A heated argument erupted between Antonio Montenegro of Manila
and Santiago Alvarez of Cavite occurred
An hour break was called to cool things of
Following the break, Bonifacio presided
He was forced to call for an election of officials
Before the election, Bonifacio made everyone agree to respect the
outcome
The Results of the secret ballot:
Emilio Aguinaldo President
Mariano Trias Vice President
Artemio Ricarte Captain General
Emiliano Riego de Dios Director of War
3

Andres Bonifacio Director of Interior

Convention in Tejeros (Mar. 22, 1897)
A protest by Daniel Tirona challenged Bonfacios lack of legal
qualification for the position
Bonifacio protested violently
The enraged Bonifacio drew his pistol to kill Tirona but prevented by
Gen. Ricarte and others
The outcome of Tejeros repudiated Bonifacios authority and
symbolically shifted the power over to Aguinaldo
The Death of Bonifacio
Andres Bonifacio left Tejeros and sought to establish his own
government
He was attacked and wounded while his brother Ciriaco was killed in
Limbon by Col. Agapito Bonzon who was under Aguinaldos command
Bonifacio, his wife Gregoria de Jesus, and his brother Procopio were
captured and taken to Maragondon
He was tried by General Mariano Noriel who court-martialed him on
May 4, 1897, which eventually sentenced him to death
May 7, 1897 - Aguinaldo approved the death sentence upon the
insistence of Gens. Noriel and Pio del Pilar
May 10, 1897 Bonifacio and Procopio were shot near Mount
Nagpatong (Mt. Buntis) under the command of Colonel Lazaro
Makapagal
Governor Fernando Primo de Rivera (April 20, 1897)
Gov. Polavieja resigned April 20, 1897
Replaced by General Fernando Primo de Rivera from Spain
Diferent from his blood and iron predecessor
He appealed for clemency for those who would lay down their arms
Soon he found out that it didnt work
Then he resumed the tactics of his predecessor
Retreat of Aguinaldo to the North
The Success of the Spanish forces
Demoralization of the troops with the death of Bonifacio
Aguinaldo began to retreat to the hinterlands
The Revolutionists engaged the Spanish forces in guerrilla warfare
The Revolutionary Government Moves to Biaknabato