rEADINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
PRIMARY VS. SECONDARY SOURCES
TEJEROS CONVENTION (1897)
Primary Source:
Santiago Alvarez
‘’Memoirs of a
General’’
Author’s SANTIAGO ALVAREZ
background
July 25, 1872 a revolutionary general and founder
and honorary president of the first directorate of the
Nacionalista party, was born in Imus, Cavite. He was
known as Kidlat ng Apoy (Lighting of Fire) Because of
his inflamed bravery and dedication as commander in
the battle of Dalcihan, Cavite. He was pupolar
acclaimed the “Hero of the Battle of Dalacihan”.
Although marginalized within the ranks of the
revolution with the ascendancy of a rival faction,
Alvarez continued to support the cause of the
revolution. After the revolution, he enrolled at the
University of Santo Thomas, later transferred to the
Colegio de San Juan de Letran where he obtained a
Bachelor of Arts. He then took up law at the Liceo de
Manila.
Upon establishment of the American civil government
in the Philippines, Alvarez assisted Pascual H. Poblete,
Lope K. Santos and many others in the organization of
the Nacionalista wherein he later became president of
its directorate.
In 1902, he presided over the Junta Magna de la
Comision de la Paz (Great Council of the Peace
Commission). The Junta was created to accelerate the
rehabilitation of the country from the destruction
caused by the war.
He died October 30, 1930, at age 58 in San Pablo City
and buried at the San Pablo municipal cemetery.
Secondary Source:
Teodoro Agoncillo’s
“Revolt of the Masses”
TEODORO A. AGONCILLO
Born
Lemery, Batangas, Philippines.
November 9, 1912
Died
January 14, 1985
Teodoro A. Agoncillo was one of the pre-eminent
Filipino historians of the 20th century. He and his
contemporary Renato Constantino were among the
first Filipino historians who earned renown for
promoting a distinctly nationalist point of view of
Filipino history (nationalist histiography). He was also
an essayist and a poet.
Life
Born in Lemery, Batangas, Agoncillo obtained a
bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University
of the Philippines in 1934 and a master’s degree in
the arts from the same university the following year.
He earned his living as a linguistic assistant at the
Institute of National Language and as an instructor at
the Far Eastern University and the Manuel L. Quezon
University. In 1956, he published his seminal work,
Revolt of the Masses: The story of Bonifacio and the
Katipunan, a history of the 1896 Katipuan-led revolt
against Spanish rule and its leader, Andres Bonifacio.
He garnered acclaim for this book, as well as
criticisms from more conservative historians
discomforted by the work’s nationalist, perhaps even
Marxist bent.
In 1958, Agoncillo was invited to join the faculty of
the Department of History of his alma mater, the
University of the Philippines. He remained with the
university until his retirement in 1977, chairing the
Department of History from 1963 to 1969. Philippine
President Disosdado Macapagal named Agoncillo as a
member of the National Historical Institute in 1963.
He served in this capacity until his death in 1985.
Agoncillo’s History of the Filipino People, first
published in 1960, remains a pupolar standard
textbook in many Filipino universities, as are many of
Agoncillo’s other works. This is despite Agoncillo’s
controversial tone and for his perceieved leftist bent.
Gregorio Zaide, Teodoro Agoncillo, Reynaldo Ileto
and Renato Constantino stand as the most prominent
20th century Filipino historians to emerge during the
post-war period. It must be noted however, that
agoncillo’s works suffer from uneven scholarship
 throughout, especially with his use (or especially,
none use) of reliable historical sources.

When was “Memoirs of a General”
the account
written? The account was written on March 25, 1897 at the
first assembly of the Magdalo and the Magdiwang
faction whereas the two oppressing stand of the
warring factions of the Katipunan, the two leaders,
Andres Bonifacio and Emillio Aguinaldo agreed to hold
in the Tejeros Convention.
Mention of The Tejeros Convention was the meeting held on
Date (s) March 25, 1897 between the Magdiwang and
Magdalo factions of the Katipunan at San Francisco de
Malabon but the site is now at Rosario Cavite. These
are the first presidential and vice presidential
elections in the Philippine history although only the
katipuneros were able to take part and not the
general populace.
Works
The Revolt of the Masses- (a biography of Andres
Bonifacio)
Malolos Crisis of the Republic- (sequel to Revolt of
the Masses which discusses the events from Biak-na-
Bato to the end of the Philippine-American War)
The Fatefull Years- (Philippine history during World
War II)
The History Filipino People
“Revolt of the Masses”
Agoncillo’s book was written in 1947 in order to hook
the present onto the past. The 1890’s themes of
exploitation and betrayal by the propertied class, the
rise of a plebeian leader, and the revolt of the masses
against Spain, are implicity being played out in the
late 1940’s.
January 2, 1897
March 22, 1897
April 1897
Middle of December 1896

January 1897
Mention of The Magdiwang and the Magdalo government of Nasugbo
Place Cavite Tuwi
Look
Parish house of the Catholic Church (Santa Cruz de Kawit
Malabon) Cavite
Zapote
House of Tejeros House of Juan Castoneda
San Juan
The parish house in Tanza Noveleta
San Fransisco de Malabon
Key Magdiwang: Magdiwang officers:
personal
ties Secretary Jacinto Lumbreras- Magdiwang council Mariano Alvarez –President
Pascal Alvarez- Executive Secretary
Supremo Andres Bonifacio Emiliano Reigo de Dios- minister of the Interior
(pagpapaunlad)
Mariano Alvarez Mariano Trias- Minister of Grace and Justice
Ariston Villianueva- Minister of War
Pascual Alvarez Santiago Alvarez- Commander in Chief
Diego Moxica- Minister of Finance
Ariston Villanueva- Secretary of War Artemio Ricarte and Mariano Reigo- Military
Commanders with the rank of Brigadier-General
Mariano C. Trias
Magdalo officers:
Diego Mojica
Baldomero Aguinaldo- President
Emiliano R. de Dios Candido Tirona- Minister of War
Cayetano Topacio- Minister of Finance
 Santiago V. Alvarez Emilio Aguinaldo- Commander in Chief
Edilberto Evangelista, Lieutenant General, Vito
Artemio Ricarte Belarmino and Crispulo Aguinaldo- Military
Commanders with the ranks of Brigadier-General
Santos Nocon

Luciano San Miguel General Blanco- the one who moved the capital of
magdiwang from Noveleta to San Francisco de
Pablo Mojica Malabon and later to Naik.

Serevino de las Alas Andres Bonifacio- Supreme head of Katipunan.

Santiago Rill Esteban San Juan- one who invited Andres Bonifacio
Magdalo: to attend the demonstration of the Magdiwang
rebels in Noveleta.
Baldomero Aguinaldo- messrs
Santon Nocon and Mrs. Estefania Potente- the
Daniel Tirona owners of the house where Andres Bonifacio
quartered until the Spaniards captured the town in
Cayetano Topocio April 1897.

Antonio Montenegro

Captain General Apoy

Major Damaso Fojas

General Vibora

Josephine

Jose del Rosario

Fr. Cermo Villafranca

Fr. Manuel Trias

Sequencing On March 22, 1897, a convention was held in Tejeros
of events in order to settle the dispute between the two
councils and to decide on what type of government
should be installed. During the early phase of the
convention the crowd became unruly, causing a
recess. When the convention resumed, Bonifacio was
assigned to preside in the election of the officers of
the new government that was to be set up. Before
this, however, Bonifacio laid down the rule that the
assembly should respect whatever would be the
outcome of the election.
When Bonifacio was elected Secretary of Interior,
Daniel Tirona contested and argued that a lawyer
should handle the position. Bonifacio felt insulted and
demanded an apology from Tirona. Because of
humiliation and anger, Bonifacio declared that all
In the first flush of rebel victory because of
simultaneous attacks, the Katipunan of Cavite is
divided into two factions the Magdiwang and
Magdalo. There is no supreme officers for the
Magdiwang ang Magdalo therefore they elected
there officials individually. Because of the confict of
the two factions it led to the Magdiwang men to
invite Andres Bonifacio. A delegatewas sent to look
for Supremo at the mountains of Montalban and
Mariquina to tell him about the widening rift
between the two popular councils. Bonifacio was
informed but he refused, on the third invitation that
was written by Artemio Ricarte, finally Bonifacio
acceded to the request. Emilio Aguinaldo, Candido
Tirona and Edilberto Evangelista were the persons
who will mee the Supremo at Zapote. Then Bonifacio
was brought by rebel leaders to the house of Juan
matters convened in the Tejeros Convention were null
and void. Together with his supporters, he left the
estate house.
The next day, Bonifacio stressed out his reason for
invalidating the Tejeros Convention through a
document known as “Acta de Tejeros” signed by his
supporters. Meanwhile, the elected officers of
Magdalo held a meeting at Sta. Cruz de
Malabon. That night, Aguinaldo and the other elected
officers in Tejeros took their oath of office.
Bonifacio decided to establish another government
independent from that of Aguinaldo in accordance
with the “Naic Pact” enacted by him which signed by
his 41 supporters including two of Aguinaldo’s
general. These two generals, however, turned their
back on Bonifacio after a talk with Aguinaldo, pledging
loyalty to the latter, instead.
The Revolutionary Government was established
without the customary elections on 17 April 1897 with
Aguinaldo completing his Cabinet members through
appointment.
On 23 August 1896, the Supremo and his troops
formally launched an armed revolution against Spain.
They tore their resident certificates or cedulas which
symbolized their defiance against from the colonizers.
This became known in history as “The Cry of
Pugadlawin.”
On 29 August 1896, Katipunan members tried to seize
Mandaluyong, Pandacan and Pasig. However, the
attacks were unsuccessful. The Battle at San Juan del
Monte was a military disaster after the death of more
than a hundred Katipuneros. Gen. Ramon Blanco, as a
response, declared in a state of war in the eight
provinces believed to be the hotbeds of revolution
namely: Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan,
Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and Pampanga.
Bad blood erupted between the two Katipunan
Councils in Cavite—the Magdalo and Magdiwang due
to lack of respect and territorial competition
prompting Mariano Alvarez to invite Bonifacio to
Cavite and intercede. On 17 December 1896,
Bonifacio together with his brothers, wife and troops
went to Cavite –the province where the Supremo met
his tragic fate.
An assembly was held at Imus estate house on
December 29 with both Magdalo and Magdiwang
members attending. A disagreement arose between
the two councils on the issue of establishing a
revolutionary government to replace the
Katipunan. The assembly ended without the issue
Castaneda in Imus, in the place where also Bonifacio
was visited by Baldomero Aguinaldo, Daniel Tirona,
Vicente Fernandez and others, upon seeing
Fernandez Bonifacio ordered to arrest him because
he remembered that he is one of the persons that
promised before that battle of San Juan, he is the one
was blamed by Andres Bonifacio for the defeat at San
Juan. Meanwhile Esteban San Juan invited Bonifacio
to the demonstration of the Magdiwang rebels in
Noveleta. At 3:00 in the afternoon they started the
parade towards San Juan de Malabon. When
Bonifacio arrived he was quartered in the house of
Santos Nocon and enter to the house of Mrs.
Estefania Potente. Because of the misunderstanding
between Magdalo and Magdiwang that caused so
destructive to Katipunan’s plans that’s resulted to fall
of several towns, they decided to call a convention or
assembly at Imus. In the assembly, Bonifacio entered
proceed to the head. The magdiwang Ministers to sit
at his right side. The Magdiwang was presented by
the Magdalo. Mariano Alvarez, The president of
Magdiwang aggravated the situation. Seeing
Bonifacio has called his minister, Baldomero
Aguinaldo, seeing his position as a purely military
one, he was invited of his faction to establishment of
a revolutionary government. Edilberto Evangelista
was nominated. And was Bonifacio knew that
Aguinaldo’s active electioneering for the favour for
Evangelista Bonifacio was getting hurt, as a founder
of and Supreme of Katipunan. The assembly was
opened with Bonifacio as Chairman. The evedent
when Baldomero made the proposal that he
established a revolutionary government. And the
Magdalo people contended that Cavite must not be
devided between two function. Magdiwang followers
argue that the Katipunan had a constitution. The
Magdiwang minister of War Ariston Villanueva said
that when the new government established Andres
Bonifiacio where planned the new revolutionary
movement. Bonifacio appointed as a chairman and
supremo. And Bonifacio had a authority to be a
minister.
The Magdalo suspected the Magdiwang courting the
fover of Spaniards at the town of San Andres
Francisco de Malabon was held in January 1879. The
rebel was enjoying. They distributed a series rifle
shot and Ariston Villanueva and Santiago Alvarez was
prepare to attack and then they found out that the
rifle shots was came from Captain Mariano San
Gabriel a Magdiwang man has fired several shot from
air and Alvarez was disarmed Captain Mariano
Alvarez and San Gabriel were brought together again
as comadres.
Most of the delegates are belonged to the
Magdiwang. Some of them were barefoot and others
are dressed in Barong Tagalog and they came from all
directions. The long road that commenced from the
town of Salinas led directly to San Francisco de
being resolved.
Andres Bonifacio was born in an era when the natives
were considered Indios and the Spanish friars were
believed to be God’s representative on earth. He
observed that the Filipinos during his time were not
free and the Spanish government and the Catholic
Church enslaved them. During the same period,
Freemasonry and its doctrine gained popularity.
Bonifacio admired Jose Rizal for his great effort in
awakening Filipino nationalism. He even witnessed
and joined the founding of La Liga Filipina
spearheaded by Rizal on 3 July 1892. Sadly, the
organization died naturally after Rizal was exiled in
Dapitan. Prior to his involvement in free masonry and
Liga, Bonifacio continued to work in Fressel & Co. and
sell fans and canes. He met Ladislao Diwa, and
Teodoro Plata who would play major roles in the
establishment of the Katipunan.
On July 7, 1892, the Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang
Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan was founded in the
house of Deodato Arellano at 734 Calle El Cano cor.
Azcarraga. Membership was through blood compact
symbolizing the foundation of the secret society,
which aimed the separation of the Philippines from
Spain and the expulsion of the Spaniards in the
country. The first Supremo of the Katipunan was
Deodato Arellano, followed by Roman Basa and
finally, Andres Bonifacio.
In order to strengthen and further widen the
operations of the organization, the Kalayaan, the
official organ of the Katipunan was published with
Emilio Jacinto as editor. Two works of Bonifacio were
published in the Kalayaan– “Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang
Lupa” and “Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog.”
An important meeting held on 3 May 1896 concluded
with a plan to rescue Rizal from Dapitan to lead the
revolution. The task was assigned to Dr. Pio
Valenzuela. Unfortunately, Rizal expressed his
opposition to the idea of launching an unprepared
revolution against a strong nation protected by well-
armed defense force. In the end, he urged that if the
revolution is inevitable, the revolutionary members
should seek the help of the rich and influential people
to convince them to support the cause of the
revolution. He also suggested that the service of
Antonio Luna be secured by the organization because
of his military expertise and affiliation with rich and
influential Filipinos.
The quarrel between two employees of the printing
shop publishing Diario de Manila resulted in the
discovery of Katipunan. This happened after Apolonio
Malabon. The estate house of Tejeros was the place
of the former summer resort of the friars, that
witnessed the first important election held under the
awspices at the government. An invitation was sent
by the Magdiwang chief tains to the Magdalo
followers to attend the meeting, but because of the
battle then raging around the locality not all but all
the Magdalo leaders were able to attend. Some of
the Magdiwang representatives were uninvited came
to the convention. It was past two in the afternoon
when the meeting was formally opened. Jacinto
Lumbreras acting the president of the Magdiwang,
took the chair in opened the convention. To his right
Teodoro Gonzales took the floor and said that
anything in the government is necessary in the
defense of the country can emanate then the
presiding officer reminded the speaker that a
government had already been established upon the
founding of the Katipunan. Bonifacio spoke
supplemented Lumbreras explanation, he remarked
that all the Katipuneros, from the Supreme Head to
the lowest member, recognized the principle of unity,
fraternity and equality.
So there’s have a discussion between the men and
factions, but in few moments Magdalo, Antonio
Montenegro his voice is stood up when the issue is
Bonifacio. “If we do not act upon the suggestion of
De las Alas he said to the rebels will be intend unto
mere pack of highway robbers or worse like animals
without reason”. So this words sitter in a good faith
and beliefs, so the all Magdiwang listener was touch
or sensitive spot in heart-cause of Magdalo men. So
that happened Magdiwang listener is anger and son if
you want to set up another form of governments.
You can go back your own province and I didn’t want
your advice, your own standing. Jacinto Lumbreras
says for him it would be useless to continue the
preside atmosphere but under discussion is
completely mention that agenda of meeting is
concern all governments of revolutions and then
Bonifacio acclaim by all success to preside being
president of supreme council katipunan and the
other say they can agree to decision to elect officers
to proceed the elections and tell us whatever the
result of election should respected and accepted.
The ballots were cast for the vise president, Severino
de las alas stood up and suggested that in as much as
Bonifacio had received the second largest numbers of
votes he should automatically be allowed to occupy
the Vice-Presidency. The election of the captain
general came next and Ricarte, the acting secretary
of the convention came out over Santiago Alvarez.
Ones pof disapproval followed his request to be
relieved, and the disturbance created by the
enthusiastic followers of the general forced Bonifacio
tgno call the meeting to order. The following were
elected direction of was Emiliano Peigo de dios,
whom won over arriston Villanueva, Daniel Tirona
dela Cruz was given a P2 raise in salary and Teodoro
Patiño was not given any. A heated argument sparked
between them which led Patiño to confide the secrets
of the Katipunan to his sister Honoria at the convent
where she was staying, her tearful reaction attracted
the attention of one of the nuns. The nun in turn,
persuaded Patiño to tell everything he knew to Fr.
Mariano Gil, the parish priest of Tondo. After hearing
the revelations, Fr. Gil contacted the authorities and
urged them to raid the printing shop. Documents,
oaths signed in blood, receipts and ledgers related to
Katipunan were confiscated from the shop.
As a result of the fateful experiences he
encountered in Cavite, Bonifacio planned to return to
Montalban and San Mateo. On their way to
Montalban, he and his followers passed by Limbon,
Indang – a place in Cavite where food was scarce and
people were tightfisted. At this point, Severino de las
Alas turned his back against Bonifacio. The angered
Bonifacio responded with threats and words that
were wrongly interpreted by the people of
Indang. The people sought the help of Aguinaldo,
who immediately ordered the arrest of Bonifacio.
and Santiago Alvarez director of interior, Andres
Bonifacio, who won over Mariano Alvarez and
Pascual Alvarez. So the election of Bonifacio gave rise
to an incident that nearly ended in a bloody affair.
The people then began to leave the hall, and
Bonifacio frustrated and deeply wounded in feeling
cried aloud, “I as chairman of this assembly and as a
President of the Supreme Council of the Katipunan as
of you do not deny, declare this assembly dissolved
and I annual all that has been approved and resolved
“with his parting statements, he left the hall,
followed by his men. The fact as the founder of
Katipunan and initiator of the revolution he should
have been give the Presidency the contended the
irregularities were committed by Magdalo men and
that he would have been elected had it been for the
premeditated frauds of the rival faction.

On 27 April 1897, skirmishes took place between

the forces of Bonifacio and Aguinaldo. In the said
scuffle, Ciriaco was killed, while Procopio and the
Supremo were caught. Andres Bonifacio was stabbed
in the neck, weakening him and soaking him in blood.

The next day, the prisoners were brought to Indang

Tribunal, then to Naic. Within the day, Gen. Mariano
Noriel created the tribunal that eventually tried and
convicted the Bonifacio brothers of sedition, and
sentenced them to death. Surprised by the decision of
the tribunal, Aguinaldo commutated the verdict. He
recommended the Bonifacio brothers be exiled to an
isolated island also found in Cavite. However, Gen.
Noriel and Gen. Pio del Pilar dissuaded him, arguing
that by reducing the sentence, the Revolutionary
Government of the Philippines would once again be at
stake. Aguinaldo, in the end, changed his mind and
signed the death sentence of the Bonifacio brothers.

On 10 May 1897, Procopio and Andres were shot

at Mount Nagpatong, near Mount Buntis in
Maragondon, Cavite. This event ended the short life of
the Supremo. His educational attainment and military
expertise may not have been equal to that of other
heroes but his love for the country was absolute. His
name will always be revered and serve as the battle
cry of Filipinos who yearn for freedom oppression and
injustice.