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EMILIO D.

JACINTO (1875-1899) Brains of the Katipunan The Brains of the Katipunan, Emilio Jacinto was born in Trozo, Manila on December 15, 1875 to a poor couple, Mariano Jacinto, a bookkeeper, and Josefa Dizon, a midwife. Jacinto grew up exposed to the harsh effects of poverty. His clothes were bought at the Casa de Agencia where unredeemed pawned clothes were being sold. He made his shoelace from a black rug and his belt from the hemline of his mothers skirt. Such poverty that made the young Jacinto a butt of jokes to other children but nonetheless pushed him to give his best in school. He finished his early education in the school of Maestro Pascual Ferrer. Jose Dizon, his maternal uncle, helped him to further his studies at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, where he obtained his degree in Bachelor of Arts. He proceeded to take up Law at the University of Santo Tomas. By that time, discontent of the natives against the colonial government was becoming evident. The Katipunan had already been formed and two years after it had started propagating liberal ideas, Jacinto had joined and used the name Pinkian (inflammable). Thus, when the revolution finally broke out in 1896, Jacinto left his studies and joined his comrades in the battle. By the time he joined the Katipunan in 1884, Jacinto became indispensable to Andres Bonifacio. He became the think-thank of Bonifacio. Jacinto wrote the Kartilla (primer of the Katipunan), which served as its guiding principles. He served various post in the Supreme Council of the organization: as Secretary, later Fiscal, and editor of its newspaper Kalayaan (Liberty). Emilio Jacinto, Andres Bonifacio, and Pio Valenzuela wrote most of the contents of the newspapers first issue dated January 18, 1896. Its second issue did not reach circulation as the authorities have discovered the printing press. On August 30, 1896 Jacinto and Bonifacio launched their first attack on a Spanish garrison at San Juan del Monte, where many of their men perished. After the failed attack, the Supremo and his young comrade separated; Jacinto went to carry the torch of the revolution in Laguna while Bonifacio remained in Manila and later in Cavite. One of his most dangerous missions in the Katipunan was to get Rizal out from the Spanish warship that would sail to Cuba. He dressed as a Chinese coolie and succeeded in reaching Rizal, however, the latter refused. In February 1898, Jacinto fought against the Spanish cazadores (riflemen) in Barrio Maimpis of Magdalena, Laguna. During the combat, he was wounded in the thigh and was captured by the enemy. He was freed, however, when the Spanish authorities found in his possession a pass as Filipino spy in their service. The pass actually belonged to a spy Florentino Reyes, whom Jacinto have captured in Pasig weeks before the Maimpis encounter. Given a new lease on life, Jacinto went into hiding in Manila where he wrote to Apolinario Mabini, expressing his desire to continue his law studies at the Literary University of the Philippines, which the Government of Aguinaldo have established in Malolos. However, the demands of war prevented Jacinto from going to Malolos. He heeded the urgent appeal of his compatriots in Laguna who wanted his military leadership. Jacinto established a new headquarter in Majayjay. Unfortunately, he contracted a malignant malaria that later caused his death on 6 April 1899. He was only 24 years old. Jacinto died a patriot, one who carried his arms the battlefield and wrote with his pens when nestled in safety under the fire of the enemy, and many times with hands that were still grimy from combat. He had written several political and social essays: Ang Ningning at ang Liwanag (Light and Darkness); Akoy Umaasa (Im Hoping); Kalayaan (Independence); Ang

Taoy Magkapantay (All Men are Equal); Ang Pag-ibig (Love); Ang Bayan at ang Gobyerno (The People and the Government); Ang Maling Pagsampalataya (False Belief); Ang Gumawa (The Worker). His other works include: Ang Kasalanan ni Cain (The Crime of Cain); Pagkatatag ng Pamahalaan sa Hukuman ng Silangan (Establishment of the Government of the Judiciary of the East); Samahan ng Bayan sa Pangangalakal (Commercial Association of the People); Ang Anak ng Bayan (The Son of the People); and Ang Pahayag (The Manifesto). The most popular was his A La Patria (To My Fatherland) which he signed Dimas-Ilaw, his pen name after he composed it on October 8, 1897 in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. References: Agoncillo, Teodoro A. History of the Filipino People. 8th ed. Quezon City: Garotech, De Los Santos, Epifanio. The Revolutionist: Aguinaldo, Bonifacio, and Jacinto. Manila: Historical Commission, 1973 Eminent Filipinos. Manila: National Historical Commission, 1970. Zaide, Gregorio F. Great Filipinos in History. Manila: Verde, 1970. 1990. National

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