Week 5

Katipunan

An association called Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan or Katipunan

Katipunan is a secret organization which had three aims: political, moral and civic. Politically, they aimed
for independence from Spain; morally, they aspired to teach moral values among the members; and
civic, they pursued to help other members of the association. Katipunan had three kinds of members:
Katipon, Kawal and Bayani. The highest member of the association was called Bayani and their password
was Rizal. Dr. Jose Rizal was recognized as honorary chairman. The Kawal used GOMBURZA as their
password, while the Katipon used Anak ng Bayan. The passwords were used to keep the Katipunan in
secret from the Spanish authorities. The members were farmers and fishermen during the day and
revolutionists at night.

The structure of the Katipunan was designed after La Liga Filipina because Andres Bonifacio admired Dr.
Jose Rizal. The Katipunan had its (1) Supreme Council, (2) Provincial Council and (3) Popular Council. The
Supreme Council was the National Government with organized structures and officers. The Provincial
Council and the Popular Council were the municipal and barangay government.

Kalayaan was the newspaper of the Katipunan which played a vital role in the expansion of its
membership. Its contents had influenced the mindset of many Filipinos. The first publication took place
on March 1896.

Katipunan was discovered by the Spanish authorities on August 19, 1896 and this eventually led to the
revolution. Teodoro Patino's confession to Father Mariano Gil caused the discovery. The Katipunan met
at Balintawak on August 23, 1896 and tore their cedulas (residence certificates) to mark their opposition
against the Spanish government. The Katipuneros shouted "Mabuhay ang Katipunan, Mabuhay ang
Kalayaan" (Long Live Katipunan, Long Live Philippine independence) which signified their intention to
fight until the end. The first battle staged by the Katipunan was in San Juan, Manila on August 30, 1896.
As the revolution continued in different places the members of the Katipunan were divided into two
factions due to conflicts that arose among its leaders: Magdiwang and Magdalo. Magdiwang was
headed by Andres Bonifacio and Magdalo by Emilio Aguinaldo. Both groups carried their own.
revolution, and the lack of unity inevitably resulted to the execution of Andres Bonifacio at Mount Tala
in Marigondon, Cavite. On the other hand, the group. of Emilio Aguinaldo experienced defeats in the
battlefield and he went to Hong Kong for exile.

Malolos Republic
General Emilio Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines in May 1898. The truce was signed at Biak-na-Bato,
San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan in December 1897 between Filipino revolutionists and Spaniards but it
was broken in some parts of the country. Because of this, General Emilio Aguinaldo established a
dictatorial government of the Philippines on May 24, 1898 upon the advice of Ambrosio Rianzares
Bautista. Four days after, the Filipino. revolutionists routed the Spaniards in Alapan, Cavite, and this took
the second phase of the revolution which was launched on May 31, 1898. The provinces of Cavite,
Laguna, Batangas, Pampanga, many parts of Bulacan and places surrounding Manila had been liberated
by the Filipino revolutionists in July 1898.

General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine independence on June 12, 1898 and waved the
Philippine flag officially for the first time from the window of his house in Kawit, Cavite. The Malolos
Congress assembled and produced the Malolos Constitution on September 15, 1898, but it was formally
proclaimed on January 21, 1899. It transformed the government into what is now known as the First
Philippine Republic. On January 23, 1899, the Malolos Republic was inaugurated with General Emilio
Aguinaldo as its president. Julian Felipe composed the Marcha Filipina Magdalo. The Philippine flag was
designed by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in Hongkong and was made by Mrs. Marcela Agoncillo and was
assisted by Delfina Herbosa and Lorenza Agoncillo.

The Malolos Republic was short-lived but it earned its place in Philippine history for its two
achievements: the ratification of the declaration of independence on September 29, 1898 and the
framing of the Malolos Constitution. The Malolos Congress was credited by producing a supreme law
distinguished for its democratic and pluralist ideals. These were embodied in the following provisions:
the distribution of power in three separate branches of government, (1) a legislature which was
unicameral - the "Assembly" of elected representatives, (2) the executive branch, represented by the
President and supported by a Cabinet, and (3) the judiciary composed of the Supreme Court, headed by
a Chief Justice who was elected by the Assembly, and lower courts. The Constitution also protected the
people against the abuse of power with a registry of individual and national rights, and instilled with the
principle that sovereignty resided in the people.

On March 31, 1899 in Malolos, Bulacan, the seat of the Philippine Republic, fell into the hands of the
enemies, followed by Calumpit, Bulacan on April 26, 1899, where the Filipino revolutionists, headed by
overall commander Gen. Luna, were also routed. The Central government moved to Cabanatuan, Nueva
Ecija on May 9, 1899. As the American soldiers closed in on General Emilio Aguinaldo, he moved the
government to Tarlac, and then to Bayambang, Pangasinan. General Emilio Aguinaldo ordered the shift
from regular to guerrilla warfare on November 13, 1899 as he started his exodus to the north. It did not
take long before the government of the Filipinos disintegrated with the capture of its officials Felipe
Buencamino in November and Apolinario Mabini in December 1899, Paterno in April 1900. Aguinaldo
himself was captured in Palanan, Isabela, on March 23, 1901, a day after his 32nd birthday. When he
took the oath of allegiance to the United States nine days later, the First Philippine Republic came to an
end.