C A R A G A STATe U NIVeRSITy
Ampayon, Butuan City 8600, Philippines
URL: www.carsu.edu.ph
MGA GUNITA NG HIMAGSIKAN
HENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO
1
MAGDALO AND MAGDIWANG
The rivalry that existed between the Magdalo and
Magdiwang factions of the Katipunan in Cavite
led to a series of reverses early in January 1897.
To patch up matters, the Magdiwang faction
invited Andres Bonifacio to intervene in the
conflict.
He was met at Zapote by Emiliio Aguinaldo,
Edilberto Evangelista, and a few other leaders
who wanted to meet him personally.
2
The Magdalo faction believed that with the outbreak
of the revolution, the Katipunan had ceased to be a
secret society and should, therefore, be superseded
by one more in keeping with the demands of period.
The Magdiwang men, on the other hand, contended
that the Katipunan should remain the government of
the revolutionists because it already had a
Constitution and by-laws recognized by all.
3
TEJEROS CONVENTION
On March 22, 1897, the two factions again met at
Tejeros, a barrio of San Francisco de Malabon.
Severino de las Alas, a Magdiwang, took the floor and
suggested that the convention assemble should solve
the problem of whether a new government should be
established to take the place of the Katipunan.
This suggestion led to one heated argument to both
camps
4
To resolve the issue, he prudently acceded to the wish
of some that a new government be established to
replace the Katipunan.
The Republic of the Philippines was proclaimed
Bonifacio reminded the convention that whoever
should get elected to any position should be
respected
5
Elected were:
Emilio Aguinaldo --- President
Mariano Trias --- Vice President
Artemio Ricarte --- Captain-General
Emiliano Riego de Dios --- Director of War
Andres Bonifacio --- Director of the Interior
6
When Bonifacio was being proclaimed, Daniel Tirona,
a Magdalo, stood up and said: “The position of
Director of the Interior is an exalted one and it is not
proper that a person without a lawyer’s diploma
should occupy it. We have in our province a lawyer,
Jose del Rosario!”
Bonifacio was hurt and felt that he was insulted. He left
the hall, followed by his men.
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THE SECOND MEETING AT TEJEROS
Aguinaldo was notified the following day of his
Presidency and proceeded to Santa Cruz de
Malabon (now Tanza), where he and other elected ,
with the exception of Bonifacio, took their oath of
office.
Bonifacio and his men, numbering forty-five, felt bad
about the result. They were convinced that the lection
held was invalid. They drew up a document, now
called the Acta de Tejeros, in which they gave the
reasons for not accepting the results.
8
Bonifacio and his men proceeded to Naik in order to
be as far as possible from the Magdalo men who they
thought, were responsible for the commission of
anomalies during the Tejeros election.
Aguinaldo wanting to bring back Bonifacio to the fold,
but Bonifacio refused to return to the revolutionary
fold.
9
THE NAIK MILITARY AGREEMENT
At Naik, he and his men drew up another document in
which they resolved to establish a government
independent of, and separate from, that established
at Tejeros.
An army was to be organized “by persuasion of force”
and a military commander of their own choice was to
take command of it.
10
The Naik Military Agreement came to the knowledge
of Aguinaldo and realizing the significance of
Bonifacio’s intentions.
He ordered the arrest of the Bonifacio brothers.
A group of soldier under the command of Coronel
Agapito Bonzon was dispatched to Limbon to effect
the arrest.
11
In the firing that followed, Bonifacio was stabbed in
the larnyx, his brother was killed, and his other brother
Procopio was wounded.
Bonifacio was placed in a hammock and brought to
Naik,
On April 28, Aguinaldo forwarded the Bonifacio case
to the Council of War in Order to conduct the
necessary trial.
12
Andres and Procopio Bonifacio were found guilty of
treason and sedition in spite of the fact that the
evidence was not sufficient to prove their alleged
guilt.
On May 8, Baldomero Aguinaldo, the Auditor of War,
wrote President Aguinaldo recommending approval
of the Council of War’s decision, namely, execution of
the two brothers.
13
On the same day, May 8, President Aguinaldo
commuted the death sentence to banishment.
General Mariano Noriel and Pio del Pilar asked
President Aguinaldo to withdraw his order.
They reasoned that with Bonifacio alive the cause of
the Revolution would be prejudiced since he would
continue to disrupt the unity of the revolutionary
forces.
14
Under this pressure, President Aguinaldo withdrew his
order. In other words, the original decision of the Council
of War stood.
On May 10, General Noriel orders Major Lazaro
Makapagal to bring out the two brothers from jail.
Makapagal was handed a sealed letter with orders to
read its contents after reaching Mount Tala.
15
Having reached the mountain, Makapagal, opened
the sealed letter. It contained an order to execute
Andres and Procopio Bonifacio.
There was a warning that failure to comply would be
punished severely.
Makapagal followed the order, Bonifacio’s grace
was shallow, the hole having been dug by
bayonets. Makapagal placed a few twigs on the
grave.
16
THANK YOU!
17
References:
Agoncillo, Teodoro. “History of the Filipino
People.” Eight Edition, 2012, pp. 184–187
Emilio Aguinaldo. “Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan” Manila:
National Centennial Commission, 1964.
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