Flags of the Katipunan

With the Katipunan now well organized, Bonifacio turned his attention to the symbol of its
authority. Upon his request, Benita Rodriquez with the help of Gregoria de Jesus, Bonifacio's
wife, made a flag. It consisted of a red rectangular piece of cloth with three white K's arranged
horizontally at the center. This was the first official flag of the society. But some members of the
Katipunan has their flag with the three K's arranged in the form of a triangle. Bonifacio himself
has a personal flag which consisted of a red rectangular piece of cloth at the center of which was
a white sun with an indefinite number of rays. Below the sun were the three white K's arranged
horizontally.
Owing to the lack of uniformity in the design and use of the flag, some generals of the revolution
adopted their own designs. Thus General Mariano Llanera used a black banner with a skull
above two cross bones and the letter K, all in white. So different was this banner that Bonifacio
humorously called it "Llanera's skull." Still another flag was that of General Pio del Pilar which
consisted of an equilateral triangle with a K at each angle. Inside the triangle was a mountain
with the sun rising behind it.
When the revolution flared up, the Magdalo faction of the Katipunan in Cavite adopted a flag
consisting of a red rectangular banner with a white K in the ancient Tagalog script in the center
of a sun, represented by a white circle, with an indefinite number of rays. Later on, the rays of
the sun were limited to eight to represent the eight provinces which first took up arms against the
Spaniards. This flag became the first official banner of the revolutionary forces and was blessed
in a mass celebrated at Imus.
In the Naik Assembly of March 17, 1897, the Katipunan military leaders decided to adopt a flag
with a new design. It consisted of a red rectangular cloth with a white sun and rays in the middle.
The sun was the mythological sun with eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth. This flag superseded
the flag of the Magdalo faction and became the first official flag of the Filipinos. It became the
symbol of the Filipino nationality until the signing of the Truce of Biyak-na-bato on December
14-15, 1897, when it was hauled down from the pole of the revolutionary headquarters at Biyakna-bato.

The Filipino Flag

The Filipino flag has an interesting story. It was made in Hongkong by Mrs. Marcela de
Agoncillo, wife of Don Felipe Agoncillo.
During his exile in Hongkong, General Aguinaldo designed the flag as it looks today. Mrs.
Marcela de Agoncillo sewed it with the help of her daughter Lorenza and Mrs. Josefina Herbosa
de Natividad(niece of Dr. Jose Rizal). It was made of silk with a white triangle at the left
containing a sunburst of eight rays at the center, a five pointed star at each angle of the triangle,
an upper stripe of dark blue, and a lower stripe of red. The white triangle stands for equality; the
upper blue stripe for peace, truth and justice; and the lower red stripe for patriotism and valor.

The sunburst of eight rays inside the triangle represented the first eight provinces that took up
arms against Spain. The three stars symbolized Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The flag which Mrs. Agoncillo made in Hongkong was taken to the Philippines by General
Aguinaldo. It was hoisted officially at Kawit on June 12, 1898, in connection with the
proclamation of Philippine independence. From that date, it has served as the National Flag of
the Filipinos.

The Katipunan Code

1892, Manilla. The Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan
(Supreme and Venerable Society of the Children of the Nation), or Katipunan, formed to fight for
independence from Spain. Led by Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo, the Katipunan
maintained a secret war against Spanish oppression.
Symbols, cryptologic languages, and clandestine rituals marked the Katipunan's operations.
These necessary tools ensured that the Spanish remained unaware of their plans. But where did
the Katipunan leaders derive many of their methods of secrecy?
Both Bonifacio and Aguinaldo were Freemasons. If you watched or read the Da Vinci Code, you
may recall a link between the Freemasons the ritualistic protection of vital organizational secrets.
Evidence of the Philippine version of this link has been spread around the Philippines during the
revolutionary period. One such example is the plaque on the Bonifacio monument in Kalookan
City. On closer examination of the plaque, you will find lines of symbolic language in an odd
pattern. Continue on to read about other examples of the Katipunan's Freemason roots... On
Secrecy and Organization:
The Katipunan thrived as an underground society through the use of secret codes and passwords.
Keeping secrets from the Spaniards during those times was very difficult. To keep the whole
organization from being discovered, Katipunan employed the triangle method: a system of
enlistment wherein a recruiter would ask only two members to join. Only the recruiter would
know the names of both recruits while the recruits would not each other. Thus, the organization
is encapsulated into three-man units and a direct command chain resulting to a very efficient
personnel management.
On the final test:
The final test was the "sandugo" (blood compact). The recruit was asked to make a small cut on
his left forearm with a sharp knife, then sign the Katipunan oath in his own blood. Afterwards,
the new member chose a symbolic name for himself. For example, Bonifacio was called "May
pag-asa" (Hopeful).
On initiation:
New recruits underwent the initiation rite three at a time so that no member knew more than two
other members of the society. They would be brought to a dark room with black curtains. An
admonition was posted at the entrance to the room: "If you have strength and valor, you can
proceed. If what has brought you here is only curiosity, retire. If you cannot control your
passions, retire. Never shall the doors of the Supreme and Venerable Society of the Sons of the
People be opened to you."