Agoncillo’s Tejeros (Secondary Source) President’s Cap

Where: Cavite - Sun with Golden Rays on White BG

Factions: Magdiwang and Magdalo - with K (Katipunan)
——————————————————————— - middle part: ANB (Anak ng Bayan)
—— - with insignia on the sleeves
Magdiwang:
 Towns: Nasugbu, Tuwi, Look For the Minister of War:
 Capital: Noveleta (Gen. Blanco to San Francisco - Red K on white BG
Malabon and Naik) - sun on cap
 The initiator of revolution - sun on left breast
1. Mariano Alvarez - President ———————————————————————
2. Pascual Alvarez - Executive Secretary ——
3. Emiliano Riego De Dios - Minister of the Interior  Not bowing down to each other and had no unity
4. Mariano Trias - Minister of Grace (led to their defeat in Polavieja)
5. Ariston Villanueva - Minister of War  Montalban and Mariquina - places where they
6. Santiago Alvarez - Commander in Chief searched for the Supremo (he was invited by the
7. Diego Mojica - Minister of Finance Magdiwang; but he refused)
8. Artemio Ricarte and Mariano Riego De Dios -  Artemio Ricarte - wrote the third invitation
Military Commanders (Brigadier General) which was accepted by Bonifacio.
9. Santiago Rillo  December 1896 - Bonifacio left in Cavite with
10. Pablo Mojica wife and two brothers: Ciriaco and Procorpio
11. Luciano San Miguel ———————————————————————
12. Capt. Mariano San Gabriel ——
——————————————————————— People who met Bonifacio at Zapote:
—— 1. Emilio Aguinaldo
Magdalo: Talisay, Batangas; Kawit, Bakood, Imus 2. Candido Tirona
 Capital: Kawit (Imus, San Francisco de 3. Edilberto Evangelista
Malabon, Naik, and Maragondon became its seat ———————————————————————
when it fell) ——
1. Baldomero Aguinaldo - President  Misunderstanding arose between Magdalo and
2. Candido Tirona - Minister of War Bonifacio - because Bonifacio felt ―Superior‖
3. Cayetano Topacio - Minister of Finance and ―King‖
4. Emilio Aguinaldo - Commander in Chief  Juan Castaneda’s House in Imus - where
5. Edilberto Evangelista - Lieutenant General Bonifacio was brought
6. Vito Belarmino and Crispulo Aguinaldo - Military  Visitors: Baldomero Aguinaldo, Daniel
Commanders (Brigadier General) Tirona, Vicente Fernandez
———————————————————————  He ordered to arrest Vicente Fernandez
—— Reasons:
 Andres Bonifacio - Supremo, Head of - He promised to attack the Spaniards (he never carried
Katipunan it out)
 Election was done independently per faction. - Blamed for the defeat in San Juan

UNIFORM Insignias  The Magdalo refused to give him

- Did not push through because they had no means to buy  Bonifacio realized his little influence in the
Magdalo area

Pag
 January 2, 1897 - wrote to Mariano Alvarez
(Uncle-in-law) in San Francisco de Malabon
about what happened in Magdalo.
 Esteban San Juan - invited Bonifacio to attend
demonstration of Magdiwang Rebels in
Noveleta.
 3:00 pm - Bonifacio‘s parade took place with
Magdiwang Soldiers
 Santos Nocon’s House - a house in Malabon
where
he was first quartered
 Mrs. Estefania Potente’s House - where he
stayed until Spaniards‘ capture
 April 1897 - when Spaniards captured Malabon.
———————————————————————
——
 Mutual suspicion and jealousies rose among the
followers of the two factions.
 To address the misunderstanding, a
convention/assembly was called at Imus
 Bonifacio seated at the head of the table and
called the Magdiwang to sit on his right
 It was expected that they should show
impartiality (as head of Katipunan)
 Emilio Aguinaldo planned to nominate
Edilberto Evangelista for President, believing he
was best educated.
 Bonifacio got hurt because he wanted the
presidency as head of Katipunan
———————————————————————
——
 Bonifacio was chairman when the assembly
opened.
 Baldomero Aguinaldo proposed to establish a
revolutionary government.
 Magdalo: ―Cavite was small and should not be
divided between the factions.‖
 Magdiwang: ―The establishment of a new
government is unnecessary because the
Katipunan already had a constitution and by-laws
approved.‖
 Ariston Villanueva – ―If a new government will
be established, Andres Bonifacio should be
president. He should be given blanket authority
to appoint ministers.‖
Magdalo insisted on the election but the
discussion was adjourned because of the heat
between the two.
———————————————————————
——
 The factions suspected each other of courting the
favor of the Spaniards.
 January 1897
- Fiesta of San Francisco de Malabon.
- Rifle shots were heard while gaming
 Ariston Villanueva and Santiago Alvarez
- Gathered their men and prepared for attack
 Capt. Mariano San Gabriel
- His soldiers fired shots.
 Alvarez tried to disarm them but they were the
ones disarmed instead and then left for Noveleta.
 Ricarte was the one who brought them together
as comrades.
 Estate House of Tejeros - where the leaders of
Magdiwang planned another convention.
(Magdiwang Territory).
- Where the first election was held.
- Former summer resort of friars
- 2KM from San Francisco de Malabon
- 0.5KM from town of Salinas
 Emilio Aguinaldo - faced spaniards in Salitran
together with Magdalo soldiers
 Salitran - a barrio between Imus and Dasmariñas
 March 22, 1897 - battle raged
- Tejeros assembly
- Aguinaldo‘s birthday
 Delegates - Barefoot; wore Buri Hats,
Barong Tagalog
- From Kawit, Noveleta, Imus (North)
- From Tanza (West)
- From San Francisco de Malabon
(N.E.)
Magdiwang’s who attended the meeting:
1. Andres Bonifacio
2. Mariano Alvarez
3. Pascual Alvarez
4. Santiago Alvarez
5. Luciano San Miguel
Pag
6. Mariano Trias
7. Severino De Las Alas
8. Santos Nocon
9. Jacinto Lumbreras - acting President
10. Teodoro Gonzales - acting Secretary
Magdalo’s who attended the meeting:
1. Baldomero Aguinaldo
2. Daniel Tirona
3. Cayetano Topacio
4. Antonio Montenegro
 2pm - opening of meeting
 Jacinto Lumbreras - opened the convention
 Severino De Las Alas - ―agree upon the kind of
government.‖
 Jacinto Lumbreras - ―government had already
been established upon founding Katipunan and
meeting was called to adopt defensive measures‖
 Andres Bonifacio - supplement Lumbreras‘
explanation; ―K embodied the ideal of
revolutionists - liberty‖
 Severino De Las Alas - ―K in the flag did not
identify the government they had‖
 Andres Bonifacio - ―Katipuneros recognized
principles of Unity, Fraternity, Equality. The
government of the association of the sons of the
people is Republican.‖
 Antonio Montenegro - ―If we don‘t act upon the
suggestion of De Las Alas, we, the rebels, will be
likened to a mere pack of highway robbers… like
animals w/o reason.‖
 Santiago Alvarez - ―we, the rebels of Cavite,
recognize the Gov‘t organized by the Association
of the Sons of the People….‖
 Jacinto Lumbreras - called for a recess to cool
off angry men.
 Jacinto Lumbreras - did not preside anymore,
Bonifacio took place.
 Andres Bonifacio - ―We respect and obey the
will of the majority‖
- ―Whoever would be elected should be
RECOGNIZED and RESPECTED
regardless of his social condition and
education.‖
Officers who won:
 President: Emilio Aguinaldo
- *Severino De Las Alas suggested Bonifacio
to be VP because he had the 2nd largest
vote*
 Vice-President: Mariano Trias
 Captain General: Artemio Ricarte
- Ricarte: ―None better than I know my
limitations and fitness: the position with which
this assembly honors me is beyond my scant
ability and strength.‖
 Director of War: Emiliano Riego De Dios
 Director of Interior: Andres Bonifacio
 Daniel Tirona - ―The position is an exalted one
and it is not meet that a person without lawyer‘s
diploma should occupy it. Let us vote for Jose
Del Rosario! ‖
 Bonifacio whipped out Pistol
 Bonifacio: ―As chairman and president, declare
this assembly dissolved and annul all that has
been approved and resolved.‖
 He wrote to Mariano Alvarez again.
 He explained to his friend Emilio Jacinto, in
Laguna.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
------
Information from Santiago Alvarez’s Account:
March 25, 1897 - Tejeros was convened
Jacinto Lumbreras - signed the invitations
Seated at the Presidential Table:
1. Andres Bonifacio
2. Mariano Alvarez
3. Pascual Alvarez
4. Ariston Villanueva
5. Mariano Trias
6. Diego Mojica
7. Emiliano Riego De Dios
8. Santiago Alvarez
9. Artemio Ricarte
10. Santos Nocon
11. Luciano San Miguel
Pag
12. Pablo Mojica
13. Severino De Las Alas
14. Santiago Rillo

 Ariston Villanueva - received confidential

information (Mr. Daniel Tirona);
- acting Secretary
 Antonio Montenegro - ―They who were in the
revolution were no better than a pack of bandits
or wild animals‖
 Artemio Ricarte - appointed as Secretary
 Mr. Diego Mojica - ―Ballots distributed were
already filled out‖
 Baldomero Aguinaldo - wanted election done
before
it gets dark.

Pag
1. First Voyage Around the World
Antonio Pigafetta (1490 – c.1534)
 Born sometime in 1490 in Vicenza, Venice, Italy
 Eldest son of Giovanni Pigafetta to second wife
Angela Zoga
 Studied astronomy, geography and cartography
 Worked in the ships owned by the Knights of
Rhodes.
 Well educated young man, possessing an avid
curiosity of the world around him
 Joined the delegation of Monsignor Francesco
Chieregati when he was assigned as Papal
Nuncio to Spain in 1519
 Due to this, he became acquainted with the
lucrative spice trade and heard the news of the
voyage to be undertaken by Ferdinand Magellan
 As described by his biographers
 Papal nuncio – diplomatic representative of the
Holy See (Vatican or the Pope)
 Magellan approached Charles I of Spain when
King Manuel of Portugal refused to support his
expedition
 Presented his credentials to Magellan and to the
Casa de la Contratacion, the office in charge of
voyages to ―New World‖
 He was admitted as one of the sobresalientes
(supernumeraries)
 Survived the challenges and catastrophes that the
expedition encountered along the way and he
even got wounded in the Battle of Mactan.
*Old world – Europe
New World – outside europe, especially the
Americas (North and South)
*men coming from a prominent family who‘ll
join the voyage for love of adventure and
military career advancement
 Only 18 survived and returned to Spain
 Returned to Spain on September 6, 1522 aboard
the Victoria with Juan Sebastian Elcano and
more than a dozen more survivors
 He presented himself to Charles V along with a
handwritten account of their journey
 Unfortunately, his account was not published
during his lifetime because he was not able to
find a financer
About the book…
 Antonio Pigafetta was one of the survivors who
kept a journal that became the main source about
the first encounter of the Spaniards and the
Filipinos.
 The original journal of Pigafetta did not survive
in history and what was handed down to us are
copies of the manuscript that never came out of
the press during his life time.
 Three of them were in French and two are kept in
the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris.
 The third one was originally owned by the
British Collector Sir Thomas Phillipp.
 Later, Beinecke Rare Book bought it and it is
now kept in the Manuscript Library of Yale
University in New Haven.
 The fourth copy was written in mixed Italian,
Spanish and Venetian language and could be
found in Ambrosian Library in Milan.
 In 1800, Carlo Amoretti published an Italian
version of it and the following year a French
version came out in Paris.
 Pinkerton of his part translated it to English and
published it in 1819.
 James A. Richardson made his own English
version of the Ambrosian copy and it appeared in
The Philippine Islands.
 This is the copy the is widely circulated in the
Philippines.
 Pigafetta‘s travelogue contributed immensely to
the enrichment of Philippine historiography.
 His writing described vividly the physical
appearance, social life, religious beliefs and
cultural practices of the people they encountered
in the islands of Samar, Leyte and Cebu.
 His account also contains information about the
economic activities of the local folks and the
goods they offered for trade.
 He got all this information through the help
Enrique de Malaccca, Magellan‘s
slave/interpreter.
 Lastly, Pigafetta gave us an eyewitness account
of the Battle of Mactan which resulted to the
death of Magellan and him getting wounded.
Pag
Historical Background of the Document
 Spices became the most expensive and in
demand commodity among Europeans because of
their numerous uses. Originally, they used them
to preserve foods and keep them from spoiling.
Later, they found out that spices have medicinal
uses and may also be used for flavoring, coloring
and as food additives.
 Since it was a very lucrative commodity, many
merchants aspired to monopolize its supply and
distribution in the European markets.
*The crusades led to the discovery of products not
available in europe (euro-centric POV). Ex. Porcelain,
silk, spices, incense, ―oriental‖ products in general).
Spices – most in demand
 The rivalry between Spain and Portugal in the
Iberian Peninsula was exacerbated by trade as
both were interested in exploring and developing
trade
 Both were located in ideal places to start
exploring Africa and trying to find a way to the
Spice Islands in Asia
 The competition between Spain and Portugal
became heated enough that the two countries had
to get the pope to divide up the New World into
parts that would be Spanish and parts that would
be Portuguese.
*Inter caetera (1493) – papal bull issued by pope
alexander Vi (pope borgia, spanish); grants spain and
portugal the right to explore, colonize, and christianize
(enslave?) newly discovered territories; SPN west and
South
Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)
 The Royal Crown of Spain supported the plan of
Ferdinand Magellan to go to the east by sailing
westward, a proposal that was not supported by
Portugal
 Along the way the expedition suffered natural
and man-made challenges and out of the five
ships that left Spain only three reached the
Philippines
 Magellan‘s voyage was instrumental in
introducing Christianity in the Philippines but it
also cost his life after the Spaniards lost in the
Battle of Mactan
 With only two ships, the survivors of Magellan
were able to reach the Spice Island and on
September 7, 1522, Juan Sebastian Elcano and 17
more mighty survivors arrived in Spain aboard
the ship Victoria.
*Charles I of Spain sponsored Magellan when Manuel I
of Portugal did not support Magellan‘s plan.
Content Presentation and Analysis of Important
Historical Information
 All information that can be gleaned from the
account of Antonio Pigafetta in his book, ― First
Voyage Around the World‖ is written from the
perspective of the writer/author who is a
European (Italian in particular) and therefore a
view from the outsider and it should be
understood in the context of the time. Some
descriptions of our ancestors; the way the treat
visitors, their homes, their customs and
traditions, foods, and others, are explicitly
described and others are not for these are new to
the knowledge of the colonizers. For this, one
should be careful for some of these information
are described in a way that it needs to be
analyzed using both perspectives, European and
our own
*It should be noted that the work was written from an
outsider‘s perspective. This affected how was the PH and
its inhabitants were portrayed; euro-centric, SPN POV
Important personages cited in the document
 Ferdinand Magellan (Portugese – Fernao de
Magalhaes) – captain-general (leader) of the
expedition
 Antonio Pigafetta (Italian) – official chronicler of
the expedition
 Raia Colambu (Raja Kulambu) – king of
Mazaua (Limasawa)
 Raia Siaui (Raja Siagu) – king of Butuan
 Raia Humabon – king of Zubu (Cebu)
 Raia Cilapulapu and Raia Zula - chiefs (kings)
of Matan (Mactan)
Chronology of Dates
 March 16, 1521 (dawn of Saturday) –
the Spanish colonizers arrived at Zamal
Pag
 (Samar) [no need to add one day for this
is not yet covered by the International
Date Line]
 March 17, 1521 – their captain-general
desired to land at Humunu (Homonhon)
and which he named, Acquada da li buoni
Segnialli (―the Watering-place of Good Signs) and
later the entire group of
island as Archepalago of St. Lazaro
 March 18, 1521 – they met and exchanged goods
with our ancestors from the island of Zuluan
 March 25, 1521 – they weight anchored and
changed course toward west southwest
 March 28, 1521, they anchored near the island of
Customs,Traditions and more…
Mazaua (Limasawa) and they met the king who
came in balanghai
 March 29, 1521 (Holy Friday) – they finally met
the king who entered their ship
 March 31, 1521 (Easter Sunday) – they went
ashore to say mass and set up cross on the
summit of the mountain
 April 7, 1521 (Sunday) – they entered the port of
Zubu (Cebu)
 Monday – their notary together with their
interpreter went ashore to met with the king of
Zubu
 Tuesday – the king of Mazaua and later the
prince of Zubu went aboard their ship
 Wednesday – they consecrated the place and
buried their two dead crews
 Friday – they showed our ancestors with different
merchandise
 April 14, 1521 (Sunday) – they baptized our
ancestors from Zubu and few from neighboring
islands
 April 26, 1521 (Friday) – Raia Zula came to seek
help to fight the other chief of Matan, Cilapulapu
 April 27, 1521 (Saturday) – the Spaniards wave
ashore in the island of Mactan and fighting
commenced between them and men of Raia
Cilapulapu and led to the death of Magallanes
 May 1, 1521 (Wednesday) – 21 Spaniards were
massacred by the Zubuanos thus forcing the
remaining Spaniards to depart Zubu immediately
Descriptions of Our Ancestors
 Some are painted (tattooed)
 Wore gold earrings
 Some have black hair and hung to shoulders
 Head covered with silk (kerchiefs)
 Wore cotton cloth all embroidered with silk
which covered him from the waist to the knees
 Some have spots of gold on every tooth
 Some are perfumed
 Wore armlets and other rings for the feet
 Wore necklace of great value
 Trade
-Our ancestor have a custom that all ships that
will enter their port should pay tribute
 Festivities
-Our ancestor are heavy drinkers
-Before the king drinks, he raised his clasped
hands towards the sky and then towards the
person he is drinking with and the former extends
his fist of the left hand towards the latter
-Sometimes they have a meal that would last for
six hours
 Entertainment
-Our ancestor played musical instruments like
drums, metallic discs, gongs and bells
-Also, our ancestors can dance
 Religion
-Our ancestors don‘t have formal religion but
they have God which they call ―Abba‖
-Although, no religion they have idols made of
wood, hollow and lack of back parts
 Food
Our ancestors eat umay (rice), coconut, meat and
fish, and drink uraca (arrack) – a wine taken
from palm (coconut)
 Animals and Other Produce
Dogs, cats, swine, fowls, goats, rice, ginger,
coconuts, figs (banana), oranges, lemons, millet,
panicum, sorgo, wax and gold
 Dwellings
Built up from the ground on huge posts of wood
and thatched with fig and palm leaves
Pag

Terminologies
 uraca (arrack) – palm wine, this resembles tuba
at present
 (h)umay – rice
 caphri – heathen
 anime – a gum of a tree wrapped in palm or fig
(banana) leaves for lights
 baloto – small boat
 balanghai – big boat (resembles fusta in Spanish)
 aghon – gongs (resembles bells in Spanish)
 laghan – a large sea snails which kills whales by
eating whale‘s heart
Contribution and RELEVANCE
 The Pigafetta document gave a detailed chronicle
of the significant events of the exploration of
Ferdinand Magellan.
 It provided a description, location and distances
of the places visited thereby enhancing the
knowledge of cartography at that time.
 The chronicle contributed immensely to
European historiography because it preserved
and popularized the achievements of the
Magellan-Elcano expedition.
 There was an evidence of agricultural activities
based on their produce.
 They engaged in trade with neighboring
countries such as China.
 As described, Filipinos have their unique musical
instruments;
 They have arts as seen in their bodies being
tattooed (in some villages);
 Performed rituals during dining and some
gatherings;
 They have a lot of burial practices;
 Worship of anitos (wooden idols) and ritual for
healing of ill persons.
 The documents narrated the conversion of early
Filipinos into Christianity
 at present…..
textbook writers use his book as their source
of historical information every time they discuss the
beginning of Christianity in the Philippines. Their
accounts about the first mass in the Philippines, the
conversion of Rajah Humabon and his wife and the
story of the image of the Sto. Nino were mostly taken
from Pigafetta‘s book.
2. Customs of the Tagalogs
Juan de Plasencia, O.F.M.
About the Author:
Fray Juan de Plasencia (real name is Joan de
Portocarrero) is one of the seven children of Pedro
Portocarrero
He grew up in the region of Extremadura during the
Golden Age (Siglo de Oro) of Spain
During this period there was an upsurge of men
entering religious life with the intention of suiting up
for missionary works in the newly discovered
territories
Plasencia belonged to the Franciscan order and came
together with the first batch of Franciscan
missionaries who arrived in the Philippines on July 2,
1578
He and Fray Diego de Oropresa were assigned to do
mission works in Southern Tagalog area; helped in
the foundation of numerous towns in Quezon,
Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan
Aside from performing sacerdotal and missionary
functions, Plasencia also helped in the foundation and
organization of numerous towns in Quezon, Laguna,
Rizal and Bulacan
His continuous interaction with the people he
converted to Christianity enabled him to write a book
entitled Relacion de las Costumbres de Los Tagalos
(Customs of the Tagalogs, 1589)
It vividly describes the political, social, economic
and cultural practices of the Filipinos before they
were Christianized.
His biggest challenge at that time was how to make
the articles of faith comprehensible to people who
have never heard of Christ nor the Catholic Church
In 1593, he published the book Doctrina Christiana
en Lengua Espanola Y Tagala, the first printed book
in the Philippines
He used it as reading material for those Filipinos who
wanted to deepen their faith in the newly accepted
religion
Pag
After several years of converting the natives and
teaching catechism, the Franciscan Order honored
him with the title "Venerable."
Plasencia died in Liliw, Laguna in 1590
Historical Context:
During the first century of Spanish rule, colonial
officials had the hard time running local politics
because of the limited number of Spaniards who
wanted to live outside Intramuros
This situation forced them to allow Filipinos to hold
the position of gobernadorcillo
To ensure that the gobernadorcillos would remain
loyal to the Crown, they instructed the friars assigned
in the parishes to supervise and monitor the activities
of the gobernadorcillo
Hence, the friars ended up performing the
administrative duties that colonial officials should
have been doing in the local level
Supervised local elections of executives, helped in
the collection of taxes, and were directly involved in
educating the youth.
Due to this, the friars ended up the most
knowledgeable and influential figure in the
pueblo.
Some duties of friars assigned in mission
territories:
 inform periodically their superiors of
what was going on in their respective
assignments
 report the number of natives they
converted, the people‘s way of life, their
socio-economic situation and the
problems they encountered
 some submitted short letters while
others who were keen observers and
gifted writers wrote long dispatches.
On top of the regular reports they submit, they also
shared their personal observations and experiences
Plasencia‘s Relacion de las Costumbres de Los
Tagalos (Customs of the Tagalog, 1589) is an
example of this kind of work.
Other friars and colonial officials who wrote about
the Filipinos that could further enrich our knowledge
of Philippine history during the early part of the
Spanish period.
Many of the what we know about Philippine history
during the first century of the Spanish period were
derived from the accounts of the Spanish friars.
Miguel de Loarca
• Arrived in 1576 and became an
encomendero of Panay.
• He wrote Relación de las Islas Filipinas
(1582) and his work described the way of
life of Filipinos living in Western
Visayas area.
Antonio de Morga
• He came to the Philippines in 1595 as
Asesor and Teniente General.
• His Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas gives
us a lot of information about the state of
the Philippines at the latter part of the
16th century.
Other Spanish missionaries who continued the
historiographical tradition initiated by Loarca
and Plasencia were:
• Fr. Pedro Chirino S.J. (Relación de las
Islas Filipinas, 1604;
• Fr. Juan Delgado S.J. (Historia General,
1751);
• Fr. Francisco Colin S.J. (Labor
Evangelica, 1663);
• Francisco Ignacio Alcina S.J. (Historia
natural del sitio, fertilidad y calidad de
las Islas e Indios de Bisayas, 1668); and
• Fr. Joaquin Martinez de Zuniga O.S.A.
(Historia, 1803).
About the Text:
The work of Plasencia is considered by many
historians as an example of a friar account.
This kind of writing is one of the most common
contemporaneous account during the early part of the
Spanish period.
The original text of Plasencia‘s Customs of the
Tagalogs is currently kept in Archivo General de
Indias (A.G.I.) in Seville, Spain.
There is also a duplicate copy of it in the Archivo
Franciscano Ibero-Oriental (A.F.I.O.), in Madrid,
Spain.
Pag
In the Philippines, an English version of it appeared
in volume VII of the Blair and Robertson collections
Another English translation of it was published as
part of the volume for pre-Hispanic Philippines of the
Filipiniana Book Guild series and what will be
presented below is from this version
Content Presentation and Analysis of the Important
Historical Information Found in the Document
1. Community (Barangay, Dato, Three Castes)
2. Property
3. Marriage Customs
4. Worship (Religion)
 12 Priests of the Devil
5. Superstition
6. Burying the Dead
Community
 Barangay – tribal gathering ruled by chiefs
 It is called a ―barangay‖ because they
associate themselves with the ―Malay‖
who are one of the first people to arrive
in the Philippines through a boat in
which they call ―barangay‖
 Some consisted of around 30 - 100
houses
 Barangays also have some sort of
diplomacy
 All barangays were equal in terms of
status
Datu/Dato
 the chiefs of the village; they governed the
people as captains even in wars, were obeyed,
and revered; any subject who committed any
offense against them, or spoke to their wives and
children, were severely punished.
Social Hierarchy
 There are three status/castes within a barangay:
Maharlica, Aliping Namamahay, Aliping sa
Guiguilir.
 Maharlica are those who are born free;
 Aliping Namamahay are those who
serve their masters; they can have their
own properties
 Aliping sa Guiguilir are those
considered to be slaves who serve their
masters or can be sold off
 He would keep their status for a lifetime
however, this can be taken if he/she marries a
slave.
 In this case, the kids would be divided and they
would inherit the status of their mother or father.
 Maharlica (husband) + Alipin (wife; Namamahay
or Saguguilir) = 1st, 3rd, and 5th belongs to the
father (maharlica) whilst the 2nd, 4th, and 6th
belongs to the mother (Alipin); regardless of sex
 Maharlicas could not, after marriage, move from
one barangay to another unless they pay a certain
amount of gold. Failure to pay might result to a
war between the barangay that he left and the one
he entered
   The land area was divided among the whole
barangay, especially the irrigated portions.
 No one from a different barangay could cultivate
land unless they inherit or buy the land
 The lands on the tingues, or mountain ridges,
are not divided but owned by the barangay as a
whole.
 At the time of rice harvest, any individual
(regardless of their barangay) that starts to clear
any land area may sow in it.
Property
 Fisheries of chiefs had established limits, and
sections of the rivers for markets
 Unless you were a member of the
chief‘s barangay, you had to pay for the
privilege of fishing or selling in the
chiefs‘ fisheries
Justice system
• Investigations and sentences made by the Dato
should be in the presence of those in his barangay
• Arbiter must be selected unanimously from
another barangay; dato or not
• Condemns no one to slavery unless the accused
got the death penalty
• Fines in gold, if not paid, servitude should be
done
Marriage Customs
   In the case of a divorce, if the wife would leave
her husband for the sake of marrying another
man, all her belongings plus a certain amount
would be given to her former husband however,
if she chooses to leave and do not have any plans
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 to marry, then all of her dowry will be returned to
her.
 In the case of an adoption, the children would
receive double the value of how much they were
bought to be adopted;
 Investigations and sentences for the accused
shall be presented and read in front of the tribe.
 There were no temples or sacred places in which
Filipinos would worship
 The word simbahan means a place to worship
which is constructed at a large house of the chief
where people of the tribe go to celebrate festivals
(aka pandot or worship)
 They beat large and small drums successively
during the feast which usually lasted four days
• 4. Mancocolam
Worship and Belief (Religion)
 nagaanitos - worship; (anito - soul or spirit of
ancestors)
 sibi - a temporary shed, made on each side of the
chief‘s house, for the assembled people.
 Bathala - one of their many idols, whom they
primarily worshipped.
   They worshipped the sun, the moon, and even
the stars or a particular dead man with special
capabilities who fought bravely or protected
them in their time of need
• Worship and Belief (Religion)
 sun - almost universally respected and honored
because of its beauty;
 moon - they would rejoice, especially when new
 stars - they did not name them except for the
morning star, which they called Tala
  ―Seven little goats‖ - the Pleiades; a star cluster
 Balatic - the Greater Bear constellation
 Mapolon - the change of seasons
Worship and Belief (Religion)
 lic-ha - idols; images with different shapes;
  Dian masalanta - an idol; patron of lovers and
generation
 Lacapati and Idianale - idols; patrons of the
cultivated lands and husbandry;
 buaya - crocodiles; were respected by the
Tagalogs due to their fear of being harmed by
them; they offered a portion of what they carried
in their boats to them
‘12 Priests of the Devil’
1. Catolonan
o Priest from a people of rank
o Officiates the offering sacrifice
for a feast and the food to be
eaten being offered to the devil
2. Mangagauay
o They pretend to heal the sick in
order to deceive others
3. Manyisalat
o They can cast remedies to
couples for them to abandon one
another
o Can emit fire from himself
which cannot be extinguished
5. Hocloban
o Much more powerful than a
mangagauay in which they can
kill anyone without the use of
any medicine. They can also heal
those who are ill.
6. Silagan
o They would tear out and eat the
liver of those they saw were
wearing white
7. Magtatangal
o They would go out at night
without their heads and put it
back into their bodies before the
sun rise
8. Osuang
o Tribesmen reported that they
saw the ―osuang‖ who can fly
and murdered a man and ate his
flesh.
9. Mangagayoma
o They would seduce their partners
with charms and other
accessories so they can deceive
them.
10. Sonat
o This devil helped people to die.
They can also know if the soul
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 they helped to die can either be
saved or not.
11. Pangatahojan
o They can predict the future.
12. Bayoguin
o These are men who are in the
nature of a woman.
 Placencia‘s referred to certain ‗devil-ish belief‘s
e.g. the mangagauay and mangagayoma.
 He regarded them both as ―witches‖ who
performed deceitful healing procedures, a
judgment made by an outsider who knew nothing
about the complexity of indigenous psyche.
 What he failed to realize is that in traditional
cultures, these so-called ―evil‖ practices were an
integral part of Filipino folk beliefs
Superstition
 They find omens in events they witness
 (i.e. when someone sneezed, met on
their way a rat or serpent, or the
Tigmamanuguin bird sang they would go
home in fear that evil would befall them
if they continued their journey)
   The Tigmamanuguin bird‘s (a blue bird
as large as a turtle-dove) song had two
forms: a good omen, and a bad omen.
Burying the Dead
 In burying the dead, the corpse would be placed
beside its house and be mourned at for 4 days.
 It will then be laid on a boat which serves as a
coffin which is guarded by a slave.
 The grief of the relatives of the deceased is
followed by eating and drinking.
Contribution and Relevance of the Document
It contains numerous information that historians
could use in reconstructing the political and socio-
cultural history of the Tagalog region
His work is a primary source because he personally
witnessed the events and that he discussed in his
account
Plasencia‘s Customs of the Tagalogs is a very
popular primary source because it vividly described
the situation of the Philippines before it was tainted
with Spanish and Christian influences.
Scholars like it because it covered numerous topics
that are relevant in many disciplines.
Political scientists for instance find it useful because
it contains a lot of information about the social
classes, political stratifications and legal system of
the Tagalog region.
Many of what we know about the duties and
responsibilities of the datus, maharlikas and alipins
came from Plasencia‘s account.
Moreover, it also talks about property rights,
marriage rituals, burial practices and the manner in
which justice is dispensed.
Plasencia also preserved and popularized the
unwritten customs, traditions, religious and
superstitious beliefs of the Filipinos.
One can also say that our historical knowledge about
the manananggal, aswang, hukluban, gayuma, etc.
came from Plasencia‘s works.
Priests and missionaries also read Plasencia‘s
Customs of the Tagalogs and Doctrina Christiana
because they get a lot of insights that help and inspire
them to become effective evangelizers.
One insight they got from Plasencia is the the
realization that one needs to master the local
language and study the culture of the people if you
want to be a successful missionary.
They also learned from him that preaching should be
accompanied with reading materials that contain the
basic elements of faith.
These readings serve as their guide and reference
when the missionaries are no longer around.
All these insights from Plasencia are applicable not
only to missionaries but to other professions as well.
Plasencia‘s historical writings also disprove the claim
of some Spaniards that when they arrived in the
Philippines, Filipinos were still uncivilized and
lacking in culture.
It is clear in the excerpts quoted above that at the
time Plasencia was assigned in the Tagalog region,
Filipinos were already politically and economically
organized.
They have a functioning government, tax system, set
of laws, criminal justice system, indigenous calendar
and long-standing customs and traditions.
Moreover, they have already a concept of supreme
being (Bathala), practiced burial customs and
believed in life after death.
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 Lastly, Plasencia also mentioned that the people he
met were wearing garments, gold ornaments and their
houses were decorated with idols.
All of these lead to the conclusion that prior to the
coming of the Spaniards, Filipinos were already
civilized and maintained a lifestyle that was at par or
even better than other countries in Southeast Asia.
3. Kartilya ng Katipunan
 Emilio Jacinto
 KKK
Kataastaasang Kagalang-galangang
Katipunan ng Mga Anak ng Bayan
 KKK
Kataastaasang Kagalang-galangang
Katipunan ng Mga Anak ng Bayan
 Recruitment process followed the Masonic
initiation rights
Author’s Background
 Joined the KKK at the age of 18; took the
symbolic name of Pingkian
 Developed nationalistic ideals; he became
the guiding light of the Katipunan
 Wrote the Kartilya and the Oath of the
Katipuneros
 Editor of Kalayaan, official newspaper of the
Katipunan
 Pen-name of Dimas-ilaw; was an author of
literary pieces
Historical Background of the Document
• Most of the prominent persons in the
Katipunan were members of the Masonry.
The influence of this fraternity to the
members were very evident in the Kartilya
written by Emilio Jacinto.
• During the revolution, the Spanish Friars
believed that the root of all the problems was
Masonry and Katipunan. Katipunan was
considered by the friars as “Huwad sa
Masonerya.”
• Jesuit Francisco Foradada wrote in his book
that Filipino filibusterism (subversion) was
not the son of righteousness, morality, or
justice; but of Masonry – the enemy of God.
 La Liga Filipina
 In 1892, Jose Rizal arrived home and with
the support of the Masonic Leaders, he
established La Liga Filipina. However, he
was arrested and soon deported to Dapitan
 Rizal’s deportation was a sign that reforms
were no longer attainable
 Before the revival of the Liga, Andres
Bonifacio had conceptualized a new secret
society called the Katipunan which
advocated separation from Spain.
 Content Presentation and Analysis of
Important Historical Information
 The teachings in the Kartilya has 14 points
 To Those Who Want to Join this Association
 Full understanding and knowledge of its
guiding principles
 Most worthy and momentous objective: unite
the hearts and minds of the Tagalogs by
means of an oath
 Strong enough to tear apart the thick wall
that obscures thought, reason, and
enlightenement
 Love of native land and genuine compassion
for one another
 To Those Who Want to Join this Association
 All are equal whether you are poor, rich,
educated, or not
 Renounce vices and submit to KKK authority
 Contrary acts (not noble and clean) will be
investigated
 Those that are not true to the objectives
shall not join
 To Those Who Want to Join this Association
 Only actions are demanded and esteemed;
those not willing to act shall not enter
 Duties of the members will be hard
 If an applicant only desires financial relief
and the like, he shall not enter since this
association will encounter weighty tasks
(protection of the oppressed and relentless
fight against evil)
 To Those Who Want to Join this Association
 Suffering brought by the colonizers
 One peso upon entry twelve and a half
centavos per month
 Thought over and deliberated calmly
 For the upliftment of mind and virtue, read
the following (14 teachings)
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Contribution and Relevance
 Not just the teachings of an association, but
a guiding principle for the society
 Teachings that embody moral and
nationalistic principles; enhances a sense of
nationalism
 Principles of nationhood
 Advocates anti-slavery
 Promotes the spread of liberal ideas
 Kartilya is a source of moral beacon for self
transformation for the contemporary times. It
can be used as a guide:
 To institutionalize good governance among
our government officials.
4. Mga Gunita ng himagsikan
Emilio Aguinaldo
He attended high school at the Colegio de San Juan de
Letran, but had to stop in his fourth year because of his
father's death.
He then took up the responsibility of helping his mother
run their farm.
At 25, he became Cavite Viejo‘s first gobernadorcillo
capitan municipal
In 1895, he became a Freemason, joining Pilar Lodge
No, 203, Imus, Cavite by the codename ―Colon‖
He joined the Katipunan and used the nom de guerre
Magdalo
He became the President of the Biak na Bato Republic
(Hong Kong Junta) and First Philippine Republic
*Magdalo – from St Mary Magdalene
March 7 1895
BATTLES FOUGHT
• Philippine Revolution
• Spanish – American War
• Philippine - American War
*Emilio Aguinaldo died in Quezon on February 6, 1964
from cardiovascular disease. He was 94 years, 10
months and 15 days old when he died.
About the Book
• The original memoirs in Tagalog was prepared
by Aguinaldo in his own handwriting between
1928 to 1946
• It was at the close of 1963 when Aguinaldo,
after much deliberation, decided to publish his
memoirs
• Translated by Luz Colendrino Bucu, the
Secretary of the Graduate School of Education
and Faculty Member of the University of the
East
• Published in 1967
Historical Background of the Document
Aguinaldo joined the Katipunan
He was instrumental in the revolution in Cavite
Content and Context
Aguinaldo stated in the preface of this book why he
wrote it:
To help our historians fill in the gap of the past and to
connect the scattered parts of our history; To preserve the
past of our nation for the generations to come;
Awakening the inherent heroism and nationalistic spirit
of the Filipinos against any foreign invaders that we may
preserve our hard-earned freedom.
In addition, the book shows as whole, the cruelty of the
Spaniards, the different types of government under
Aguinaldo, and even the struggles of the Filipinos in the
attainment of freedom.
My Bloodiest Fight
• Under Aguinaldo‘s command, the Filipino
revolutionaries defeated the Spanish troops in
Cavite
• The whole province of Cavite was liberated
from the Spaniards
Chapter 30: Magdiwang Council Reorganized
Magdiwang Council Reorganized
Cavite was liberated through the efforts of both the
Magdiwang and Magdalo.
Magdiwang
 King - Andres Bonifacio
 Said to be Monarchial in form
 Noveleta, San Francisco de Malabon, Rosario,
Tanza, Naic, Ternate, Maragondon, Magallanes,
Bailen, Alfonso, Indang and San Roque
Page
Magdalo
 President- Baldomero Aguinaldo
 Republican in form
 Cavite el Viejo, Imus, Dasmarinas, Silang,
Amadeo, Mendez, Nunez, Bacoor, and
Carmona
Chapter 38: My Election to the Presidency
Aguinaldo was at Pasong Santol in Dasmariñas on
March 22, 1897. He learned of his election as President
of the new revolutionary government
Aguinaldo‘s brother, General Crispulo Aguinaldo
persuaded him to go to Tejeros to take his oath of office
At 7:00 in the evening, Aguinaldo, Trias and Riego de
Dios took their oaths of office
My Election to the Presidency
• On March 24, 1897, Aguinaldo received news
that Bonifacio and his ministers met in a council
as passed a resolution declaring null and void
the meeting at Tejeros.
Chapter 42: Military Court
• Five charges were made against the Bonifacio
brothers
• A military court was created with Colonel Jose
Lipana as presiding judge
Chapter 44: Death of the Bonifacio Brothers
Death sentence
Contribution and Relevance
• It gives us an insight into the personal thoughts
and feelings of Aguinaldo which will help in a
deeper understanding of Philippine History
• It is an attempt of Emilio Aguinaldo to wash his
hands on the tragic death of Andres Bonifacio;
• thus it is a way of vindicating himself from
negative aspersions against him
*INTERPRETATION by some scholars; this one is not
stated in the preface as a reason for the creation of the
document!
Relevance of the Document
• Issues affecting contemporary leaderships were
caused by, or rooted from the past
– Power struggle
– Lack of unity
5. Act of the Declaration of Philippine
Independence
 Acta de la Proclamacíon de independencia del
Pueblo Filipino
 Documents on the 1898 Declaration of Philippine
Independence, the Malolos Constitution and First
Philippine Republic
Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista
 Cause: He was suspected of being involved in the
Philippine Revolution
 Result: He managed to defend himself and was
eventually released
 Became the first adviser to President Emilio
Aguinaldo in 1898
 Contrary to common belief, it was Bautista, and
not Aguinaldo, who waved the Philippine flag
before the jubilant crowd.
Historical Background of the Document
1898 (April) Outbreak of Spanish-American War
 result of U.S. intervention in Cuban War of
Independence
 One immediate cause of the SPN-AM war was
the explosion of the USS Maine which was
docked in Cuba
 U.S. attacked Spain‘s Pacific Possession which
led to the involvement in the Philippine
Revolution
 Commodore George Dewey aboard the U.S.S.
Olympia sailed from Hong Kong to Manila Bay
and led the Asiatic Squadron of the U.S. Navy
1898 (May)Battle of Manila Bay
 Emilio Aguinaldo decided to return to the
Philippines and help the Americans defeat the
Spaniards
 Spaniards were defeated
 Emilio Aguinaldo arrived in Cavite (unofficially
allied with the USA)
Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista wrote the Act on the
Declaration of Independence
• There was still fighting between the Filipinos and
Spaniards in various places and the Act was
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 written to encourage, motivate more Filipino
people to fight against the Spaniards.
 Series of Events that lead to the Declaration
of the Act of Independence
 Lost of independence and sovereignty:
i. Ferdinand Magellan landed on the shores
of Cebu and occupied said island by
means of a Pact of Friendship with Chief
Tupas, although he was killed in the
battle that took place in said shores to
which battle he was provoked by Chief
Kalipulako of Mactan.
 • The eight rays, signifying the eight provinces
ii. Miguel Lopez de Legaspi landed on the Island of
Bohol by entering into a Blood Compact with its
Chief Sikatuna, and later went to Manila,
winning the friendship of Chiefs Soliman and
Lakandula, and later taking possession of the city
and the whole archipelago in the name of Spain
by virtue of an order of King Philip II.
iii. International law does not recognize such vicious
acquisition of private property.
 INEQUALITY BETWEEN THE SPANISH
AND FILIPINOS
*Pact of Biak na Bato: agreement signed by Gen.
Aguinaldo and Gov. Gen. Primo de Rivera which
temporarily ceased hostilities wherein certain
reforms and financial payments were promised in
exchange for the exile of Aguinaldo. Pedro
Paterno was the mediator
B. Establishment of Biak-Na-Bato to gain
independence and sovereign:
 Purpose: To Liberate Philippines
from the yoke of Spanish
dominion
ii. Liberation from: abuses and unjust
execution of Rizal and others for
opposing the friars‘ Machiavellian ends
iii. Religious corporation abuses such as
execution of GOMBURZA
iv. Oppressions
C. Conferring to Dictator Don Emilio Aguinaldo all
the powers necessary to enable him to discharge
the duties of government, including the
prerogatives of granting pardon and amnesty
D. Filipino revolutionary forces under General
Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty
and independence of the Philippine Islands from
the colonial rule of Spain.
 The Philippine Flag
 The Philippine Flag
• The three stars, signifying the three principal
islands of this Archipelago - Luzon, Mindanao
and Panay where this revolutionary movement
started.
• The sun, representing the gigantic steps made by
the sons of the country.
that were placed under Martial Law during the
outbreak of the Revolution - Manila, Cavite,
Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan,
Laguna and Batangas.
• And the colors of Blue, Red and White,
commemorating the flag of the United States of
America, as a manifestation of our profound
gratitude towards this great nation for its
disinterested protection which it lent us and
continues lending us.
The Philippine Flag
 The white triangle signifies the distinctive
emblem of the famous society of the
―Katipunan‖
 The three stars, signifying the three principal
islands of this Archipelago - Luzon, Mindanao
and Panay where this revolutionary movement
started.
 The sun, representing the gigantic steps made by
the sons of the country.
 The eight rays, signifying the eight provinces
that were placed under Martial Law during the
outbreak of the Revolution - Manila, Cavite,
Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan,
Laguna and Batangas.
 And the colors of Blue, Red and White,
commemorating the flag of the United States of
America, as a manifestation of our profound
gratitude towards this great nation for its
disinterested protection which it lent us and
continues lending us.
Page
  The first Philippine flag was sewn by Dona
Marcela Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo, and
Delfina Herbosa de Natividad in Hong Kong
 It was first flown in battle on May 28, 1898
 Formally unfurled during the declaration of
Philippine Independence
 Music composed by Julian Felipe
 Did not use lyrics during the declaration of
Philippine Independence in June 12, 1898.
 Lyrics was from Jose Palma from his poem
Filipinas in 1899
 Final Filipino lyrics was revised in 1960s
Dambanang Aguinaldo
 Cavite-Viejo, Province of Cavite
 June 12, 1898
 Solemnize and proclaim Philippine
Independence.
 98 persons signed the Declaration of
Independence
Contribution and Relevance of the Document
1. Most significant achievement of Aguinaldo‘s
Dictatorial Government
2. The Philippine was proclaimed independent after
decades of being a colony.
3. The Philippines earned its own identity.
Affirmation of the following:
1. Atrocities of the Spaniards towards
Filipinos.
2. Struggles of the Filipinos for
independence
3. Dictatorial government under
Aguinaldo.
a. It was a major step in creating the Filipino Identity.
b. The very first and solid proof of the struggle of the
Filipinos for independence.
c. It serves as a culmination of our existence as a
nation and a state.
d. It marks the start and beginning where Filipinos had
these constitutional rights.
6. Filipino Grievances against Governor Wood
JOSE ABAD SANTOS
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT:
• Finished LAW , Northwestern University in
Evanston, Illinois (PENSIONADO) & passed
the bar in 1911
• GOVERNMENT POSTS:
• 1911- ASSISTANT ATTORNEY, Bureau of
Justice & later rose to the rank of Attorney
General
• 1921- UNDERSECRETARY OF JUSTICE
but gave up the position at the height of the
cabinet crisis in 1923
• CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL, Office of the
Senate President and the Speaker of the House of
Representative (It was during this time when he
joined the Anti-Wood campaign.)
• 1932- ASSOCIATE JUSTICE of the Supreme
Court and became CHIEF JUSTICE 9 years
later
• 1942- ACTING PRESIDENT of the
Commonwealth Government
JEORGE BOCOBO
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT::
• Finished LAW , Indiana University
(PENSIONADO)
GOVERNMENT POSTS:
• 1911- LAW CLERK in the Executive Bureau
• CLOSE ASSOCIATE of Manuel L. Quezon
and served as one of his speech writers
• 1942-1944- ASSOCIATE JUSTICE of the
Supreme Court
OTHER EXPERIENCES:
• FULL PROFESSOR of Law and ACTING
DEAN of the College and PRESIDENT of the
University of the Philippines from 1934 to 1939
• From the time the Americans arrived in the
Philippines in 1898, Filipinos persistently
demanded to give them independence. American
colonial officials did not say no to them because
it would surely derail their effort to pacify them.
Instead, they appointed Filipino politicians to key
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 government positions hoping that by doing so
they will forget their desire for independence.
• The appointment of Francis Burton Harrison as
governor general and the passage of the Jones
Law in 1916 change the political landscape in the
Philippines.
• Jones Law categorically stipulated that the
American government would give the Filipinos
independence once they have established a stable
government. No specific date was given but for
Quezon and other officials the written promise
was already a significant achievement.
• They were further elated when the Retirement
Act was passed in 1915 which offered attractive
financial package to Americans who would
voluntarily give up their positions in the
Philippines. This paved the way for the
Filipinization of the bureaucracy.
• Except for the position of governor general, vice
governor, Secretary of Public Instruction and a
few more sensitive positions, all other positions
were offered to Filipinos. Local politicians were
allowed to hold cabinet positions and top notch
Filipino lawyers were appointed justices of the
supreme court. Moreover, forty-five provinces
and more than eight hundred municipalities were
put under Filipino governors and mayors
respectively.
• The Jones law also created a bicameral congress
that gave opportunities to politicians based in the
provinces to participate in policy making.
Quezon led the Senate and the House of
Representatives elected Sergio Osmena as their
speaker. While holding key positions in the
government, Filipinos tried to prove to the
Americans that they are now competent and
ready to manage their own affairs.
• They were expecting that in the coming years
American officials would be convinced that
Filipinos are now compliant with the
requirements of the Jones Law and therefore
must be given independence.
• The defeat of the Democrats in the 1920
presidential election had devastating effects on
the aspiration of the Filipinos to be given
independence.
• Months after President Warren Harding was
sworn into office, he sent Leonard Wood and
William Cameron Forbes (Wood-Forbes
mission) to the Philippines to check if the
Filipinos have already satisfied the conditions set
by the Jones law.
• The team conducted an exhaustive investigation
and visited 48 provinces and 449 municipalities.
The report they submitted was not favorable to
the cause of the Filipino politicians.
• It exposed the corruption and patronage system
that became prevalent in government owned and
controlled corporations during the Harrison era.
It singled out particularly the anomalous
transactions in the administration of public lands
and the banking malpractices that resulted to the
bankruptcy of the Philippine National Bank
(P.N.B.).
• Quezon and other members of the Nationalista
Party were offended by the report because it
insinuated that Filipino leaders were corrupt and
incompetent and therefore do not deserve yet to
be given independence.
• The anti-Wood sentiment of Filipino politicians
ruptured on July 21, 1923 and the event that
triggered it was the decision of Wood to reinstate
Ray Conley, the chief of the vice squad of the
Manila police force who was accused of
receiving money from gambling lords.
• The case was spearheaded by Mr. Almario, the
secretary of the City Mayor, who presented a
faked telephone conversation between Conley
and some gamblers.
• When Manila Mayor Ramon Fernandez referred
the case to Gov. Wood, the latter advised the
mayor to bring the case in court.
• The court acquitted Conley and to save their face,
Mayor Fernandez and Justice Secretary Jose P.
Laurel requested Wood to allow them to conduct
an administrative investigation on Conley.
• Instead of granting their request, Wood created a
board composed on the Civil Service Director,
the undersecretary of Justice and an American
Colonel of the Constabulary.
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• The board found Conley not guilty and
recommended his reinstatement. Wood
personally believes that Conley is innocent and
the charges against him were just fabrications of
influential and well connected personalities who
were affected by this anti-gambling campaign.
After he was acquitted, Conley resigned and
Wood accepted it. Wood found him innocent of
bribery but he found him is guilty of keeping a
mistress and for making false statements.
• Manila Mayor Ramon Fernandez and Justice
Secretary Jose P. Laurel felt insulted when they
learned that the Board created by Wood acquitted
Conley.
• The decision put them in bad light because it
implied that the case they filed against Conley
was weak. As a counter measure, they explained
to the people that Conley was acquitted not
because he was innocent but because he was an
American.
• Fernandez and Laurel tendered their resignation
and Senate President Quezon and Speaker
Manuel Roxas also resigned as members of the
Council of State in support of Laurel and in
protest of Wood's handling of the Conley case.
• Gov. Wood tried to win back the support of those
Filipino officials who gave up their position in
his government. His gesture was not
reciprocated and this prompted him to accept
their resignation and replace them with their
deputies. At the height of the crisis, various
accusations were raised against Wood.
• Quezon and his allies also sent a cable to
President Harding informing him of the reasons
why they resigned en masse. They also told the
president that they were planning to send a
delegation to the United States that will explain
to him Wood‘s blatant disregard of the rights and
privileges granted to Filipinos by the previous
administration.
• The document that will be presented below
basically summarizes the grievances and disgust
of Filipino politicians who were affected by
Wood‘s reforms and management style.
• The second paragraph states the underlying cause
of the grievance. Contrary to their expectations
that Wood work for Philippines‘ political
emancipation as what he did in Cuba, his conduct
of government has been characterized by a train
of usurpations and arbitrary acts, resulting in the
curtailment of our autonomy, the destruction of
our constitutional system, and the reversal of
America‘s Philippine policy.
• The third paragraph of the document states that
what prompted them to write the resolution was
Wood‘s issuance of Executive Order No. 37. It
abolished the Board of Control that Gov. Gen.
Francis Burton Harrison created during his term.
This development stripped the power of Filipino
legislators to oversee the sale and management of
government-owned and controlled corporations.
• The Board of Control was important to Filipinos
because they were given voting powers and they
could even outvote the governor if they will vote
as a block. For them, the Executive Order was
illegal because it violates the principle of
separation of powers.
• Moreover, they claimed that the governor general
has no power to abolish it.
• Aside from E.O. 37, they also raised more than
twenty one other abuses and unjust acts of the
governor general.
• These acts are clustered into political, social, and
economic.
• They characterized Wood as ―arbitrary,
oppressive and undemocratic.‖
• Many of the current historical literatures about
the American period deal with the first two
decades of American rule. Their favorite topics
were the Filipino-American War, McKinley‘s
benevolent assimilation policy, the political,
economic and social transformations that
happened during the Taft era and the gradual
inclusion of Filipino politicians in the colonial
bureaucracy during Harrison‘s time. Many of
them were written by American historians or by
their Filipino students. Recently, there is a
growing interest among Filipino scholars to
move away from American-oriented
historiography and rewrite Philippine history
from Filipino point of view. They paid lesser
attention to the policies and programs of the
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 colonial administrators and focus instead on the
reactions and achievements of Filipino leaders.
This trend paved the way to the growing interest
of Filipino historians to examine the
contributions of Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmena,
Jose P. Laurel, Manuel Roxas and other
personalities who joined the campaign for
independence.
• The struggle for independence is a constant and
unifying political issue among Filipinos during
the whole American period. From the time
Aguinaldo proclaimed it in 1898 until the
passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Act in 1934,
Filipinos demanded it from the Americans using
various means and strategies. Early attempts to
win it used violent means but they failed because
they were not able to overcome the superior
military firepower of the Americans. During the
middle part of the American period, younger
Filipino politicians worked for independence
using the American political system as their
platform. They got themselves elected in public
office and campaigned for independence using
their respective positions. Americans preferred
this kind of strategy because it is non-violent and
easier to manage.
• The document presented shows that by the
1920‘s Filipinos had already the confidence to
debate on equal footing with top ranking
American colonial officials like Gov. Wood.
Despite his military background and despotic
tendencies, Quezon and his allies did not hesitate
to raise their grievances against him. The
complaints that they enumerated in the document
clearly show that the root cause of the anti-Wood
campaign was the decision of the latter to lessen
the autonomy of the Philippine legislature and
the increasing interference of the governor-
general on some functions that were turned over
already to Filipino officials during the Harrison
era. Many Filipinos felt upset when all of a
sudden they lost control and jurisdiction on
certain government functions that for several
years were already part of their regular function.
They also felt offended when Wood appointed
Americans to occupy key positions in the
government even if Filipinos of proven capacity
were available. For them, the re-
Americanization of the bureaucracy would make
them irrelevant and it would surely delay the
giving of independence. These developments
forced Filipinos to set aside their personal and
political interests and formed a united stand
against the Wood administration.
• The document presented is also relevant in the
study of Philippine history because it exposes the
other side of the Harrison administration. Much
of what people know about this era centered on
the Filipinization of the bureaucracy and the
gradual ascension of local politicians to key
positions in the government. When Wood came
in, he exposed the negative effects of Harrison‘s
failure to put up safety measures that will prevent
newly appointed and elected Filipinos from using
their position to enrich themselves at the expense
of the government and other people. He did not
hesitate to veto the poorly crafted legislative
outputs of both houses of congress and he also
publicized the true financial state of the
Philippine National Bank and other government
owned and controlled corporation. Wood
specifically explained that the P.N.B. debacle
was the result of the illegal transfer of deposit
from New York to Manila, inexperienced
management, dishonestly and reckless extension
of credit to well connected Filipino businessmen.
It appears that Filipinos hated Wood not because
he was pro-American but because he
implemented measures that prevented wasteful
politicians from making extravagant
appropriations. It also insinuates that not all
critics of Wood‘s administration were clean and
with noble intention when they campaigned for
Philippine independence. Some were just
employing diversionary tactics to direct the
attention of the Filipinos away from their corrupt
practices.
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