The Tejeros

Assembly
Chapter 10
REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS LESSON

Accounts Date Location

O B J ECTI V ES
At the end of the discussion, the student will be
able to:

a. Identify the conflicting views about the

Tejeros Assembly.
b. Examine the roles of each person as a source
of the information of the event.
c. Evaluate the validity of the accounts given
by the sources.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The first days of Revolution – defeat on the part of

Bonifacio forcing his men to retreat in the
mountains of Montalban.
- while in Cavite, under the leadership of
Aguinaldo, they managed to subdue the Spanish
forces by surprise and take in control of the
province.
- But soon, the Magdiwang
(Bonifacio and Magdalo The two groups
(Aguinaldo) fought each finally agreed to
other so Aguinaldo invited
form a revolutionary
Bonifacio in Cavite to
government which
mediate.
- When he arrived, it would lead to a
infuriated the Magdalos. revolution.
They agreed to meet March 22, 1897 –
on the friar’s house Cavite Katipuneros as
in Barrio Tejeros, a well as the
part of the town of representatives from
San Francisco the nearby provinces,
Malabon converged at that friar’s
estate.
The Meeting

Aguinaldo, however, was not

at the assembly as he was
commanding the Filipino
forces at the frontliners in
Pasong Santol, Barrio
Salitran, Dasmarinas.
 3 Accounts

1. Artemio Ricarte
2. Andres Bonifacio
3. Santiago Alvarez
 Artemio Ricarte’s
- Account
Written by Ge. Artemio Ricarte ( Vibora)
- Was one of the officials of the Magdiwang faction
- Serve as the secretary when Bonifacio was presiding as the
president of the convention.
- Was elected as the Captain – General of the
revolutionary government.
- “ Apuntes Historicos Kataastaasang Katipunan nang
manga Anak ng
Bayan’ contra el Gobierno Español en las Islas Filipinas.”
- Was written when he was in prison by the American
authorities in 1904.
General Artemio Ricarte
•The romantic Filipino revolutionary and “irreconcilable”
Artemio Ricarte y Vibora was born in 1866 at Batac,
Ilocos Norte.
•A teacher of Spanish in Cavite by profession but a
soldier by inclination, Ricarte secretly joined the
independence-minded “blood brother-hood,”
the Katipunan. Subsequently, he became an officer in
the anti-Spanish Philippine uprising of 1896–1897.
•When the Spanish-American War
broke out, Ricarte was one of those
recruited by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo
to cooperate with the Americans in
destroying Spain's authority in the
Philippines.
•As the commander of a military
district in Luzon, Ricarte was
rewarded by the revolutionary
government with the title of
General.
TRIVIA
Dubbed as the "Father of the
Philippine Army", Ricarte was the
Chief of Operations of the
Philippine forces during the
Philippine-American War which
started in 1899.
On June 9, 1904, noted
Filipino General, Artemio
"Vivora" Ricarte was
accused of illegal possession
of firearms, conspiracy,
rebellion and insurrection
against the Americans.
Ricarte’s Account
MARCH 22 1897 (morning) – men filled the Tejeros estate with the
two groups of Magdiwang and Magdalo.

Chiefs of Magdiwang – Bonifacio, Pascual Mariano, Santiago

Alvarez, Luciano San Miguel, Mariano Trias Closas, Severino
delas Alas and Santos Nocon

Chiefs of Magdalo – Baldomero Aguinaldo, Daniel Tirona,

Cayetano Topacio and Antonio Montenegro.
Start of the Meeting/ Convention

Jacinto Lumbreras – opened the

assembly.
Severino delas Alas – briefly
explained the purpose of the
assembly, consider what kind
of kind of government they will
have.

Severino delas Alas

The Start of the Commotion
Bonifacio: With the permission of the chairman, he stood up
and explain the need to establish a form of government and
emphasized the
importance of the letter “K” at the center of the Katipunan flag
which stands out as liberty (Kalayaan).

Severino delas Alas: said that neither the “K” nor the flag
has anything to do with the character of the government
existing.
The Start of the Commotion
Bonifacio: he replied to Delas Alas that the government of
Katipunan would be rigorously republican in form.

Antonio Montenegro: his unusual

louder voice said that unless some
definite understanding on the kind of
government they have, the
insurgents were mere group of
tulisanes or much worse brutes.
Santiago Alvarez – wounded by the words of Montenegro so he
said
“ We insurgents of Cavite and specially with the
Magdiwang government recognized and obey the government
established by the Katipunan , if you wish to establish any other
kind of government more suited to your fancy, retire to your
province and conquer territory from the Spanish government as
we have done here and establish there whatever government
you like, and no one will interfere with you…”
- The session broke out in disorder, but one
hour later, when the two persons were
pacified, the meeting conveyed under the
presidency of Andres Bonifacio and Ricarte
as his secretary.
- He said that in order to have a peaceful
assembly, they should respect and obey in
everything the vote or decision of the
majority.
- They all agreed to that one condition.
Ballots were distributed and
the election started.

Captain
President: Emilio
Aguinaldo Vice President: General: Director of
defeating
Severino Artemio War: Emiliano
Bonifacio and Riego de Dios
Trias delas Alas Ricarte
 Bonifacio – elected as Director of Interior but Daniel Tirona opposed
since the Supremo is not a lawyer and with a loud voice, announced
that they vote for Jose del Rosario.
- Supremo’s pride was hurt so he ask to Tirona to apologized since it
is already agreed that they will adhere to the
majority of the votes.
- he drew his revolver but Ricarte seized his hand and he said in a
loud voice that as a presiding officer of the assembly and the
supreme council of the Katipunan, declared the assembly closed
and annulled everything that has been discussed and left followed
by his adherents.
Andres Bonifacio’s account
- From a letter he wrote Emilio Jacinto in
Montalban from Indang Cavite on April 24,
1897, a month after of the meeting
- This is the first time, the members of the
- Katipunan would here on the events that
happened on the assembly.
- First published in Jose P. Santos, Si Andres
Bonifacio at ang Himagsikan (1932).
Bonifacio’s Account

- Started the meeting that they’d agreed to

establish a government but Bonifacio
opposed because the representatives of
other provinces did not arrive yet but this
was disregarded by the majority.
- They agreed that whatever decision
made by majority, they will abide and
respect it.
Bonifacio’s Account

- So they elected the officers for the

government but when it comes to the
Director of the Interior, Don Daniel Tirona,
stood up and said that the Director of
Interior should be filled with someone
educated like Don Jose del Rosario. He
shouted four times but no one responded to
his call.
Bonifacio’s Account
- So at this point, the President of Magdiwang
announced that this is not a meeting of
gentlemen.
- Also Bonifacio discovered that there is already a
meeting that they won’t allow someone from the
province to become the president, for that
reason, Aguinaldo was elected as president.
Bonifacio’s Account
- Bonifacio said that the assembly is the idea of
those with evil intentions and that they deceived
the people.
- He said that if the wishes of the assembly not be
followed then he will not recognized those who
were electedand if he will not recognize them so
as his men will do the same.
- Even General Ricarte said the assembly was the
result of bad intentions.
Santiago Alvarez’s account
• Found in the Chapter 32 of Gen. Santiago Alvarez’s memoirs.
• He is a direct participant of the event like Ricarte.

March 25, 1897 – Tejeros Convention

- Signed by Secretary Jacinto Lumbreras of the Magdiwang
Council and presided the assembly.
- But before the assembly, they Secretary of War,
Ariston Villanueva received a confidential
information that Mr. Daniel Tirona of the Magdalo
Faction was set to undermine the proceedings of the
assembly and that he already acceded to have some
Magdiwang leaders to join him.
- Villanueva alerted Captain General Apoy to be ready
Santiago Alvarez

Santiago Virata Álvarez (Spanish:

[sanˈtjaɣo ˈalβaɾes]; born
Santiago Álvarez y Virata; July
25, 1872 – October 30, 1930)
was a revolutionary general
and a founder and honorary
president of the first
directorate of the Nacionalista
Party.
Santiago Alvarez’s account

Initial topic – how to bolster the defense in the areas

still under the Magdiwang control.

Severino delas Alas: what kind of government they will

have Bonifacio – the importance of the letter “K” and the
flag in the government which was refuted by delas Alas
by saying that the letter “k” nor the flag will not indicate
what kind of government they will have.
Bonifacio : replied that
Katipunan was united in its
respect for universal
brotherhood and equality of
men.
- stood for people sovereignty, not
the government led only by one or
two.
Santiago Alvarez’s account
Antonio Montenegro: defended delas Alas saying
that if they will not establish a government, they were
no better than a pack of bandits or of wild, mindless
animals.

General Apoy: was hurt by the words of Montenegro

- he said that they are true revolutionist for freedom
of the native land, not bandits nor animals.
The next scene…
• Ordered was restored, Lumbreras stepped
down as the presiding officer and gave the right
to the Supremo.
• They decided to have a majority votes, they will
all respect the election decision no matter
what his situation in life of his educational
background.
Ballot rigging
- He appointed Ricarte as secretary and Daniel
Tirona distributed a piece of paper that would
become a ballot for the members.
- Mr. Diego Mojica said to the Supremo that
many of the ballots were already filled out
and the voters had not done it themselves.
But the Supremo ignored this remark.
- The election proceeded, Tirona opposed the
election of Bonifacio as the Director of the
Interior (refer to the previous slide for the result).
- The Supremo greatly embarrassed, quickly
stood up and said that they have to abide the
decision of the majority and Daniel Tirona must
apologized.
Santiago Alvarez’s account
- The he pulled out his revolver and took aim to Tirona but
out of fear, the latter slid away in the crowd.
- Disorder ensued as the convention secretary ( Ricarte)
disarm the Supremo.
- “In my capacity as chairman of this convention and as
President – Supremo of the Most Venerable Katipunan of
the Sons of the People which association is known and
acknowledged by all, I hereby declare null and void all
matters approved in this meeting.

- Then he left quickly and was followed by his aides and

some other present.
 Which of the
three accounts
is more
accurate and
true?