Jayryan P.

Panonce Code 13 – GE 6

“Reform through revolution”

Andrés Bonifacio 1863-1897 Andrés Bonifacio was born in Manila in 1863, the son
of a government official. When both his parents died in the 1870's, he left school to support
his five brothers and sisters. By the mid-1880s, he had become a fervent Filipino nationalist;
when José Rizal established the Liga Filipina in 1892, Bonifacio was one of its first
members. After the Spanish arrested Rizal in July 1892, Bonifacio decided that the
Philippines would only achieve independence through revolution. On July 7, he founded the
Katipunan, a secret society open to both peasants and the middle class that employed
Masonic rituals to impart an air of sacred mystery. It insinuated itself into the community by
setting up mutual aid societies and education for the poor. By 1896, the Katipunan had over
30,000 members and functioned at the national, provincial, and municipal levels. Following
the execution of Rizal in 1896, Bonifacio proclaimed Filipino independence on August 23,
1896. This time, the Spaniards moved against him, forcing his flight to the Marikina
mountains, while other forces headed by Emilio Aguinaldo were more successful and won
control over some towns. When Bonifacio tried to rein him in, Aguinaldo ordered him
arrested and charged with treason and sedition. He was tried and convicted by his enemies
and executed on May 10, 1897. Today he is regarded as a national hero. Back to top
In 1892 Filipinos interested in the overthrow of Spanish rule founded an organization
following Masonic rites and principles to organize armed resistance and terrorist
assassinations within a context of total secrecy. It operated as an alternative Filipino
government complete with a president and cabinet. When Andrés Bonifacio assumed control
over the organization, it became much more aggressive. With the Grito de Balintawak, the
Philippine revolution began. Filipinos ripped up their tax and citizenship documents and
started fighting through Luzon. Emilio Jacinto commanded Katipunan's troops in several
decisive struggle where both sides sustained major losses. The Katipunan movement
frightened the Spanish and their supporters in the country. Consequently, the authorities
arrested or exiled some 4,000 rebels, not to mention the myriad executions. At this time, the
Filipinos were by no means united; Emilio Aguinaldo served as president of the insurgent
government while José Rizal headed the Liga Filipina. When General Camilo de Polavieja
became the new Spanish military governor on December 3, 1896, he utilized the same
strategy of reconcentration as did his counterpart Valeriano Weyler in Cuba. He also ordered
the execution of Rizal and 24 others. The spanish crackdown led to a series of victories
against Andrés Bonifacio and the Katipunan that Aguinaldo was quick to take advantage of at
the Tejeros Convention in March 1897 to force the Katipunan into his new revolutionary
government. The Katipunan was revived briefly during the insurrection against the U.S. in
1900.
 “Reference”
Biscontini, T. (2017). Philippine Revolution. Salem Press Encyclopedia, Retrieved
From; https://libguides.snhu.edu/c.php?g=1184812&p=8902716
Willem Wolters, “Andres Bonifacio (1863-1897),” Southeast Asia: A Historical
Encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor, ed. Keat Gin Ooi (Santa Barbara: ABC-
CLIO, 2004), pp. 240-241, Retrieved from; https://rpl.hds.harvard.edu/faq/andr%C3%A9s-
bonifacio
Ray, M. (2018). KATIPUNAN, Retrieved From;
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Katipunan