Expedition to Cavite

It started with an invitation. Bonifacio was invited by Cavite leaders ostensibly to mediate the rivalry between two provincial
chapters of the Katipunan, the Magdalo and the Magdiwang factions.

Bonifacio was partial to the latter as it recognized his authority more. The former was chiefly composed of the Cavite elite, its
name the nom de guerre of Aguinaldo, derived from Mary Magdalene, patroness of Aguinaldo’s hometown Kawit, whom he
considered the patroness of the revolution.

Bonifacio’s secretary and right-hand man, Emilio Jacinto, had advised him against this expedition to Cavite. The firebrand that
he was, Bonifacio went, anyway, with wife Gregoria, his brothers Procopio and Ciriaco, Jacinto and some troops. Aguinaldo
met him in Zapote. Later in his memoirs, Aguinaldo wrote he was irritated with Bonifacio because he acted “as if he were a
king.”

The two disputed military strategies and, more seriously, Aguinaldo’s alleged negotiations with the Spaniards, which could
compromise the revolution. (Bonifacio had no record of political compromises. Aguinaldo, an astute politician, most certainly
had, from the Spanish to the Americans to the Japanese.)

Also, Aguinaldo had issued a manifesto proclaiming a provisional revolutionary government, in effect denying the existence of
the Katipunan government, which had a constitution, laws and local governments.

Rightful Leader

The Tejeros Convention on March 22, 1897, was meant to resolve issues over who should lead the revolution. It started
reasonably enough, until it descended to the usual politicking.

The pro-Aguinaldo faction argued he had led a string of victories in Cavite, mostly turning points in the revolution, whereas
Bonifacio met mostly defeats in Manila and environs. The pro-Bonifacio faction countered that major Spanish forces were
concentrated in Manila, while Cavite’s battles were no more than skirmishes with the constabulary in streets and alleys.

There was the classic political mudslinging. Rumors were spread Bonifacio had stolen Katipunan funds and his sister was a
priest’s mistress. Most fantastic was the rumor he was an “agent provocateur paid by the friars to foment unrest.”

There was that disease of regionalism, one historian calls Cavitismo. Aguinaldo’s adviser Apolinario Mabini noted later: “All
the electors were friends of Don Emilio Aguinaldo and Don Mariano Trias, who were united, while Bonifacio, although he had
established his integrity, was looked upon with distrust only because he was not a native of the province.”

And there was the prototype of “dagdag-bawas,” the rigged ballot boxes, as testified to by some.

Dirty Elections

Aguinaldo won the elections, of course. But after a violent incident with the insulting Daniel Tirona, Bonifacio, being
Presidente Supremo of the Katipunan Supreme Council, declared the results null and void and dissolved the assembly. 

The following day, Aguinaldo was said to have “surreptitiously” taken his oath of office as president in a chapel officiated by a
priest (contradicting the Mason affiliation of the Katipunan). And this despite his Captain-General Artemio Ricarte’s declaration
that he found the elections “dirty or shady” and “not in conformity with the true will of the people.”

On their way out of Cavite, Bonifacio reportedly burned down a village in Indang and tried to burn its church when the
townsfolk refused to feed them.

Aguinaldo ordered him arrested. He was stabbed in the neck by Maj. Jose Paua; brother Ciriaco was shot dead; and wife
Gregoria was said to have been raped by Col. Agapito Bonzon.

Bonifacio and brother Procopio were charged with sedition, treason, and conspiracy to assassinate Aguinaldo. They were taken
for trial to Naic, Aguinaldo’s headquarters. When his men tried to rescue them, they were taken to the remoter town of
Maragondon.

In the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Maragondon, a small door in the apse at right of the high altar led to the
sacristy with a dank, airless side room that served as the cell where Bonifacio and Procopio were incarcerated during the trial.
His bed is still there (though only the legs are original).

Trial and Death

It was a mock trial held in the house of Teodorico Reyes (now a museum). All those in the jury were Aguinaldo’s men. All
pieces of evidence were flimsy. And Bonifacio was not allowed to face his accusers. Sentence: Death.

Aguinaldo commuted the sentence to banishment to the mountain of Pico de Loro. Apparently, he was prevailed upon by his
generals, Mariano Noriel and Pio del Pilar, to withdraw the commutation, to preserve unity.
On May 10, 1897, ostensibly on the way to exile, while in a sugarcane field about 4 kilometers from the poblacion, Procopio
was shot, or bayoneted (as one account says).

The “half-starved and wounded” Andres, carried prone on a hammock, allegedly tried to escape, and was stabbed and hacked to
death by five men, led by Gen. Lazaro Macapagal, on the foothills of Mount Nagpatong, where now stands the Bonifacio
Shrine and Monument, one of the town’s major tourist destinations. 

The official story says the brothers died by firing squad and were buried in shallow graves marked by twigs. Some claim they
were left unburied.

Many consider the incident villainous, a handiwork of the Cavite elite. Mabini considered the execution an assassination— “ the
first victory of personal ambition over true patriotism.”

Twist of Destiny

The sordid affair cost Aguinaldo the votes when he ran against Manuel L. Quezon for the presidency in the 1935
Commonwealth elections.

Had Bonifacio moved out of Cavite on time, there would have been a twist in the course of our history. As Supremo Presidente
of the Katipunan government, he could have turned the tables on Aguinaldo, prosecuted him for treason, and called for him to
stand on trial.

The political rivalry is often interpreted by some as the classic class struggle between the elite and the masses.

Aguinaldo, whose family belonged to the Cavite “principalia,” represented the upper class. Bonifacio, whose father was a tailor
who served as “teniente mayor” of Tondo and his mother a cigarette factory supervisor, belonged to the lower middle class.

Most historians seem to sympathize with Bonifacio, as obviously do most Filipinos. For decades now, we have been celebrating
a Bonifacio Day (Nov. 30), but we don’t recall any Aguinaldo Day.

Inviting Bonifacio to Cavite and entrapping him there recalls Macbeth inviting his king to his home and killing him while
asleep.
Whatever his virtues and despite the significance of his role in our history, apologists for Aguinaldo cannot live down this
narrative—just like the apologists for Ferdinand Marcos cannot live down the story of martial law because it is already
embedded in racial memory.

Read more: https://opinion.inquirer.net/88098/a-question-of-heroes-aguinaldo-vs-bonifacio#ixzz6YsQp7sPe
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1. Specify 3 negative traits of Andres Bonifacio and how does this lead to its downfall?

1) Impulsive. Upon departing Cavite, he reportedly burned down a village in Indang because the villagers refused to hand them
what they needed hence, resulted in the loss of resources of the townsfolk. 2) Short-Tempered. In the Tejeros Convention, he
drew a pistol to Daniel Tirona because of his sudden disagreement about his triumph of being Presidente Supremo of the
Katipunan Supreme Council, which then nulled the entire formed assembly. 3) Inferior Military Strategist. In Manila, it is
hypothesized that due to his lack of capacity to formulate a plan, almost all the battles he was engaged in faced defeat among
the Spanish forces that consequently outturn to the deaths of several individuals that fought for the independence of the country.

2. Specify 3 negative traits of Emilio Aguinaldo and how do this lead to its downfall?

1)Cruel. He possessed the capability to save Bonifacio’s life but chose not to because Pio del Pilar and Mariano Noriel
convinced him that he is a threat to the country. 2) Gullible. He is approached by George Dewey where he was told that he’d be
given assistance to obtain independence, and so he believed thus, led America in the invasion of our country as a colony. 3)
Traitor. In 1941, it was stated that during the Japanese occupation in the country, he cooperated with the new rules adhering that
he was a quisling.

3. In your own opinion, is it worth noting the negative traits/doing of our national heroes? Support your claim.

Acknowledging the entire occurrences in the past, either good or bad, is deemed to be highly necessary. Thus, the recognition of
the pleasant characteristics of our national heroes must be accompanied by the discernment of each of their ill attributes
whereas, despite their vast contributions to the country, it is to be grasped that inadequate qualities may result in displeasing
events. Further understanding of their corresponding faults in the past because of their disadvantageous features can assist us to
do the fundamental obligations in the present that can lead us in prosperity.

4. Write a reflection on how our past (Bonifacio x Aguinaldo) can be connected to our present times (Duterte)? Cite 3
examples to strengthen your claim.

Particular circumstances occurred in the past which can be related in the present situations;

1) During the Tejeros Convention, Daniel Tirona opposed the handed position for Bonifacio for the reason that he did not attain
enough credentials to be in the government whereas now, Duterte, a lawyer, is seated as the country's president thus, stating that
elected officials before until today ought to possess credentials to be honored.

2) According to documents, Aguinaldo authorized the execution of his rival Bonifacio which proves that an elected official
owns the power to meddle in any affairs occurring in the corresponding country which is obvious in the present where Duterte,
administers all the matters arising in relation to the country.

3) During World War II, Aguinaldo plastered his reputation as the first Filipino Quisling after he called on General Douglas
MacArthur to surrender the Philippines to the Japanese, and currently, it is observed by many individuals that Duterte paved his
way to Xi Jinping, the president of China, whereas similar to what Aguinaldo did to be in courtesy of another country that is
presumed to assist us in difficult incidents that may befall.