1896 Philippine

Revolution
Readings in Philippine History
PPT by Mark Kevin J. Gorospe
 The Galeon Trade
• Mexico to Manila
• 250 years operation
• Between two ports
• The trade was a Spanish
government monopoly, with only
two galleons being used.
• spread of liberal ideas in the
Philippines.
• Self-sufficient – Gov.Gen Jose
Basco
• reforms by Governor-General Jose Basco y
Vargas, who eventually tried to release the
Philippines from its dependence on
Mexican trade.
Jose Basco y Vargas
• 1800’s
• Agricultural Reforms - production of crops
like cotton, spices, and sugarcane for export
• global market, fostering the export of
indigenous goods like pearls, abaca, and
indigo
• infrastructure development like port
facilities and warehouses
• exchange of ideas, art, and technologies
between Asia, Europe, and the Americas
• decline in local agriculture
• forced Filipinos to work in shipyards and
industries related to the galleon trade
• benefited Spanish merchants and the
colonial elite
Difference between the Suez Canal and the Galeon Trade
Fight for independence
Note: Reactions of the Filipinos to the Spanish Colonization:
• 1. Acceptance – Catholicism – Colonization
• 2. Run – Go to the mountains, and ethnic groups, avoided Spanish
Colonization, retain their culture
• 3. Went to the mountains – bandidos, remontados, they are demonized
(aswang)
Philippine Revolts
before 1896 (Major)
• Tondo Conspiracy (1587-1588) • Tapar (1633, Panay)
• Agustin de Legazpi & Martin Pangan • claimed to have frequent conversations with
• expel the Spanish from the Philippines and a demon and aimed to establish a religious
re-establish a native government, (Datu,
Lakandula) – 15 yrs of colonization, Magat cult.
Salamat but failed!
• Diego and Gabriela Silang (1762, Ilocos)
• Tamblot Revolt (1622, Bohol)
• Diego Silang advocated for an independent
• Tamblot rallied the people by claiming to
have received messages from a diwata Ilocos region governed by native-born
(deity) who promised to help expel the officials.
Spanish. This resonated with the
Boholano's traditional belief systems. (2000 • allied with the British, who appointed him
People – destroyed Christian apparatus) governor of Ilocos.
• Bankaw (1622 Leyte) • was assassinated by a friend and Spanish-
• The Spanish were disrespecting traditional
beliefs or imposing Christianity too Ilocano mestizo who was bribed by the
forcefully. Spanish authorities.
• Sumuroy (1649, Samar) • Gabriela assumed command.
• Agustin Sumuroy
• esentment towards the Spanish policy of
"polo y servicio."
Philippine Revolts
before 1896 (Major)
• Dagohoy Revolt (1744-1829, Bohol) • Hemano Puli (1841)
• Francisco Dagohoy
• Apolinario de la Cruz
• couldn't get a Christian burial for his
brother, allegedly killed by Spanish • Filipino natives were excluded from
authorities. This incident sparked outrage becoming priests in the Catholic Church,
and ignited a wider rebellion. dominated by Spanish friars.
• longest-running rebellion – 85 years • sire for religious reform.
• Basi Revolt (1807)
• Pedro Mateo & Saralogo Ambaristo
• restrictions, Ilocano farmers from various
towns in Ilocos Norte rose up in arms.
• Cavite Mutiny
Propaganda
Movement
• The 19th century witnessed
the rise of Filipino
nationalism and the spread
of Enlightenment ideas.
• Filipino intellectuals, known
as ilustrados, became
exposed to liberal ideals and
concepts of democracy
through education in Europe
and exposure to foreign
literature.
• advocating for political
reforms, social equality, and
greater representation for
Filipinos.
Ilustrados
Philosophy

• They believed in the

concept of the
“Filipino nation” and
championed the idea
that the Philippines
should have self-
governance and
sovereignty.
• La Liga Filipina
• Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, and Graciano Lopez
Jaena were key figures in this movement which saw
the most activity between 1880 through 1895.

• The overall aim of the Propaganda Movement was

to make the Philippines an official Province of
Spain through peaceful means which was in shark
contrast to the Katipunans, who sought to
separate from Spain altogether.
La Liga Filipina
• Jose Rizal – founder and adviser (when he
returned to the PH and proposed this civic
organization in 1892)
• July 3, 1892 – election of officers
• Ambrosio Salvador –president
• Agustin dela Rosa – Fiscal
• Bonifacio Arevalo – treasurer
• Deodato Arellano – secretary

• Aims:
• Unite the whole country
• Protect and assist all members
• Fight violence and injustice
• Support education
• Study and implement reforms
Fall of La Liga
Filipina
• La Liga Filipina's membership was active in the
beginning; but later, they began to drift apart.
• On July 6, 1892 only three days after La Liga
Filipina’s establishment, Jose Rizal was secretly
arrested. The next day, Governor General Eulogio
Despujol ordered Rizal’s deportation to Dapitan, a
small, secluded town in Zamboanga.
• The rich members wanted to continue supporting
the Propaganda Movement, but the others seemed
to have lost all hope that reforms could still be
granted.
• Andres Bonifacio was one of those who believed
that the only way to achieve meaningful change was
through a bloody revolution.
The creation of La
Solidaridad
• In order to help achieve its goals, the Propaganda
Movement put up its own newspaper, called La
Solidaridad. The Soli, as the reformists fondly
called their official organ, came out once every
two weeks. The first issue saw print was published
on November 15, 1895.
• The Solidaridad’s first editor was Graciano Lopez
Jaena. Marcelo H. del Pilar took over in October
1889. Del Pilar managed the Soli until it stopped
publication due to a lack of funds.
• Rizal
The fortune of the
Propaganda
Movement
• The propaganda movement did not succeed
in its pursuit of reforms.
• The colonial government did not agree to any
of its demands. Spain itself was undergoing a
lot of internal problems all that time, which
could explain why the mother country failed
to heed the Filipino’s petitions.
• The friars, were at the height of their power
and displayed even more arrogance in
flaunting their influence. They had neither the
time nor the desire to listen to the voice of the
people.
• Ilustrados had to exercise caution to
safeguard their wealth and other private
interests.
• no other strong and charismatic leader
emerged from the group aside from Jose
Rizal.
The Katipunan is born
The Heir of all
Revolts
• Andres Bonifacio
• Middle-class, Half Spanish mother, teniete-
mayor father – merchants
• The Father of the Filipino Nation, His Revolution
and Concept of the Nation
• Liberal ideas influenced by world ideas and local
writers including Rizal’s.
• Native ideas – communication – theatre artist
(Bernardo Carpio)
The Katipunan Finally Starts a
Revolution
• Andres Bonifacio was also a member of La Liga
Filipina, although he soon lost hope in gaining
reforms through peaceful means.
• This feeling was especially heightened when Jose
Rizal was exiled to Dapitan. Bonifacio became
convinced that the only way the Philippines
could gain independence was through a
revolution.
• Bonifacio then founded the “Katastaasang
Kagalanggalangang Katipuanan ng mga Anak
ng Bayan” (KKK) on July 7, 1892, in a house on
Azcarraga street (now Claro M. Recto), in Tondo
Manila.
• The Katipunan had colorful beginnings. As a
symbol of the member’s loyalty, they performed
the solemn rite of sanduguan (blood compact),
wherein each one signed his name with his own
blood.
Katipunan

• The members agreed to recruit more

people using the “triangle system” of
enlistment. Each original member would
recruit tow new members who were not
related to each other. Each new member
would do the same thing, and so on
down the line.
• Members were also asked to contribute
one Real (about 25 centavos) each
month to raise funds for the association.
KKK Objectives

• Political goal:
• completely separate the Philippines from
Spain after declaring the country’s
independence.
• Moral goal:
• good manners, cleanliness, hygiene, fine
morals, and how to guard themselves
against religious fanaticism.
• Civic goal:
• encourage Filipinos to help themselves and
to defend the poor oppressed.
KKK Structure - FIRST REVOLUTIONARY
GOVERNMENT
• Kataastaasang Sanggunian – supreme council,
was the highest governing body of the Katipunan –
Supremo.
• Sangguaniang Bayan – (Provincial Council each
province)
• Sangguniang Balangay – (Popular Council).

• MEMBERSHIP and CODE

• Bayani – Rizal, Red Mask – 25cents
• Kawal – GOMBURZA, green hood (anting-anting) -20
cents
• Katipon – anak ng bayan, black hood – 12.5 cents

• 3 Leaders/Supremos
• Deodato Arellano, 1892-1893
• Ramon Basa, 1893-1895
NOTE: Jose Rizal never became involved in the
• Andres Bonifacio, 1895-1897
organization and activities of the Katipunan, but the
Katipuneros still looked up to him as a leader.
Kartilya ng Katipunan
Katipunan Newspaper

• the society also organized military

training, gathering weapons, and
spreading nationalist ideals through
their publication, the “Kalayaan”
newspaper which saw print in March
1896.
Trivia about the Katipunan
• Rizal did not know Bonifacio personally, but Bonifacio did (La Liga Filipina). Nevertheless,
Bonifacio so respected Rizal’s intelligence and talent that in June 1896, he sent Dr. Pio Valenzuela
to Dapitan to seek Rizal’s advice on the planned revolution.

• Rizal told Valenzuela that the timing was not right for a revolution. The people were not yet ready,
and they did not have enough weapons. He suggested that the Katipunan obtain the support of
wealthy and influential Filipinos first, to gain financial assistance. He also recommended Antonio
Luna as commander of its armed forces, since Luna had much knowledge and expertise in
military tactics.

• Valenzuela returned to Manila on June 26 and relayed Rizal’s advice to Bonifacio, who admitted
that it would indeed be fatal for the Filipinos to fight without enough weapons. However, there was
no stopping the Revolution. Bonifacio ordered his men to prepare for battle. He directed them to
store enough food and other supplies. Battle plans were made with the help of Emilio Jacinto. It
was suggested that the revolutionary headquarters be located near the seas or mountains to
provide for an easy retreat, if necessary.
 The Katipunan is Discovered

• Rumors about a secret revolutionary society had long been in circulation,

although no solid evidence could be found to support them.
• On August 19, 1896
• Teodoro Patiño told his sister Honoria about the existence of the Katipunan.
• Patiño was a worker in the printing press of Diario de Manila. Honoria was then living with
nuns in a Mandaluyong orphanage.
• The information upset Honoria so much that she told the orphanage’s Mother Superior, Sor
Teresa de Jesus, what her brother had revealed. Sor Teresa suggested they seek the advice of
Father Mariano Gil, the parish priest of Tondo.
• After hearing Patiño’s revelations, Father Mariano Gil-accompanied by several Guardias Civiles
immediately searched the premises of Diario de Manila and found evidence of the Katipunan’s
existence. The governor-general was quickly informed. The printing press was padlocked and
hundreds of suspected KKK members were arrested.
• Note: Teodoro had misunderstanding with Apolinario Dela Cruz about Php 2.00 promotion.
 Cry of
Pugadlawin
• August 23, 1896
• When the Spaniards discovered the Katipunan
called for a meeting in the house of Juan Ramos in
Pugadlawin.
• Ramos was the son of Melchora Aquino, also known as
“Tandang Sora” and was later acknowledged as the Mother
of the Katipunan."
• They tore their cedulas (tax documentation) in
Manila, symbolizing rebellion, except for Teodoro
Plata). This marked the official start of the armed
conflict. – “Mabuhay ang Pilipinas” – the first cry!
• FIRST REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT

• August 30, 1896

• Governor-General Blanco declared a state of war in
eight provinces, imposing martial law.
8 Provinces
Rebellion

1. Maynila
2. Bulacan
3. Nueva Ecija
4. Cavite
5. Pampanga
6. Laguna
7. Batangas
8. Tarlac
Note: They were placed under
martial law.
The Attacks – August 30, 1896
• The hostilities that started the Philippine Revolution of 1896 began on August 29, 1896, when hundreds of rebels
attacked the Civil Guard garrison in Pasig, just as hundreds of others, personally led by Bonifacio, were massing in
San Juan del Monte, which they attacked hours later the next day.
• Bonifacio planned to capture the San Juan del Monte powder magazine along with a water station supplying Manila.
• Elsewhere rebels attacked Mandaluyong, Sampaloc, Santa Ana, Pandacan, Pateros, Marikina, and Caloocan,
Makati and Taguig.
• Balintawak in Caloocan saw intense fighting. Rebel troops tended to gravitate towards fighting in San Juan del Monte
and Sampaloc.
• South of Manila, a thousand-strong rebel force attacked a small force of civil guards.
• In Pandacan Katipuneros attacked the parish church, making the parish priest run for his life.
• After their defeat in San Juan del Monte, Bonifacio's troops regrouped near Marikina, San Mateo and Montalban,
where they proceeded to attack these areas. They captured these areas but were driven back by Spanish
counterattacks, and Bonifacio eventually ordered a retreat to Balara.
The Attacks – August 30, 1896
• On the way to Balara, Bonifacio was nearly killed shielding Emilio Jacinto from a Spanish bullet that grazed
his collar.

• North of Manila, the towns of San Francisco de Malabon, Noveleta and Kawit in Cavite rose in rebellion.

• In Nueva Ecija rebels in San Isidro led by Mariano Llanera attacked the Spanish garrison.

• Despite his reverses, Bonifacio remained a threat to the Spaniards.

• The 8 provinces would later be represented in the eight rays of the Sun in the Philippine flag.
 Katipunan in Cavite
• Cavite soon became the center
of the Revolution.
• 2 Factions of Katipuneros
• Magdalo – Baldomero Aguinaldo, brother of Emilio
Aguinaldo - Kawit
• Magdiwang – Mariano Alvarez – Noveleta
Emilio Aguinaldo
• The two groups fought in separate battles.
• Emilio Aguinaldo – Kawit, August 31, 1896,
• Alvarez attacked Noveleta.

• In Bacoor, Aguinaldo tried to intercept Spanish

reinforcements coming from Manila; but he was repulsed
and forced to retreat to nearby Imus.

• On the morning of September 5, he defeated the Spanish

troops under the command of General Aguirre.
• A hundred Spaniards were killed and 60 weapons were
confiscated. Aguinaldo was hailed as a hero. The
adoring Caviteños referred to him as “General Miong”
and no longer “Kapitan Miong.”
Emilio Aguinaldo
• General Aguinaldo’s numerous victories on the battlefield
made him the acknowledged revolutionary leader in Cavite.
• He proclaimed on October 31, 1896, enjoining the people to
take courage and continue fighting for Philippine
independence.
• Owing to the defeat of the Spaniards in Cavite, Camilo de
Polavieja replaced Ramon Blanco as governor-general on
December 13, 1896.
• Polavieja was more successful than his predecessor and
slowly regained one-third of the province.

•
Andres Bonifacio's
Execution
• While Aguinaldo was recognized as the leader by the
Magdalo faction, Bonifacio was recognized as the leader
of the Katipunan by the Magdiwang faction.
• An assembly was held in Imus, Cavite on December 31,
1897, to settle the leadership issue but was not
successful.
• Then on March 22, another assembly was held at Tejeros
(known as the Tejeros Convention) to elect officers of the
revolutionary government.
• Aguinaldo won as president while Bonifacio was relegated
to the Director of the Interior.
• Bonifacio rejected the elections and declared them void.
Bonifacio later formed the Naic Military Agreement,
essentially creating a government contending Aguinaldo’s.
• Soon after, Bonifacio was captured, stood trial, and was
sentenced to death by a War Council of Aguinaldo's
government.
• Aguinaldo initially commuted the sentence to deportation
but later reversed the commutation upon pressure from
Pio Del Pilar and other officers.
• On orders from General Mariano Noriel, Andres Bonifacio
was executed at the foothills of Mt. Buntis by Major Lazaro
Makapagal on May 10, 1897.
• Note: Procopio killed first
The revolution
continues
• Bonifacio’s death did not deter the Filipinos from fighting for their
freedom. The Spanish government, for its part, doubled its efforts
in trying to control Cavite, which was considered the seat of the
Revolution. When Governor-General Primo de Rivera replaced
Camilo Polavieja on April 27, 1897, he immediately marched to
Naic, Cavite to persuade the Filipinos to surrender. The rebels,
however, stood their ground.

• Aguinaldo realized that Cavite was no longer safe for his men.
They moved to Batangas, where they temporarily set up camp in
the town of Talisay. However, Spanish soldiers were able to
pursue them there. Thus, they retreated to Morong on June 10,
1897, and proceeded to Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan.
The Biak-na Bato
Republic
• November 1, 1897 – Aguinaldo established the Biak-na-
Bato Republic. (Established his headquarters in Biak-na-
Bato in Bulacan province)
• The Biak-na-Bato Constitution – the highest governing body
of the Republic = basic human rights, such as freedom of
religion, freedom of the press, and the right to education.
• Emilio Aguinaldo and Mariano Trias were elected Supreme
Council president and vice president, respectively.
Pact Biak-na Bato
• Pedro Paterno, a Spaniard born in the Philippines
volunteered to act as negotiator between Aguinaldo and
Gov. Primo de Rivera Pact of Biak-na-Bato with Pedro
Paterno and Emilio Aguinaldo to end the clashes.
• Paterno’s effort paid off when on, December 15, 1897, the
Pact he signed the Pact as the representative of the
revolutionaries.
• A ceasefire was declared by both camps and an agreement
between Aguinaldo and the Spanish forces was made -that
the Spanish government would grant self-rule to the
Philippines in 3 years if Aguinaldo went to exile and
surrendered his arms.
• https://kapampangan.org/the-katipunan-history-philippine-
independence/