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Andres Bonifacio

Letter to Emilio Jacinto, March 8, 1897

 

Source: Facsimile of the original letter in

Adrian E. Cristobal, The Tragedy of the Revolution

(Makati City: Studio 5 Publishing Inc., 1997), pp.146-7.

 

Note:  The history of this letter, and the grounds for dismissing any doubts about its authenticity, are discussed in the posting titled Bonifacio's letters to Emilio Jacinto in the “Studies” section of this website. 

 

The letter was first brought to light by the historian Epifanio de los Santos, who is believed to have acquired the original in 1904.   In 1917 he included a Spanish translation of the text in a biographical sketch of Bonifacio he wrote for the magazine Philippine Review (Revista Filipina).[1]  His article, including the document, was then translated into English by Gregorio Nieva for publication in a subsequent issue of the same magazine.[2]  Nieva’s version is hence a translation from the Spanish rather than from the Tagalog, but whilst it departs from the original meaning at several points it has yet to be bettered.

 

 

 

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ANDRES BONIFACIO

MAYPAGASA

 

P. ng K. Kapulungan

 

Kap. na Pingkian

 

            Tungkol sa sinasabi ninyong tao na kukunan ng revolver ay walang nakakikilala at ang sinasabi ninyong Capitang Vzrnnllc ny llnpntny lln sn jnbnllnl sn [Mariano ay napatay na sa labanan sa] Aromahan.

 

            Kung kayo’y may isusulat ditong lihim ay kinakailangang gamitin natin ang Clave ng 2o grado sa pagkat madalas na mang yari na dumating ditong bukas ang sulat ninyo.

 

            Ang Capsula ay 800 lamang nakuhang yari bagamat isang libo at hangang dalawa pa ang ipinagkakaloob dito ng Magdiwang makagawa lamang kayo diyan ng tulong, sapagkat walang humpay ang paglalaban ay naagad ang Capsula at walang yaring na kuha kundi iyan lamang.

 

            Kapagkatapos na mapirmahan ninyo ang poder ay karakarakang ipadala ninyo sa talagang pagdadalhan ng may dala.

 

            Ang inyong kapatid

 

            And... Bonifacio

                        Maypagasa

             

8/3/97

 

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English translation

Brother Pingkian,

 

Regarding the person from whom you say the revolver will have to be recovered, nobody knows him here; and the Captain Mariano you mention was killed in the fighting at Aromahan.

 

If you have to write anything here that is secret, we must use the code of the 2nd degree, because I usually receive your letters open here.

 

There are only 800 live cartridges, though the Magdiwang here would like to give you 1,000 or even 2,000 in exchange for your aid from there.  But because the fighting here shows no sign of abating, cartridges are being used quickly, and this is all that can be got.  

 

As soon as you have signed the authorisation, have the bearer take it immediately to where it must go.

 

 

Your brother,

 

AND... BONIFACIO.

Maypagasa. 8-3-97

 

 

 

                             


[1] Epifanio de los Santos, “Andrιs Bonifacio”, Philippine Review (Revista Filipina), II:11 (November 1917), pp.59-82.

[2] Epifanio de los Santos,  “Andrιs Bonifacio”, translated into English by Gregorio Nieva,  Philippine Review (Revista Filipina), III:1-2 (January-February 1918), pp.34-58.