Katipunan

DOCUMENTS OF THE Katipunan
HOME Andres Bonifacio Letter to Emilio Jacinto, April 24, 1897 Source: Facsimile of the original document 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. When sending this letter, Bonifacio enclosed a declaration written by Artemio Ricarte a month earlier – March 24 - recounting how, “with great reluctance” he had taken his oath of office as General-in-Chief (Pangulong Hukbo) of the revolutionary army, the position to which he had been elected at the Tejeros convention. The letter and enclosure were first brought to light by the historian Epifanio de los Santos, who is believed to have acquired the original documents in 1904. In 1917 he included Spanish translations of the texts in a biographical sketch of Bonifacio he wrote for the magazine Philippine Review (Revista Filipina).[1] His article, including the documents, was then translated into English for publication in a subsequent issue of the same magazine.[2] The English translation posted here is my own, made directly from the Tagalog.
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ANDRES BONIFACIO MAYPAGASA P. ng K. Kapulungan M. Emilio Jacinto Pinkian Minamahal kong kapatid: tinangap ko ang inyong sulat, taglay ang kabilangang araw na ika labingsiyam ng umiiral at nabatid ko ang lahat ng doo’y nasasabi. Magbuhat ng mapasok ang bayan ng Silang ng kaaway at magpahanga ngayong mga araw na ito ay wala kaming ibang inantabay kundi ang pagtatangol sa guipit na kalagayan ng bayan; ito ay ang kadahilanan ng di ko pagsulat dian; nguni’t bago ko tinangap ang inyong sulat ay ako’y nagpadala sa inyo ng sulat sa pamaguitan ni M. Antonino Guevara na taga S. Pedro Tunasan na ngayo’y inaakala kong sumapit na sa inyong kamay; doo’y akin ibinabalita sa inyo ang mga nangyaring napagsapit nitong mga bayan sakop nitong Tangway na nakuha ng Kastila ang Silang, Dasmarinas, Imus, Bakood, Kawit, Noveleta, Malabon, Salinas at Tanza; tatlo o apat ang mga bayang ito ay nakuha ng kaaway ng walang laban at marahil ay makukuha pa ang nangatitirang bayan kung ang pag sasarilinan at kakulangan ng pagkakaisa ay mananatili; ito’y siyang tanging kadahilanan ng ikinapapahamak ng mga bayan dito tungkol sa pulong na guinawa dito ng ika 22 ng buang nagdaan, yaong [?] ginawa sa kadahilanan may tinangap na sulat sa isang Jesuita at isang Kastila na nagngangalang Pio Pi at Rafael Comenge na ipinadala kay Kapitan Emilio Aguinaldo sa sulat na ito’y, nasasabi na tayo’y bibigyan ng laganap na kapatawaran (indulto mas amplio) o kaya makipagusap sa kanila at sabihin kung ano ang ibig natin. Ito’y kapwa ipinadala ng taga Imus sa mga pinuno ng Magdiwang na may kalakip ng mga condiciones na ibig hingin sa Kastila na pakikipagyari. Ang taga Magdiwang ng ito’y hindi sangayunan sa kadahilanang ako’y wala sa Tangway at na sa sa Look (Batangan) ng mga araw na yaon bukod pa sa niwawalan nilang kabuluhan ang mga katauhan ng Jesuita at ni Comenge na di makapakikialam sa mga bagay na ito. Sa matanto ng taga Imus ang kasagutan ng taga Magdiwang si Capitan Emilio ay lihim na sumulat sa mga Pangulong bayan sakop ng Magdiwang ng tungkol sa nasabing pakikipagyaring gawin sa Kastila; ito’y ng mabatid ng Presidente ng Magdiwang ay karakarakang nagpatawag ng Pulong at sampung ako’y ipinasundo sa Look at guinawa na nga ang nasabing Pulong. Doo’y halos ang lahat sa akin pagpapa amin na ang [?] kasamaan ng pakikipagyari sa Kastila ay wala na hindi ang ibig ay laban. Sa pagka’t ang karamihan sa Pulong na ito ay minagaling na itayo ang isang Pamahalaan (Gobierno), bagama’t ipinaunawa ko na ito’y hindi mangyayari sapagka’t wala doon ang pinakakatawan ng taga ibang hukuman at bukod pa sa rito’y ipinagsabi ko na mayroon ng pinagkayarian sa Pulong na guinawa sa bayan ng Imus; ang lahat ng ito’y niwawalan kabuluhan ng karamihan at di umano’y sa kaguipitan tinatawid ng mga bayang ito’y ay wala ng panahon ay makapag aantabay pa na dumating ang taga ibang bayan at yaong Pulong na guinawa sa Imus ay winala rin kabuluhan sapagka’t di rao magawa ang acta. Gayon ma’y akin ipinagsabi sa lahat na kaharap sa Pulong na yaon na kung kalooban ng mga taung bayan ang siyang masusunod na makapangyayari sa paghahalal ng mga Pinuno ako’y sumasangayon. Ng gawin, ang paghahalal ay lumabas na Presidente de la Republica ay si M. Emilio Aguinaldo, Vice presidente ay si M. Mariano Trias, General en Jefe si M. Artemio Rikarte, Director de grra. M. Emiliano R. de Dios, ito’y isinigaw na lamang sapagka’t gabi na gayondin naman isinigaw akong pinagkaisahan Director del Interior na ipinag viva pa na gaya ng ibang nahalal; datapwa’t ng ito’y matapos na at sinisimulan ang paghahalal ng Director de Hacienda si M. Daniel Tirona ay nagsabing may sumisigaw na ihalal sa katungkulan Director del Interior si M. Jose del Rosario; tuloy ipinagsabi na ang katunkulan Director del Interior ay totoong mabigat at kinakailangan ang isang marunong ang tungkulan nito, ito’y sinabi kapagkatapos na ipagturing na hindi sa pag hamak niya sa akin. Ang kasagutan ko sa kanya ay sa lahat ng katungkulan yaon ay kinakailangan ang taung marunong, datapwa’t sino ang wika ko sa nangag si labas ang kanyang maituturong marunong? gayon ma’y sumigaw rin ng ganito: Isigaw ninyo anya ¡Director del Interior Jose del Rosario, Abogado! Wala rin sumunod sa kanya hangan sa makaapat na ulitin kun di mangilanngilan at sigaw rin ay ako. Sa kaguluhang ito ang Presidente ng Magdiwang ay ipinahayag na yao’y hindi kapulungan ng mga taung mahal, kaya’y sinabi niya na walang kabuluhan ang doo’y mga pinagusapan. Bukod dito’y bago sinimulan ang paghahalal ay matuklasan ko ang mga panguupit [?] ng ilan taga Imus na di umano’y di nararapat na sila’y pamunuan ng taga ibang bayan. Kaya’t ipinahahalal na maguing Presidente ay si Capitan Emilio. Kapagkarakang ito’y mabatid ko ay akin sinabi rin na ang kapulungang yaon ay totoong marumi sapagka’t gayon ang ipinamamarali ang isiahihibo [?] sa tawo at itanong ko na kung ibig nilang isaisahin kong ituro ng daliri ang gumagawa ng gayon ang aking ituturo ang karamiha’y sumagot ng huag na. Sinabi ko rin naman na kapag hindi nasunod ang talagang kalooban nang bayan ay hindi ako makakikilala sa kanino pa mang Pinuno lumabas at kapag di ako kumilala ay di rin naman kikilalanin ng mga taga rian sa atin. Ang lumabas na general na si M. Artemio Rikarte ay isinigaw rin sa kapulungang yaon na ang kanyang pagkahalal ay sa masamang paraan. Ang mga taga Imus ay ng kinabukasan sila sila ay nagkapulong sa Convento ng Tanza at doo’y pinilit na isaisang pinapanunumpa ang nangahalal at siya ninyong mapagkikita sa kalakip nitong isang kasulatan ni M. Artemio Rikarte. Ang taga Magdiwang lalong lalo ang mga taga Malabon ay gumawa [?] ng isang protesta sa ipinatawag si Kapitan Emilio at Daniel Tirona at sa isang pag haharap ay pinabitiwan sa kanya ang kapangyarihang ibig niyang kamkamin; kaya’t sa gabi ring yaon ay gumawa siya ng isang Circular na ipinahayag niya sa lahat ng bayan sakop ng Tangway na ang kapulungan guinawa na pagkahalal sa kanya ay wala ng kabuluhan at malagay na muli sa dating kalagayan ng Magdiwang at Magdalo. Ako at sampu ng ating mga kawal na ma’y mga dalawang pung na baril na Remington at mga dalawang pung baril na de piston na may katampatan kasangkapan ang nagsi labas na nang bayan ng Indang sa nayon Halang na talagang gayak sa pag uwi [?] diyan. Kaakbay rin naman namin ang makapal na sandatahan na may mga isang libo, kaya’t wala kaming ibang inaantay kun di ang inyong pagkakayarian ni M. Antonino Guevarra ayon sa aming balitaan nito. Antay ko sa madaling panahon ang inyong marapatan pagkasunduan diyan tungkol sa amin binabalak ng nasabing M. Guevarra. Tungkol sa armas na ating inaantay ay tila hindi maaasahan sapagka’t sa sulat ni Jokson ay humihingi ng dalawang pung libo; dito’y ang salaping na iipon ay halos naubos na sa kagugugol ng mga Pinuno sa kailangan nila at Panghihimagsik. Kalakip din nitong sulat na ito na inyong tangapin ang salin ng “Manifesto Revolucionario” namin sanang ilalathala ito’y nasusulat din sa wikang ingles datapwa’t sa pagka’t tila totoong mahaba ay kayo na ang bahagang maghusay upang magamit natin kapagkarakang tayo’y magkaayos-ayos; gayon din kalakip nito ang alfabeto de numero na guinagamit sa pakikipagsulatan sa Hong Kong; ito’y kinakailangan ipaglihim sa kay Vnvqrtc Llntñbqdnd [Mamerto Natibedad]. Ang Hukuman ng Batangan ay nagbangon ng isang Gobierno Provincial at ito’y isinusukob sa akin kapangyarihan na pinatutunayan ng apat na sulat na sa aki’y ipinadala at doo’y ipinadala kong saklolo ang dalawang pung baril at dalawang pu’t limang sandatahang Balara; gayon din si Lucino na may kasamang ilan barilan upang sila’y makatulong sa kasalukuyang paglusob doon ng mga taga roon sa walong bayan sabay-sabay. Tungkol sa balitang napatay si Procopio ito’y hindi totoo kahit nanganib ng malaki. Kayo’y ibinalita rin naman dito ng buong katatapos [?] na pinatay ng mga Carabineros sa kadahilanang di umano’y kayo’y nagbigay ng isang masamang kautusan, ito’y sapagkat’t balita ng taga Imus ay hindi ko pinaniwalaan at itinuring kong isang kasukaban dating gawa ng mga taung ito. Tungkol sa pagiipin ng salapi ay inaakala kong hindi kailangan ang tayo’y magpalimos kundi ang nararapat ang humingi o sumamsam sa kanino pa mang mayaman. Ang K. na si M. Nakpil ay sumulat sa akin na itinatanong na kun ang salaping may mga apat na raan mahiguit na kanyang maaipon ay kung nararapat na ibigay sa kay Vnvqrtc Llntñbqdnd [Mamerto Natibedad], ito’y huag ninyong pahintulutan mangyari, sapagka’t iya’y hindi tapat ang pakikisama sa atin at iya’y malaki ang hilig sa taga Magdalo. Isang kasuklam suklam na balita ang akin maipapasabi sa inyo tungkol sa kasukaban gawa ng mga pinuno ng S. Magdalo na nag si sukob sa indulto o umayon sa Kastila ito’y si Daniel Tirona, Mtro. De Guerra, Jose del Rosario, Ministro del Interior, Jose Caelles, teniente Gral., gayon din halos lahat ng mga taga Tanza sampu ng cura doon; ang lahat ng ito’y pawang kabig o partidos ni Capitan Emilio; kaya’t malabis ang hinala ng marami na kun kaya’t malabis na nagpumilit na sila’y maguing Gobierno ay ang upang maisuko ang boong Revolucion. Ng lingong nagdaan ay ipinagapos ko sa ating mga kawal ang isa rin sa mga Ministro ni Capitan Emilio sa kadahilanang nahuling magtatanan, kaakbay ang dalawang Kastila bihag at isang senora isa sa mga Kastilang ito ay nagsabi ng totoo na sila ay magtatanan; ito’y pinaghatulan sa Sangunian Digma at ang kinalabasan ay ang dati rin palakad dito ng pagtatakipan o favoritismo; datapwa’t ang espediente na tinalaan na ng nasabing Ministro na si M. Cayetano Topacio ay naiwan sa akin ay gayon din ang sa Kastila. Ito’y isa sa manga kadahilanan ng aming pagpupumilit na mapaalis dito sa pagka’t hindi lamang sa kaaway na Kastila nanganganib ang amin buhay kun di lalo’t higit pa sa mga pinuno dito na ang karamiha’y may masasamang kilos. Ang limbagan mga librong kailangan, mapang malaki at mga kasangkapan sa paggagawaan ng kapsula ay aming dalang lahat. Ang mga Cuchara na inyong ipinadadala sa kapatid ni Dimas ay hindi maibigay sa kanila sapagka’t sila’y nagsialis na na tumungo sa dakong Silangan (Laguna). Ang inyong ina na na sa Marigondong ay aming ipinatawag at magpahangangayo’y siya naming maantabayanan. Tangapin ang mahigpit na yakap na pahatid ko buhat dito. Limbon 24 Abril 1897 Ang Plo. ng H. B. And _.^._. Bonifacio Maypagasa


› › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › English translation Don Emilio Jacinto Pinkian My dear Brother:- I received your letter dated the nineteenth of the present month and took note of everything you say in it. From the time the enemy entered the town of Silang until the present day our endeavors have been limited to ameliorating the desperate plight of the people, and this is one of the reasons I haven’t written there. Before I received your letter, however, I sent you a letter through Don Antonino Guevara, of San Pedro Tunasan[1], and I presume the letter must already be in your hands. Therein I related to you the fate that has befallen the towns here in the district of Tanway taken by the Spaniards - Silang, Dasmarinas, Imus, Bacoor, Kawit, Noveleta, Malabon, Salinas and Tanza. Three or four of these towns were taken by the enemy without any struggle, and if selfishness and a lack of unity prevail the remaining towns might also be taken. This is the sole cause of the reverses in the towns here. As to the convention held here on the 22nd of last month[2], it was held because letters were received from a Jesuit and a Spaniard, Pio Pi and Rafael Comenge by name, addressed to Capitan Emilio Aguinaldo[3] These letters state that we will be granted a complete pardon (indulto mas amplio) or, alternatively, we can talk to them and tell them what we are seeking. Both letters were brought by the Imus people to the Magdiwang chiefs, together with a list of the conditions they want to seek from the Spaniards in order to reach an agreement. The Magdiwang people did not agree, for the reason that I was away from Tanway at that time, at Look (Batangas); besides, they attach no importance to the personages of the Jesuit and Comenge, who should not meddle in these matters. When the Imus people received the reply of the Magdiwang people, Capitan Emilio wrote secretly to the chiefs of the towns under the jurisdiction of Magdiwang about making the said agreement with the Spaniards. When the President of Magdiwang[4] learned this, he immediately called a Meeting and sent someone to fetch me from Look, and the said Meeting was then held. Nearly everybody there agreed with me that it would wrong to reach a settlement with the Spaniards, and nobody wanted to abandon the fight. The majority at this Meeting wanted to establish a Government (Gobierno), even though I explained this was not possible on account of the lack of people there from other districts, and aside from this I said that an agreement had already been reached at the Meeting held in the town of Imus.[5] The majority gave no importance to all this, saying that due to the critical situation of the towns here there was no time to wait for people from other places to arrive, and also that the Meeting held in Imus lacked validity, because no record of the proceedings had been made, it was said. In any event, I told everybody present at that Meeting that if it was the will of the people to go ahead and elect Leaders, then I would be in accord. When the voting took place the outcome was that Don Emilio Aguinaldo was elected as President of the Republic; Don Mariano Trias[6] as Vice-President, Don Artemio Ricarte[7] as General in Chief; Don Emiliano R. de Dios[8] as Director of War. This was all by acclamation, as it was already night. I was elected Director of the Interior, also by acclamation, and was cheered by all, in the same way as the others who had been elected, but when the cheering was over and the election of a Director of Finance was about to begin, Don Daniel Tirona[9] said there were voices shouting for Don José del Rosario[10] to be elected to the position of Director of the Interior. He went on to say that the office of Director of the Interior was a most exacting one, and that a learned man was needed to fill this office, and he said this after stating that it was not his intention to offend me. My reply to him was that all the offices required learned men, but who among those who had been elected, I asked, could he point out to me as being learned? Still, he called out like this: Shout, he cried, Director of the Interior José del Rosario, Lawyer ! Only a few followed him the four times that he shouted it, and again people shouted for me. In view of this turmoil, the President of Magdiwang declared that this was not a convention of honorable men and so everything done there lacked validity. This aside, before the voting began, I discovered the intrigues of some of the Imus people, who had being saying it was not right for them to be governed by men from other towns, and that Capitan Emilio should therefore be elected as President. As soon as I heard of this, I also said that the meeting was truly dirty, because this was a deceit they were pressing on the people, and I asked whether they wished me to point out; one by one, those who were conducting themselves in this manner. The majority said not to bother. I also said that if the manifest will of the people was not followed, I would not recognize any of the Leaders elected, and that if I did not recognize them, they would likewise not be recognized by the people there in our place. Don Artemio Ricarte, who was chosen as General, also declared at that meeting that his election was due to bad practices. The Imus people met the next day at the convento in Tanza, and there they compelled those who had been elected to take the oath, one by one, as you can see in the document by Don Artemio Ricarte that is sent herewith.[11] The Magdiwang people, especially those from Malabon, drew up a protest[12] which they put to Capitan Emilio and Daniel Tirona, and at a meeting they made him resign the position of authority he wanted to seize. That same night he accordingly issued a circular, which was published in all the towns of Tanway, to the effect that the convention at which he was elected had been invalid, and that the situation of the Magdiwang and Magdalo should revert to as it had been before. Together with our soldiers, totaling about 20 armed with Remington rifles and about 20 with muzzle-loaders, with the necessary implements, I have already left the town of Indang for the barrio of Jalang, with the firm intention of returning there. We also have with us a multitude of bolomen, numbering about 1,000. There is nothing for which we are waiting other than whatever you and Don Antonino Guevara will decide in relation to our news here. I am waiting to know soon what you may see fit to agree there regarding what we have planned with the said Don Guevarra. As to the arms for which we are waiting, it does not seem hopeful, because Jocson's[13] letter asks for 20,000 pesos, and the money collected here has nearly all been spent by the Chiefs for their necessities and the Revolution. Together with this letter you will receive the translation of the “Revolutionary Manifesto” we are going to publish. It has been written in English as well, but as it seems very long I entrust you with its arrangement so that we can use it as soon as we are properly organized. Also herewith is the numerical code to be used for letters to Hongkong; you must keep this secret from Mamerto Natividad.[14] The District of Batangas has organized a provincial government, which four letters sent to me affirm is under my authority. I sent 20 riflemen and 25 Balara bolomen to help them; Lucino also went there with several riflemen in order to aid in the assault the people there are currently launching simultaneously on eight towns. As to the report of Procopio's[15] death, there is no truth to it, but he was in serious danger. News was also received here last month that you had been killed by the Carabineers because, it was said, you had given a bad order; but as this news came from Imus, I did not believe it and I treated it as one of the usual duplicities of these people. As to the collection of money, I believe we need not beg, but should solicit or take it from whoever is wealthy. Brother Don Nakpil wrote me, asking whether the money collected by him, almost four hundred pesos or so, should be given to Mamerto Natividad. Do not allow this to happen, because that man is not sincere in his friendship with us, and he is very close to the Magdalo people. A piece of sickening news I can tell you is the treachery committed by the chiefs of the Magdalo Council who have applied for pardon or gone over to the Spaniards. These are Daniel Tirona, Minister of War; José del Rosario, Minister of the Interior; José Cailles[16], Lieutenant-General, and nearly all the Tanza people, even the parish priest there, the whole lot of them henchmen or partisans of Capitan Emilio. For this reason, many people strongly suspect that they strive so hard to get control of the Government in order to surrender the whole Revolution. Last week I ordered our soldiers to tie up another of the Ministers of Capitan Emilio because he was caught as he was about to escape with two Spanish prisoners and a lady. One of these Spaniards told the truth, that they were going to escape. He [the Minister] was tried by a Council of War, but the outcome, as usually happens here, was that everybody covered up for each other, or favoritism. However, the record of the case against the minister mentioned, Don Cayetano Topacio[17], remains in my possession, as does that against the Spaniards. This is one of the reasons why we desire to leave here, because our life is in danger not only from the Spanish enemy, but still more so from the leaders here, most of whom have wicked intentions. We have taken away everything: the printing press, the necessary books, the big map, and the tools for making cartridges. The spoons you sent for the brother and sisters of Dimas[18] could not be given to them because they have already left in the direction of Silangan (Laguna). We have sent for your mother, who is now in Maragondon, and we are still waiting for her. Receive the close embrace that I send you from here. Limbon, April 24, 1897 The President of the Sovereign People And .^.. Bonifacio Maypagasa

Notes

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

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