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DOCUMENTS
OF THE Katipunan |
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Center (Ubod) Appointment, c. September 1892 Source: Photograph of the original document
in Adrian
E. Cristobal, The Tragedy of the Revolution (Makati City: Studio 5 Publishing Inc., 1997), p.26. |
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Introduction Apart from the foundational statements and
statutes, this appointment dating from around September 1892 is the earliest
Katipunan document yet located. At
this time the society’s highest organ was not yet known as the Supreme
Council, but simply as the Center (Ubod). The original document is in a private
collection and it seems only this fragment – the final page – has ever been
put in the public domain. The text is
in cipher, and appears to have been penned by Andres Bonifacio. According to Adrian E. Cristobal, the document
authorizes Restituto Javier (“Mangahas”) to establish a KKK chapter in
Mindanao.[1] Javier has accepted his assignment under
oath and signed the paper in his own blood, witnessed by four of the
Katipunan’s initial inner circle: Teodoro Plata (“Pangligtas”) as kinatawan or representative; Ladislao
Diwa (“Baliti”) as fiscal; Andres Bonifacio (“Maypagasa”) as secretary;
and Valentin Diaz (“Walangulat”) as
councilor. Plata’s designation as “Ang Kinatawan,” placed directly below
the title “Ang Nangungulo” (The
President), might indicate that he signed the appointment on behalf of the
president, Deodato Arellano, who for some reason was not present. Restituto
Javier was the son of Luciano Javier, a Tondo property owner, and the
grandson of Francisco Javier, the owner of the well-known image of Senor de
la Paciencia of Santa Cruz. After
studying at the private schools of Pedro Serrano Laktaw and Hipolito
Magsalin, Restituto found employment as a personero
in the Customs House,
and subsequently with Fressel & Co., the German-owned cement, brick and tile company for which Bonifacio worked.[2] It is possible he was
going to Mindanao in connection with his work, and intended to take any
opportunity for proselytizing that arose.
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Tagalog text (transcribed from cipher) |
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...pinagbilanan
na ang balang maga- gawa ay
ipag bigay alam dito sa Ubod sa
balang magiging pasiya. Ang
Maginoong Nangungu- lo ay ang
pasiya na bigyang han- ga at
ihinto itong pag pupulong tuloy
siyang ang pirma, sumunod na gumagawa ang nanumpa ng ka- niyang
tunay na dugo, at ang ibang kaguinoohan
na Tagausig at ma- nga
Kasanguni na ngayoy ang ka- kabilog
at isa sa kanila’y akong Kalihim
na nag papatotoo. Ang Nangungulo Ang Kinatawan Pangligtas Ang Nanumpa Mangahas Tagausig Baliti Kasanguni Kasanguni Walangulat Kalihim Maypagasa
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Notes