Memoirs of a General and the Seeds of Discontent

Comparative Analysis

Areas of Primary source: Secondary source:

Analytical Santiago V. Alvarez Teodoro A. Agoncillo
Comparison and The Katipunan and the Revolution: Seeds of Discontent:
Contrastin Memoirs of a General The Revolt of the Masses

1. Author’s background  Born on July 25, 1872 in  Born on November 9, 1912

Imus, Cavite in Lemery, Batangas
 Known as “Kidlat ng Apoy”  He was recognized as a
for his blazing valor and prominent 20th century
dedication as a leader in the Filipino historian for
battle of Dalhican, Cavite promoting a distinctly
 A delegado general of the nationalist perspective of
Katipunan’s provincial Filipinos.
council in Cavite.  In 1985, he was included in
 From 1896 until 1897, he the roster of the Order of
served as the commander- National Scientists for his
in-chief of the Magdiwang outstanding works.
forces along with Andres  In 1934 to 1935, he
Bonifacio obtained both his bachelor’s
 Nacionalista Party’s founder degree in philosophy and a
and honorary President of master's degree in the arts
its directorate from the University of the
 Appointed as Chairman of Philippines.
the Commision of Peace in  He was also an essayist, a
1902, an entity established poet, a member of the
by US authorities to National Historical Institute,
encourage material a Chair of the Department
restoration and of History in University of
reconciliation between the the Philippines, a linguistic
two countries. assistant, and a professor in
 Died on October 30, 1930 in some universities.
San Pablo City  Died on January 14, 1985

2. When was the account written?  The original tagalog text  In the year 1947 as the
was written in 1927. author’s winning entry in a
 The english translation was national Bonifacio
published in 1992 by the biography contest held in
Ateneo de Manila 1948.
University Press  It was published in the year
1956.
3. Mention of dates  March 25, 1897: The  Early part of November:
Tejeros Convention When General Blanco
officially began to unite the began his offense, the
two conflicting factions of former capital of
the Katipunan, namely; the Magdiwang, Noveleta, was
Magdiwang and the relocated to San Francisco
Magdalo. de Malabon, and then to
 March 27, 1897: Naik. Magdalo's former
Eyewitnesses who had spied capital was Kawit, and after
on the proceedings revealed it fell, it was replaced by
that a meeting among the Imus, San Francisco de
Magdalo members had Malabon, Naik, and
definitely taken place at the Maragondon.
Tanza parish house and that  Middle of December 1896:
the Supremo’s decisions Bonifacio acceded the
regarding the election at the request of Mariano Alvarez;
friar estate house had not he left along with his wife
been followed. and two brothers to visit
Cavite.
 January 2, 1897: From San
Francisco de Malabon,
Bonifacio wrote a letter to
Mariano Alvarez, stating
that he wants to talk to him
privately about his
experience in Magdalo.
 April 1897: The Spaniards
captured Malabon, wherein
Bonifacio stayed after
attending the demonstration
of the Magdiwang rebels in
Noveleta.
 January 1897: A series of
rifle shots interrupted the
celebration of San Francisco
de Malabon’s fiesta.
 March 22, 1897: Emilio
Aguinaldo’s birthday; the
battle against the Spanish
army raged and the Tejeros
Convention was convened.
4. Mention of places  Tejeros: venue of the  Towns under Batangas:
convention these places are under the
 San Francisco de Magdalo government
Malabon: Magdalo Pres.  Nasugbu, Tiwi, and Look:
Baldomero Aguinaldo towns that are located in the
called for a meeting to same province belonged to
continue and revalidate the Magdiwang.
proceeding of the election  Noveleta: the capital of
meeting. Magdiwang since its
 Parish house of the organization; the location
Catholic Church at Tanza where Esteban San Juan
(Santa Cruz de Malabon): invited Bonifacio to attend
— venue where the rumored the demonstration of the
Magdalo leaders were Magdiwang rebels
currently holding their own  San Francisco de
meeting. Malabon: where the capital
— many attested that of Magdiwang was
Messrs. Mariano Trias. transferred from Noveleta
Daniel Tirona, Emiliano R. after General Blanco began
de Dios, Santiago Rillo and his offense.
others were conferring with  Naik: where the capital of
the priest, Fr. Cenon Magdiwang was moved
Villafranca after San Francisco de
— those elected at the Malabon.
convention took their oaths  Kawit: Magdalo’s former
of office (Emilio Aguinaldo, capital before it fell
Mariano C. Trias and  Imus, San Francisco de
Artemio Ricarte) with Malabon, Naik and
Messrs. Severino de las Maragondon: successively
Alas and Daniel Tirona as became the capital of
the witnesses, and Fr. Magdalo after its former
Cenon Villafranca who capital fell.
officiated the oath.  Cavite: successfully rose in
 Friar estate house in Imus: revolt
a meeting was held at this  Mountains of Montalban
place according to and Mariquina: location
Bonifacio where Bonifacio is staying;
a delegate was sent to look
for him
 Zapote: location where
Emilio Aguinaldo, Candido
Tirona and Edilberto
Evangelista will meet
Bonifacio and his
entourage.
 House of Juan Castaneda
in Imus: location where
Bonifacio was brought by
the rebel leaders
 Laguna and Morong: the
locations where Fernandez
promised Bonifacio to
attack the Spaniards
residing there
 San Juan: A battle against
the Spaniards occurred;
Bonifacio blamed Vicente
Fernandez for their defeat
 House of Santos Nocon,
and House of Mrs.
Estefania Potente: location
where Bonifacio stayed
upon arriving to Malabon;
the Spaniards captured this
town in April 1897.
 San Francisco de
Malabon: rifle bullets fired
by Captain San Gabriel’s
troops disrupted the town
celebration, resulting in a
dispute between Santiago
Alvarez and Captain
Mariano San Gabriel.
 Santa Cruz de Malabon:
the former summer resort of
the friars that witnessed the
first important election
 Estate house of Tejeros:
the location where the
Magdiwang leaders plan to
hold another convention
 Kawit, Bakood and Imus:
towns under the Magdalo
government that are
seriously threatened by the
Spanish army.
 Salitran: a barrio between
Imus and Dasmariñas,
where General Emilio
Aguinaldo led the Magdalo
soldiers against the
Spaniards.
5. Key personalities  Andres Bonifacio: Magdalo Government
represented Magdiwang Administration
faction and was elected as  Mariano Alvarez:
Secretary of the Interior President; uncle-in-law of
during the assembly. Bonifacio whom he wrote a
 Emilio Aguinaldo: letter to
represented Magdalo  Pascual Alvarez: Executive
faction; elected as President Secretary
of the Katipunan and  Emiliano Riego de Dios:
defeated Mr. Andres Minister of the Interior
Bonifacio (Pagpapaunlad)
 Baldomero Aguinaldo: the  Mariano Trias: Minister of
president of Magdalo Grace and Justice
 Secretary Jacinto  Ariston Villanueva:
Lumbreras: signed the Minister of War
invitation meetings and  Santiago Alvarez:
presided over the assembly Commander-in-Chief
at Tejeros  Diego Moxica: Minister of
 Mariano Trias: was elected Finance
as vice president  Artemio Ricarte and
 General Vibora: was Mariano Reigo de Dios:
elected as Captain General Military Commanders with
over Messrs. Santiago V. the rank of Brigadier-
Alvarez, Ariston General
Villanueva, and Daniel  Esteban San Juan: invited
Tirona Bonifacio to attend the
 Emiliano [Link] Dios: demonstration of the
elected as Secretary of War Magdiwang rebels in
 General Apoy: Santiago V. Noveleta.
Alvarez  Andres Bonifacio:
 Ariston Villanueva: former Supremo of Katipunan
Secretary of War; received
the confidential information Magdalo Government
that the Magdalo faction Administration
was set to undermine the  Baldomero Aguinaldo:
proceedings of the assembly President
 General Artemio Ricarte:  Candido Tirona: Minister
Bonifacio appointed him as of War
secretary; distributed the  Cayetano Topacio:
ballots during the election Minister of Finance
 Diego Mojica: Magdiwang  Emilio Aguinaldo:
secretary of treasury, Commander in chief; led the
warned Bonifacio that many Magdalo soldiers facing the
ballots distributed were Spaniards in Salitran
already filled out
 Edilberto Evangelista:
 Antonio Montenegro:
Lieutenant General
compared the revolution to
 Vito Belarmino and
a pack of bandits or of wild,
Crispulo Aguinaldo:
mindless animals if they did
Military commanders with
not agree on the kind of
the rank of Brigadier-
revolutionary government
General.
they were to have; arrested
by General Apoy  Captain Mariano San
Gabriel: a Magdiwang man
 Daniel Tirona: argued that
who fired several shots
the office of Secretary of the
during the town fiesta in
Interior should not be held
San Francisco de Malabon.
by someone who does not
have a law degree when  Emilio Jacinto: a friend of
Bonifacio was elected Bonifacio, to whom he
addressed a letter following
 Mr. Jose del Rosario: the
the event/assembly.
lawyer recommended by
Daniel Tirona to replace
Supremo Bonifacio in his
elected position
 Fr. Cenon Villafranca: the
priest who administered the
oath-taking ceremony of the
elected officials

6. Sequencing of events (summary) 1. On March 25, 1897, the 1. The Katipunan of Cavite

Tejeros convention was held was divided into two
and Secretary Jacinto factions: Magdalo and
Lumbreras of the Magdiwang. Both factions
Magdiwang Council exercised sovereign power
presided over the assembly. over a number of towns
The main purpose of this towns, and officials were
convention is to unite the elected to administer each
two conflicting factions of government. However, both
the Katipunan, namely; the factions had been warring
Magdiwang and the quietly over Cavite, with
Magdalo. neither party wishing to be
2. Chairman Jacinto stated the dominated by the other.
main topic of discussion, 2. The situation prompted the
which was how to Magdiwang men to invite
strengthen defenses in Andres Bonifacio to visit
Magdiwang-controlled Cavite and witness for
territories; Severino de las himself what the
Alas, on the other hand, revolutionaries had
insisted on addressing the accomplished there, as well
major issue, which is the as to intervene in the battle.
form of government the Bonifacio agreed after the
Katipunan should have and third invitation was sent to
how they should establish it. him.
3. Due to the different 3. When Bonifacio arrived at
perspectives on this matter, Imus, he was greeted by the
a debate occurred whether Magdalo faction's Emilio
or not the Katipunan’s Aguinaldo, Candido Tiron,
established form of and Edilberto Evangelista.
government should be The Magdalo leaders
changed. perceived Bonifacio's
4. Mr. Antonio Montenegro gestures as superior.
argued that if they could not 4. Bonifacio was then taken to
agree on the type of Juan Castaeda's house in
revolutionary government Imus, where he was visited
they wanted, and if they let by various members of the
the status quo to prevail, Magdalo faction.
those involved in the 5. Seeing Vicente Fernandez
revolution would be no enraged Bonifacio,
better than a pack of bandits and immediately arrested
or of wild, mindless him. The Magdalo, on the
animals. General Apoy was other hand, refused to
deeply offended with his permit Fernandez’s arrest.
statement. Recognizing that he had no
5. A dispute between General power over the people of
Apoy and Antonio Magdalo, Bonifacio wrote a
Montenegro interrupted the letter to Mariano Alvarez,
convention, as General describing what had
Apoy ordered to arrest happened during the
Montenegro. However, this encounter.
conflict was immediately 6. Esteban San Juan invited
solved as General Apoy Bonifacio to the Magdiwang
immediately acceded to the rebels’ demonstration at
plead of Rizal’s sister, Noveleta. As he entered the
Trining, and his widow, cities, he was greeted
Josephine not to arrest warmly by the people with a
Montenegro. parade.
6. The meeting’s presider, 7. Katipunan was defeated by
Jacinto Lumbreras, handed Polavieja due to the ongoing
over the chairmanship to rivalry between the two
Andres Bonifacio. factions, which prompted a
Bonifacio then proceeded convention at Imus. This
with the election of assembly, however,
officials, emphasizing that produced no results because
the individual who receives no agreements were reached
the most votes must be over the type of
acknowledged and administration that must be
respected as the winner, established in the country
regardless of his social and whether a new election
status. is necessary.
7. Bonifacio continued with 8. Suspicions and jealousies
the election and distributed persisted in the ranks of the
the ballots with the help of rebels, even among
Mr. Daniel Tirona. When members of the same
the ballots were collected faction. Thus, San Francisco
and the votes were ready to de Malbon’s town
be counted, Mr. Diego celebration in January 1897
Mojica, the Magdiwang was interrupted by the riffle
secretary of the treasury, rounds fired by the soldiers
alerted the Supremo about of Captain Mariano San
the ballot manipulations. Gabriel, a Magdiwang man,
8. The elected officials were which resulted to a conflict
announced. Following between Santiago Alvarez
Bonifacio’s election as and Captain Mariano San
Secretary of the Interior, a Gabriel.
conflict developed between 9. The Magdiwang leaders
him and Daniel Tirona. Mr. called for another
Daniel Tirona objected, convention on March 22,
claiming that Bonifacio 1897, in the estate-house of
should not be in that Tejeros. It was also
position due to lack of Aguinaldo’s birthday, that
qualifications. the battle in Salitran led by
9. Feeling offended and the Aguinaldo raged, and at
humiliated, Bonifacio pulled the same time, the assembly
out his revolver and took convened in Tejeros.
aim. Mr. Tirona ignored his 10. Jacinto Lumbreras presided
remarks, slid away, and over the assembly and
became lost in the crowd. discussed the topic about
10. The meeting was adjourned, developing defense
and Bonifacio declared the strategies to protect Cavite.
election be nulled and void Severino de las Alas
which marked the end of the emphasized the importance
first day of Tejeros of the Katipunan agreeing
convention. on the sort of government to
11. Baldomero Aguinaldo be adopted first before
persuaded members of the moving on to the other
Magdiwang to rejoin the agenda.
disruptive meeting in order 11. There was debate on
to revalidate the election whether or not the
proceedings and make peace Katipunan's established
with one another. form of government should
12. None of the Magdalo be changed. Lumbreras
members attended the called for the meeting to be
meeting the next day. They adjourned because he felt
called their own conference, the situation was getting out
and the officials elected at of hand. After an hour, the
the Tejeros Convention assembly resumed, with
solemnly took their oath, Lumbreras passing over the
without the presence of chairmanship to Andres
those elected from the Bonifacio.
Magdiwang. 12. Bonifacio authorized the
petition for a new form of
governance, emphasizing
that the majority's decision
must always be respected.
An election was held
immediately to pick the new
officials who will
administer the newly
established Republic of the
Philippines. Bonifacio
stated that whoever receives
the majority of votes must
be acknowledged and
respected as the winner,
regardless of his personal
circumstances.
13. Andres Bonifacio and
Daniel Tirona became
embroiled in a feud after
Bonifacio was appointed
Director of the Interior.
Tirona violated the basic
arrangement on majority
votes, which was an insult
to Bonifacio.
14. The Tejeros Convention
came to an end when
Bonifacio proclaimed the
meeting's results null and
void.
15. Bonifacio wrote to Mariano
Alvarez, expressing his
disappointment at not
receiving the Presidency,
which he felt owed to him
as the instigator of the
revolution. He also
expressed his feelings to his
friend Emilio Jacinto.
7.  Differences between the two General observations General observations
accounts  The account was written by  The account was not written
someone who personally by someone who personally
witnessed and experienced witnessed and experienced
the events firsthand; it was the event; based on other
also primarily focused on sources.
the election and delegation  Highlighted Bonifacio’s
of the officials. feelings by describing what
 The account was written in and how he felt about a
a detailed and concise particular scenario
manner; it included  It contains less
quotations from the people conversations and focused
involved and explained how more on the description,
each faction shared their emotions of the people
different perspectives, as involved, and the silent fight
well as how the election was between the two factions.
conducted.  The author explained his
 It focused more on the interpretation of Bonifacio’s
story, and there was actions and why he was
minimal expression of upset that he did not win the
feelings except from visible election.
emotions that caused
specific events to occur, Specific Differences
such as anger.  This account presented
problems that arose during
Specific Differences the convention but were not
 This account stated the told in depth.
specific date when the  This account presented an
Tejeros convention in-depth description of the
occurred, which was March estate-house where the
25, 1897. assembly was held; it also
 This account directly featured a complete list of
narrated the election that attendees
happened, as well as the  Thoroughly explained the
conflicts that arose. background of the two
 It did not mention the events factions, such as what towns
that happened prior to the they exercised sovereign
convention proper. power with.
 The author himself was  Information and details
included in the narrative. concerning the history and
 The reason why Emilio misunderstanding between
Aguinaldo was not present the two factions that led to
in the assembly was not the Tejeros convention were
mentioned. mentioned.
 This account did not  It stated that the Tejeros
mention that Bonifacio sent assembly convened on
letters to Mariano Alvarez, March 22, 1897, the same
his uncle-in-law, and Emilio day as Aguinaldo’s birth.
Jacinto, his friend.  This account explained the
 Indicated the location of the absence of Emilio
meeting but did not go into Aguinaldo in the Tejeros
as much detail as Agoncillo assembly.
did in his story.  Included the excerpts of
 Six available positions for Bonifacio’s letter to Emilio
the election of officials were Jacinto and Mariano
listed, but this account lacks Alvarez
the names of the nominees  Provided a list of nine (9)
indicated in Agoncillo’s available positions for the
account. election of officials.
 Also included the events  Listed the names of
that happened after the nominees who were not
election (oath-taking mentioned in Alvarez’
ceremony) account.
8. Make your own analysis.