Biak na Bato

The Katipunan Society

🔥 KATIPUNAN — The Revolutionary Movement

• A secret society founded to fight for Philippine independence

• Believed that armed revolution was the only way to break free from Spanish oppression

• Aimed for a national uprising, not just regional revolts

📅 JULY 7, 1892 — The Turning Point

• Rizal’s arrest and exile to Dapitan marked the end of peaceful reform

• On this day, Andres Bonifacio and others founded the Katipunan

• It was the start of the revolutionary movement — bold, militant, and determined

🛡 Founders of the Katipunan

Name	Legacy & Role
Andres Bonifacio	The “Supremo”; led with fire, heart, and unshakable resolve
Deodato Arellano	First president; laid the groundwork for secret operations
Ladislao Diwa	Legal strategist; helped spread Katipunan chapters
Teodoro Plata	Ideologue and cousin to Bonifacio; shaped revolutionary goals
Valentin Diaz	Financial backbone; managed resources for the movement
Emilio Jacinto	Philosopher and writer; authored Kartilya ng Katipunan, the society’s moral compass “Brain of the Katipunan

🧠 Jacinto’s Unique Flame

• While Bonifacio stirred hearts, Jacinto sharpened minds.

• His Kartilya taught that true freedom begins with dignity, equality, and love for fellow Filipinos.

Triangle Method

🧩 Key Elements

• KKK: Kataas-taasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan — the full name of the society, meaning “Highest and Most Honorable Society of the Sons of the Nation”

• Sandugo/Sandugoan: Refers to the blood compact, symbolizing deep loyalty and shared purpose among members

• Triangle Formation: Each member recruited two others, forming a triangle — this kept the structure tight, secretive, and resilient

🕵 Why It Mattered

• Security: Members only knew their direct contacts, minimizing risk if someone was captured

• Expansion: Allowed rapid growth while maintaining secrecy

• Symbolism: The triangle echoed unity, strength, and the sacred bond of revolution

🩸 Blood Compact (Sandugo) at Azcarraga Street

• Location: Azcarraga Street, Tondo, Manila — now part of the city’s beating historical heart

• Act: Members signed their allegiance to the Katipunan using their own blood

• Symbolism: This wasn’t just ink — it was sacrifice, loyalty, and defiance against colonial rule

🔥 Emotional Resonance

• The blood compact (Sandugo) echoed ancient Filipino traditions of unity and brotherhood

• In the Katipunan, it became a binding vow — to fight, to die, and to live for the nation

• It blurred the line between ritual and revolution, turning every member into a living testament of resistance

🎯 Objectives of the Katipunan

1. Unite the Filipinos under one flag → Beyond geography, this was a call to awaken shared identity — to see each other not as Ilocano, Tagalog, Visayan, but as one nation.

2. Achieve independence by means of revolution → No longer pleading for reforms, they chose the path of thunder — knowing freedom would not be handed down, but seized.

3. Defend the oppressed and help members in need → This wasn’t just war — it was community. A vow to protect, uplift, and never leave a brother behind.

🕵 Pseudonyms of Katipunan Leaders

Revolutionary Figure	Pseudonym	Meaning & Symbolism
Andres Bonifacio	May Pag-asa	“There is Hope” — a name that breathed courage into the cause
Artemio Ricarte	Vibora	“Viper” — swift, silent, and deadly against oppression
Emilio Jacinto	Pingkian	“Spark” or “Flint” — the mind that ignited the moral flame of revolution

🏹 Three Grades of the Katipunan

Grade	Title	Attire Description	Password	Symbolism & Meaning
First Grade	Katipunan (Member)	Black hood with white triangle at center	Anak ng Bayan	Entry-level; a vow to serve the nation
Second Grade	Kawal (Soldier)	Green hood, white triangle, medallion with Malayan “K”	GOMBURZA	Honors martyred priests; readiness to fight
Third Grade	Bayani (Hero)	Red hood, green-bordered sash	RIZAL	Highest honor; embodies sacrifice and leadership

🔥 Symbolic Layers

• Passwords weren’t just codes — they were invocations of memory and mission:

  • Anak ng Bayan = “Child of the Nation” → a call to identity

  • GOMBURZA = tribute to the priests whose execution sparked reformist fire

  • RIZAL = the intellectual beacon whose exile marked the shift to revolution

• Colors and attire reflected transformation — from shadowed initiation to bold leadership

👑 Women of the Katipunan

Role	Name	Legacy & Contribution
President	Josefa Rizal	Sister of José Rizal; led the women’s chapter with strength and resolve
Vice-President	Gregoria de Jesus	“Lakambini ng Katipunan”; wife of Bonifacio, keeper of secrets and symbols
Secretary	Marina Dizon	Courageous speaker; preserved documents and inspired recruits
Fiscal	Angelica Rizal Lopez	Oversaw finances and welfare; ensured the movement’s sustainability

🏛 Three Councils of the Katipunan

Council Name	Scope & Function	Symbolic Meaning
Barangay Council	Local level; managed operations in towns and municipalities	Grassroots power — revolution from the ground up
Provincial Council	Oversaw activities across provinces	Regional unity — connecting scattered flames into one fire
Supreme Council	Central leadership; included president, fiscal, secretary, treasurer, and comptroller	Strategic core — the brain and heartbeat of the Katipunan

🧠 Why It Mattered

• This structure allowed the Katipunan to grow rapidly yet remain coordinated, even under threat

• It reflected a proto-government, preparing Filipinos for self-rule

• Each council mirrored the movement’s values: community, discipline, and shared purpose

📜 Kartilya ng Katipunan

• Author: Emilio Jacinto, known as Pingkian — the spark that lit the ethical fire of the revolution

• Content: 13 commandments that guided members not just in battle, but in character, dignity, and brotherhood

🧠 Core Themes

• Equality: Every Filipino, regardless of status, deserves respect and freedom

• Integrity: True honor lies in virtue, not wealth or power

• Compassion: Help the oppressed, uplift the weak, and serve without selfishness

• Nationhood: Love for country must be rooted in love for fellow Filipinos

🔥 Emotional Undercurrent

• The Kartilya was read aloud to new members — a rite of passage, a moment of reflection before action

• It reminded revolutionaries that freedom without ethics is hollow, and that the fight must be as noble as its goal

📰 Kalayaan

• Meaning: Kalayaan translates to Freedom — a name that carried the weight of every Filipino’s dream

• Purpose: It was the official newspaper of the Katipunan, used to spread revolutionary ideas, recruit members, and ignite national consciousness

• First Issue: Published in March 1896, edited by Emilio Jacinto, with articles attributed to fictional names to protect identities

• First issue: March 1896

• Copies printed: 2,000

• Writers:

  • Emilio Jacinto (Dimas Ilaw)

  • Andres Bonifacio (Agapito Bagumbayan)

  • Pio Valenzuela (Madlang Awa)

• Reach: Circulated outside Manila — even reached Cavite and Rizal

🔍 Discovery of the Katipunan

• Location: Diario de Manila printing press

• Found: Katipunan seal and ink pad made of stone

• Result: Spanish authorities uncovered the secret society

🚨 Aftermath

• Fort Santiago: Massive arrests of suspected Katipuneros

• Date: August 23, 1896

🗡 Cry of Pugadlawin

• Location: House of Juan Ramos (son of Melchora Aquino)

• Action: Katipuneros tore their cedulas (residence certificates)

• Shout: “Long Live Philippine Independence!”

• Significance: Marked the official start of the Philippine Revolution against Spain

⚔ First Armed Clash — August 30, 1896

Location: San Juan del Monte Event: First major battle between Filipino revolutionaries (Katipuneros) and Spanish forces

Ang Unang Supremo ng Katipunan - Andres Bonifacio

Significance:

• Marked the start of open warfare in the Philippine Revolution

• Showed Filipinos were ready to fight for independence

• Set the tone for future battles across Luzon

📅 August 30, 1896

Governor-General Ramon Blanco declared martial law in 8 provinces of Luzon.

🗺 Provinces Under Martial Law

Use the acronym MANUELAPABUTACABA to remember them:

• Manila

• Nueva Ecija

• Laguna

• Pampanga

• Bulacan

• Tarlac

• Cavite

• Batangas

These 8 provinces are symbolized by the eight rays of the sun on the Philippine flag.

⚔ Cavite Rebel Factions

Faction	Leader	Belief / Loyalty
Magdalo	Emilio Aguinaldo	Supported Aguinaldo’s leadership
Magdiwang	Andres Bonifacio	Loyal to Bonifacio’s ideals

🩸 Tejeros Convention (1897)

• A political showdown between Bonifacio and Aguinaldo

• Bonifacio was outvoted, rejected the results, and tried to assert authority

• He was later captured and executed by Aguinaldo’s men — a tragic turning point in the revolution

• Rizal was executed in December 30, 1896

🏛 Tejeros Convention — March 1897

A meeting held to form a revolutionary government and resolve leadership disputes within the Katipunan.

Elected Officers

Position	Name
President	Emilio Aguinaldo
Vice President	Mariano Trias
Captain General	Artemio Ricarte
Director of War	Emilio Riego de Dios
Director of Interior	Andres Bonifacio

⚠ Conflict & Controversy

• Daniel Tirona publicly questioned Bonifacio’s qualifications for Director of Interior

• Bonifacio felt insulted and disrespected, leading to tension

• This moment deepened the power struggle between Bonifacio and Aguinaldo

🩸 Aftermath

• Bonifacio rejected the results

• He was later captured and executed by Aguinaldo’s men — a tragic and controversial chapter in the revolution

🩸 Naic Declaration & Bonifacio’s Fate — 1897
(End of the Katipunan)

⚔ Arrest & Violence

• Bonifacio and Procopio: Arrested and wounded

• Ciriaco (their brother): Killed during the encounter

⚖ Trial & Decision

• April 29 – May 4, 1897: Trial held

• May 8, 1897: Death sentence changed to banishment

• May 10, 1897: Bonifacio and Procopio were executed at Mount Tala, Cavite

👥 Advisers Who Supported Execution

1. Clemente Zulueta

2. Gen. Mariano Noriel

3. Baldomero Aguinaldo

🏛 Biak-na-Bato Republic — Established in 1897

📍 Why It Was Formed

• June 1897: Cavite was under Spanish control

• Emilio Aguinaldo moved headquarters to Biak-na-Bato, Bulacan

• Aimed to create a formal revolutionary government

📜 Constitution Details

• Written by Felix Ferrer and Isabelo Artacho

• Based on the Cuban Constitution

• Called for a Supreme Council with:

  • President

  • Vice President

  • Secretary of War

  • Secretary of Treasury

🗳 Election of Officials — November 2, 1897

Position	Name
President	Emilio Aguinaldo
Vice President	Mariano Trias
Secretary of War	Emiliano Riego de Dios
Secretary of Treasury	Baldomero Aguinaldo

🤝 Pact of Biak-na-Bato — Peace Agreement (1897)

🧠 Why It Happened

• Spanish Governor-General Primo de Rivera realized the revolution couldn’t be stopped

• Pedro Paterno acted as mediator between the Spanish and Filipino revolutionaries

📜 Timeline of the Agreement

• November 18, 1897: First document signed

• December 14: Second document

• December 15: Third document

💰 Terms of the Pact

• Revolutionaries agreed to stop fighting

• Leaders (including Aguinaldo) would leave the country voluntarily

• Revolutionaries would surrender their weapons

• Spain would pay ₱800,000 in total:

  • ₱400,000 upon Aguinaldo’s departure

  • ₱200,000 after most arms were surrendered

  • ₱200,000 after full peace and amnesty

✈ Outcome

• December 1897: Aguinaldo and his men left for Hong Kong, as agreed

🇵🇭 Aguinaldo Returns & Declares Independence — 1898

🔥 Context

Discussed with George Dewey (Naval Commander)

• April 1898: The United States declared war on Spain

• May 1, 1898: U.S. defeated Spain in the Battle of Manila Bay

• Aguinaldo, in exile in Hong Kong, decided to return to continue the revolution

🛬 Return & Leadership

• May 1898: Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines

• He established a dictatorial government to lead the fight for independence

📅 June 12, 1898 — Declaration of Independence

• Location: Kawit, Cavite, in front of Aguinaldo’s ancestral home

• The Philippine flag was raised

• The Philippine National Anthem was played

• Independence from Spain was proclaimed

🧠 Government Shift

• Upon advice from Apolinario Mabini, the dictatorial government was changed to the Philippine Revolutionary Government

🏛 Malolos Republic — First Philippine Republic

📜 Steps to Establishment

• After forming the Philippine Revolutionary Government, Aguinaldo called for a Constitutional Convention in Malolos, Bulacan

• January 21, 1899: Aguinaldo approved the Malolos Constitution

• January 23, 1899: The Malolos Republic was officially inaugurated at Barasoain Church

👤 Key Leaders

Role	Name
President	Emilio Aguinaldo
Commanding General of the Army	Antonio Luna

⚔ Filipino–American War (1899–1902)

🔥 Ignition Point

• February 4, 1899: Tensions erupted at San Juan Bridge, sparking the war between American forces and Filipino revolutionaries.

• Emilio Aguinaldo formally declared war against the United States.

🏞 Heroism at Tirad Pass

• December 2, 1899: Gen. Gregorio “Goyo” del Pilar led a valiant defense at Tirad Pass, allowing Filipino troops to escape.

• Goyo and his men perished in the battle — a symbol of youthful sacrifice and patriotic resolve.

🕊 Collapse and Surrender

Date	Event
March 1901	Aguinaldo was captured in Isabela Province and taken to Manila. He swore allegiance to the U.S., ending his resistance.
Summer 1902	Gen. Miguel Malvar surrendered, marking the formal end of hostilities.