Katipunan

DOCUMENTS OF THE Katipunan
HOME The Supreme Assembly Record of meeting held on November 30 and December 1, 1895 Source: Archivo General Militar de Madrid: Caja 5677, leg.1.41 bis
Introduction Brotherhood, discipline and internal unity are always extolled within revolutionary organisations, but rarely maintained. By November 1895 Bonifacio and Jacinto had respectively been supreme president and supreme fiscal of the Katipunan for almost a year. The society, they were keenly aware, had not made great advances since its foundation in 1892. Its active membership could at best be counted at around 300, and it had not yet expanded beyond Manila and a handful of nearby towns. Some of its local sections were barely functioning, and others were fractious. This document shows the determination of Bonifacio and Jacinto to invigorate the society, and to root out the malcontents, the miscreants and the timid. To give collective sanction and legitimacy to this catharsis, they summoned the KKK’s leading activists to meet in Caloocan on the morning of Saturday, November 30, 1895. The matters to be discussed, they said, would affect every council and branch.[1] They warned the delegates beforehand that the meeting might last the whole day, but in the event it continued right through the night as well, not dispersing until eight o’clock on the Sunday morning. It was held some distance from the población in a house surrounded by ricefields, and was attended by about 35-40 people.[2] In the course of the proceedings, the gathering was formalised as the first meeting of the Kataastaasang Kapisanan (Supreme Assembly), which henceforth became the society’s paramount decision-making body. Theoretically, it comprised the members of the Supreme Council and the section presidents; in practice the presidents were often accompanied by other office-holders from their sections. In total, this record of the meeting in Caloocan names 46 individuals who the Assembly decided should be either “separated” or “distanced” from the society – the terms “itiwalag” and “ilayu” seem to be used interchangeably – and many others, it is clear, will also be cast out unless they show more commitment. Aside from the numbers involved – perhaps a sixth of the entire membership – it is striking how many of the expellees had at one time or another had belonged to the society’s inner core. They included Bonifacio’s predecessor as supreme president, Roman Basa; the existing supreme secretary, Jose Turiano Santiago; and five others thought to have been sometime members of the Supreme Council – Teodoro Gonzales, Restituto Javier, Faustino Manalac, Tomas Remigio and Teodoro Vedua. In 1894, Remigio and Manalac had headed two of the first four Sangunian Bayan, or popular councils, to be established by the Katipunan – S.B. Laong Laan in the district of Santa Cruz and S.B. Ilog Pasig in Binondo. From the perspective of Bonifacio and Jacinto, these two popular councils had clearly become the main hotbeds of dissent within the society, and it was they that were the prime targets of the purge. Of the 46 named expellees, 15 belonged to S.B. Laong Laan (11 of whom were branded as “traitors”) and 11 to S.B. Ilog Pasig (including 7 “traitors”). No representative from either of these councils seems to have been present at the Caloocan assembly, and no records have been found to indicate that either council continued to exist thereafter. In effect, S.B. Laong Laan and S.B. Ilog Pasig appear to have been disbanded. Several members of S.B. Laong Laan may well have left the Katipunan of their own accord prior to being expelled. Tomas Remigio, one of those denounced as a “traitor”, recalled in a brief memoir that he and others dissolved Laong Laan and formed “a new organisation, also committed to fighting for national independence, called Binhing Payapa [Seed of Peace].” It is probable that a number of expellees from Ilog Pasig and other councils and branches had similarly departed before being ejected.[3] The Caloocan assembly may also have sounded the death knell for the KKK women’s section, albeit more inadvertently. Among the expellees were the husbands of at least four of the most active women’s section members – Marina Dizon, Benita Rodriguez, Simeona de Remigio and Marta Saldana – who it might be guessed would not be inclined to remain in the society themselves under these circumstances. The section was reportedly disbanded at around this time.[4] At the instigation of Jacinto, the Assembly agreed that the expulsions need not be final and irrevocable. At least some of those who were “separated”, it was hoped, would acknowledge the errors of their ways and apply for readmission. Most likely this hope was realised only in a very few instances, and not one of the most prominent expellees is known to have rejoined the Katipunan as an organisation. But this did not necessarily mean that their patriotism had waned, or that they would not fight for freedom when the fateful moment came. The former members of S.B. Laong Laan who established the breakaway Binhing Payapa, most notably, assigned two of their leaders – Tomas Remigio and Lorenzo Alonso – to rendezvous with the Katipuneros who gathered in Balintawak in August 1896. Bonifacio welcomed their support, and reportedly assigned Remigio to “take charge of the revolutionary forces” in Santa Cruz, the district where S.B. Laong Laan had been based.[5] Other expellees remembered as having rallied at Balintawak included Marcelo Badel, Crispulo Chacon, Restituto Javier, Faustino Manalac and Pedro Zabala.[6] Emilio Jacinto acted as secretary to the Assembly and wrote the record of the meeting that is transcribed below. Under normal circumstances, these tasks would have been undertaken by the actual supreme secretary – Jose Turiano Santiago – but he arrived late and left early, evidently angered by what was happening. As was customary in the KKK at this time, Jacinto used small crosses rather than dots to signify an abbreviation. This usage has been copied below in the transcription of the heading, but not throughout. The orthography is not consistent throughout, and it may be noted that Jacinto even rendered his own alias in two ways – in some places as “Pinkian” and in others as “Pingkian”. The English text beneath the transcription is a paraphrase of the Tagalog, not a translation. The paragraph markers – (a), (b) etc. - do not appear in the original, and have been inserted simply to facilitate comparison between the Tagalog text and the English paraphrase.
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K x K x. K x. N x. M x. A x. N x. B x. Kataastaasang Kap x. Sa ngalan ng Bayang tinubuan at ng K.K.K. ng mga A. N. B., ay nagpulung ang Kataastaasang Kapisanan, sa ikatlong puong araw ng buan ng Noviembre ng taong isang libo, walong dan, siam na puo’t lima; pagpupulong na minabuti nitong K.S. Sa ikasampung palu sa tangsu ng bakal ng umaga ay binuksan ang Kagalanggalang na Kar., na nangakaharap at dumalo ang mga kap. na Halimaw at Tagaisok, pangulo at kalihim ng S.B. “Katagalugan”; Silanganan at Talibong, p. at tagausig ng S.B. “Dapitan”; Paku at Tambuli p. at kal. ng By. “Alapaap”; Maypagasa, Maniangat at Pingkian, p., tag. at t. ng K.S.; Bulalakaw p. ng By. “Dimasalang”; Matapang p. ng By. “Silanganan”; Magiliwin, Sampalukan, Kalumpang at Pagatpat, p., kal., t. at tag. ng By. “Dalisayan”; Mapilit at Laot, p. at tag. ng By. “Dimahipo”; Labong p. ng By. “Kabuhayan”; ang mga kap. na Dimasayaran at Silang at iba pa. Ang pagpupulong na ito ay ginawa sa bahay ng kap. na Liwayway sa bayan ng Kalookan. Nagkaroon ng ambagang manalapi dahil sa pagkaing ginamit. Ang mga kapisan ng By. “Dalisayan”, karakaraka’y nagalay ng isang malaking paglilingkod na halihaliling tumaliba habang ginagawa ang pagpupulong. Sapagkat di sumipot ang kap. na Tiktik kal. ng K.S., lumagay at gumanap ang kaniyang katungkulan ng kap. na Pingkian. (a) Karakarakang naayos ang Kar., ipinagbigay alam ng K.P. ang lahat na nagawa ng mga pinuno sa K.S. sa kapanahunang hinawakan nila ang kanilang mga katungkulan. (b) Tuloy ipinahayag ang bilangan ng salapi. Datapua’t sa di pangyayaring masiyasat ng lahat sa sandaling yaun lamang, ay nagkaisa ang kapulungan na maghalal ng apat na kapisan ng K.K., na siyang magsisiyasat at magbibigay alam sa lahat ng pulutong ng kinalabasan ng kanilang pagsisiyasat. Lahat man ng nangakaharap ay umaayung walang daya ang bilangang ito, minarapat ang paghahalal na yaun, dahil sa mga alingawngaw at paglait ng ginagawa ng ilang mga K. sa K. S. sa wika’y ninanakaw ang salapi. Ang apat na inihalal ay ang kap. na Halimaw, ang kap. na Silanganan, ang kap. na Tagaisok at ang kap. na Ilagan, p. ng By. “Mahiganti” itong huli. (c) Ang kap. na Talibong ay nagsalita ng mga salang ginawa at ginagawa ng k. Marahas (T. Reyes), na sinisiraang lubha ang K.S. na ninanakaw ang salapi, at mga salitang lubos ang kapangitan na naringig sa kaniya ng naturang kap. na Talibong. Marami sa nangkaharap ang nagpatutuhanan ng mga gawang ito at sampu ng isang kawalanghiang ginawa sa labas na nagnakaw ng isang cheque, gawang ikinapasuk niya sa bilangguan ng Bilibid. Sa pagkakita nitong mga kasamaan ng Marahas, pinagkaisahan siyang ilayu, at ipagbigay alam sa boong Kat. ang pagkalayung ito, at ang kadahilanan, sampu ng paglalagay ng kaniyang larawang may sulat na taksil sa ibaba, sa kar. ng lahat ng pagpupulong ng lahat ng pulutong. (d) Sa karapatang magkaroon ang lahat ng nagpupulong ng isang bagay na pagkayarian kung dumating ang dakip, ay ipinagsanguni ng k.p. ang bagay na ito. Ang pinagkaisahan ay itong sumusunod: kung dumating ang dakip at matutup ang kapulungan ay ikakatuiran ng lahat na nagsasaya lamang dahil sa kaarawan ng kapanganakan ng kap. na Maypagasa, at dahil pa sa pagbibinyag ng anak ng isang kap. na kaapit bahay. Datapua’t kung wala nang sukat na malusutang katuiran, at aayaw din maniwala ang nagsisidakip, lahat ay magsisilaban kahit mangamatay at tatarakang una ang sino mang tumagbu, tuloy ililigtas o susunugin ang mga kalatas. (e) Sa tanung ng k.p. sa kap. na Milan, p. ng Hkan. ng Nagtaha, tungkol sa kalagayan at mga inaasal ng mga kapisan sa naturang Hkan., isinagut niya na isang nagngangalang Guillermo Sandiego, kumpare ng k. si Eleuterio de Guzman (Lintik), ay naguugali at gumagamit ng sama nito. Ipinagbigay alam din ang gawa ng isang tinatawag na Eulogio Rodriguez na naningil at di napakita. Ang mga kap. na napagsingilan ay ang kap. na Milan..... Gayon din ang sinabi tungkol sa kalagayan ng kanilang Hkan., na walang kumilos na sino pa man liban siya at ang kap. na ... (C.G). Sa pagkakita at ng ibang mga patutuhanan sa lahat ng sinabi ng kap. na Milan, ay pinagkayariang itiwalag ang Sandiego at ang Rodriguez, tuloy ipagbibigay alam sa boong Kat. ng pagkatitiwalag na ito. Tungkol sa mga k. hindi kumilos at wari’y nakakalimot ng kanilang tungkol, ay padadalhan ng isang kasulatan at ng kanilang maisagut ang talagang nasa at nasasakalooban. Ito’y ang mga kap. na ... ............. ..; kung sila’y talagang may ibig tumupad ng ipinanumpa ay isasanib sila sa By. “Makabuhay”, at kung hindi ay ititiwalag din. (f) Pinagkayarian na ang sino mang k., magpahayag at magpakilala ng mga bagay nauukol sa Kat., sa sino mang tiwalag at ititiwalag, na siya’y ariin pang kap. sa Kat., sukat nang patutuhanan ang gawang ito ng tatlong kap., ay ititiwalag din ng K.S. (g) Ipinagsabi ng k.p. ang mga nakawan at mga kaliluhang lahat ng mga k. si Doroteo Dominguez (Abang), Tomas Remigio (Toremige), Pedro Trinidad (Maliksi), Manuel Ureta (Mahusay), Lorenzo Alonso (....) Teodorico Guerrero (Kislat), Julian Nepomuceno (Digma), Emiliano Morales (Lagasa), Teodoro Gonzalez (Lathala), Gregorio del Rosario (....), Marcelo de la Rosa (....) Luis Velazco (Kulog), Mariano Inocencio (Ating-ating), Andres Flores (Matigas), Rosendo Domingo (Lingab). Sapagkat kilala ng lahat ang sama ng mga k. ito, sila’y pinarusahan ng parusang ibinigay sa Telesforo Reyes (Marahas), liban ang Lathala, G. Del Rosario, M. De la Rosa, Ating-ating at Lingab na ititiwalag lamang. (h) Ipinagsaysay ng k.p. ang muling pagkatatayu ng S.B. “Laong-Laan” at ng By. “Dimasalang” na nagasira dahil sa mga kataksilang ginawa ng mga k. katatapus na parusahan. Ipinagsabi din ang muling pagkasira ng By. “Dimasalang”, dahil sa mga gawa ng mga k. si Restituto Javier at Doroteo Lopez (Mapangahas at Silang), p. ang nauuna at kal. ang ikalawa ng By. na ito. Siya namang pagdating ng k. kal., na mga ikalawang palu na sa dapit hapun, at pagkaalam ng pinaguusapan ay nagsulit na ang kaniyang naaalaman tungkol sa By. “Dimasalang”, na pinangunguluhan ng kapatid niya sa dugo, ay ito. Mula daw yatang lumabas ang policia secreta, ay nangatakut ang mga kapisan dito, liban sa p. at kal.; kaya’t makaitlo kung makaapat na nagpadalo sa pulung ang p. at kal. ay walang isa mang sumipot. Dahil dito’y tumugon ang k. p. na sa mga araw na yaon ay dumating sa kaniya at sa kap. na Pingkian ang sumbong ng kap. na Dimasayaran, Kalipulako, at iba pang mga kapisan sa By. “Dimasalang”, na ang nangyari ay ganito: Ang Mapangahas at Silang ay nagpupulong, at dito’y sinabi nila ang mga limbag na inutang ng p. sa mga pinuno ng K.S., at dito na nagsalita ang Silang na kinakalakal at niwawalanghia ng K.S. ang boong Kat., na di dapat pagbayaran, at mga iba pang panungayaw na salita; at kung gayon ang mangyayari’y mabuting sila’y humiwalay. Ang Mapangahas ay di umaayon sa una at sa huli’y umayon na sa mga paratang ng Silang. Pagkaringig nito ang k. p. ay nagusisa ng dapat, at nakilala niyang nagkakasapakatan ang dalawa sa kagagawang ito, sapagkat araw gabi halus nagkakasama’t nagsasalitaan, ang Mapangahas ang siyang kumuha ng mga limbag, at siya lamang ang dumadalo sa pulong, sa makatuid siya lamang ang hindi nagdamdam. Tuloy ipinagbigay alam ng k.p. na pagkaalam niya nito ay kaniyang pinahintulutan ang mga kapisan sa By. “Dimasalang” na maghalal ng ibang p. at kal. at itiwalag muna ang mga nasabi na. Dito’y sumagut ang k. kal. na ang Mapangahas ay walang kasalanan kung di ang Silang lamang na nagiisa. Sapagkat ang mga kap. na Maypagasa at Pingkian ay siyang pinararatangan ng pangangalakal at ang kap. na Tiktik ay kapatid ng Mapangahas, ang tatlong ito’y nagsilabas sa kar., at pinagkayarian na sa nangatira ay maghahalal muna ng isang p., at saka hahatulan ang nauukol sa bagay na ito. Ang kap. na Tiktik ay umui ng patuluyan. Pagbabalik ng p. at ng t. sa kanikanilang upuan, ay pinahayagan sila na ang naging kahatulan ay ang matiwalag ang Mapangahas at Silang, tuloy ipagbibigay alam sa boong Kat. ng kanilang mga gawa. (i) Pinagusapan ang By. “Ilog Pasig”, at dahil sa kilala ng lahat ang mga kasamaan ng marami sa By. na ito, hinatulang itiwalag at sulatan ng taksil ang larawan ng mga k. si Marcelo Santos (Talim), Faustino Manalac (Mayon), Juan Guerrero (Kalipulako), Juan Florentino (...) Alejo Garcia (Mainit), Antonio Arocha (Dorado), Miguel Sancho (Matapang), Antonio Nadal (Mercurio), Eugenio Reyes (Matigasan) at Felipe Reyes (Kainta), liban ang Matapang, Katigasan at Kainta na ititiwalag lamang. Dito’y nakasama ang Roman Basa (Liwanag). Lahat ng ito katulad din sa mga sinusundang hinatulan. Pinagkaisahan din na ang mga kapisang hindi nagsisikilos sa By. na ito ay padadalhan ng isang kasulatan kamukha ng sa mga kapisan ng Hkan. ng Nagtaha. (j) Sa tanung na ginawa ng k.p., tungkol sa kalagayan ng S.B. “Dapitan” sa p. nito, ay sumagut na dito’y ang gumagamit ng lubhang pagkukulang ay ang tag. na kap. na Kalasag (Teodoro Vedua); sapagkat ang k. ito ay tutoong naninibulos sa pangangalunya at paglalaru ng matagal na panahun, bukod pa sa di halus nakikialam sa mga bagay na nauukol sa Kat. at lalung lalu na sa kaniyang mga tungkol. Sa pagkarigig nito, at sa pagkaalam ng marami, pati ng pagkakasakit ng k. ito buhat sa kaniyang buhalhal na asal, ay hinatulan ding itiwalag at ilathala sa boong Kat. Gayon din ang naging kahatulan sa Narciso Gonzalez, na magmula ng malaung panahung siya’y na pasuk hindi napakikita man lamang baga ma’t ulit ulit siyang ipinatawag. Hinatulan din ng parusang ito, ang mga kapisang si Justo Zalazar, Andres Perez, Juan de la Cruz (Karim), Arcadio de Jesus at Pantaleon de la Cruz, ng By. Dalisayan. (k) Gayon din ang kap. na Burgos ng By. Maluningning, at ang mga kapisan ng By. na ito, na di nagsisikilos ay padadalhan ng isang kasulatang kanilang sasagutin, at sa sagut na ito ay magbubuhat ang sila’y matiwalag o hindi. Tungkol sa kapisan ditong si Marcelo Badel, na napasuk sa pagka policia secreta, at di umuusuk man sa mga k. tungkol sa pagkapasuk niyang ito, ay ititiwalag, at titiktikan ng kap. na Subiang at Igmidio Tolentino; at kung makilalang masamang talaga ay papatain. (l) Binasa ang isang sumbong na kinalalaman ng mga mabibigat at maraming ginawang sala ng Eleuterio de Guzman (Lintik), at sa pagkakilala ng manga lilong tangka nito ng kalahatan siya’y hinatulan ng isang parusang itinala sa isang kalatas na pinagtalaan naman ng lahat ng naroon ng kani-kanilang pangalang tunay. (m) Sapagka’t ang mga kasalanang ginawa sa mga kap. na Pingkian at Maypagasa at iba pa, ng Pedro Zabala (Pagpalain), ang siyang hahatulan ang mga kap. na Maypagasa at Pinkian ay nagsilabas sa kar., kamukha ng paghatul sa Mapangahas at Silang. Niyang nagbalik sa dating upuan ang k.p. at k.t., ay ipinakilala sa kanila na ang naging hatul at parusa ay ang itiwalag ang Pagpalain. Gayon din ang naging kaparusahan ng Benito Jose sa By. “Kabuhayan” at ng Eustaquio Stos (Urani), Crispulo Chacon at Modesto Quitain sa By. “Kabuhayan”. (n) Sa pagkatapus nito ay ipinagsanguni ng kap. na Pinkian ang isang minarapat na akala; na ang sino may k. tinawalag, kung ibig na mabalik ay ipaiilalim sa tatlong buang subok ang paninibago ng kaniyang asal; bukod pa sa rito’y magbabayad ng piso ukol sa kaniyang pagkabalik, at pagbabayaran din ang nauukol sa kapanahunang siya’y natitiwalag. (o) Ipinagsanguni din naman sa kalahatan ang karapatang magtayu ng isang Sanguning Lihim. Kapagkatapus ng isang mahaba at ulit ulit na palilining, pinagkaisahan na ang Sanguniang Lihim na ito ay magkakaroon ng kapangyarihan gumawa ng akalaing nararapat sa ikatutupad ng kanilang katungkulang magtangol sa Kat. laban sa kangino pa mang makagugulo’t makawawasak dito; ang mga pangunang katungkulan ng Sangunian Lihim ay ang umusig at laging tumiktik sa loob at labas ng Kat., at ang umisip at gumamit ng lalung matalinong mga paraan sa ikawawala ng masasamang supling. Tatlong k. ang siyang mangangatawan ng S. L., na di makikilala ng sino pa man, liban sa isa. Ang isang ito ay siyang pipili ng tatlong kasanguning lihim, at siya ding makikipagalain sa kanila’t sa Kat. Siya ang magdadala ng mga kasu[la]tang pabigay ng S.L., sa sino mang k. at pulutong, at siya din ang magbibigay sa S.L. ng mga kasulatang padala sa kaniya. Binigian din ng Kataastasang Kapisanan, ang S.L. ng kapangyarihang magutos sa sino may k. at susunod ito sa pilitan, liban lamang kung ang ipinaguutos ay nalalaban sa mga aral at layon ng Kat. Ang pagkakikilanlan ng mga kasulatan ng S.L. ay ang isang tatak na kakikitaan ng isang mata, isang bararaw at isang tagayan (copa) na nililibaran ng ahas; lahat nito’y puti at maguguhit sa itim. Sa pagkatapus nito’y pinagkayarian na, ang paghahalal ng k. pilili ng magsisipangatawan ng S.L. at ang inihalal ay ang kap. na Pingkian. (p) Ipinakilala ng p. ang pagkakailangang halinhan ang mga hudiatan, dahil sa makapal na nangatiwalag at napagkayarian ng lahat ng itong mga sumusunod: kung may nakaharap na dik. hahawakan ng nakatatalastas ang kaniyang tainga, na ang kahuluga’y may makariringig, at ang iba sa bibig ang hawak, tanda na sila’y di magsasalita. Kung sasaayus ay ilalagay ang kanang kamay sa balikat na kaliwa. Kung nagagapus ay isusuntok ang mga kamay, liban ang kalingkingan na iuunat – Sa pagkakamayan ay ihahagut ang hintuturo sa dakong ibaba ng galangalangan. Sa pagbabatian o pagpupugayan ay alilinin ang kalu (sombrero) at ilalagay ng patihaya sa tapat ng pusu. *Sa mga tanungan ay ito “¿ Anong araw kahapun? (sagut) – Kapayapaan.* ¿ Anong araw ngayon? (sagut) Kaalipinan - ¿ Anong araw bukas? (sagut) Kalayaan. – Ang mga lihim na wika ay “Na-La Anak-Bayan”. – Ang lahat ng mga dating hudiatan ay wala nang ano mang kagamitan. Tuloy na pinagkayarian din na hindi ituturo ang hudiatang mga bago sa kanino man tiwalag, at ang dito’y magkasala lalapatan ng isang matinding parusa. (q) Binasa ng kap. na Pingkian ang pagkatatayu at patungutang susundin ng “Basahan ng Bayan”, at ito’y minarapat ng kapulungan, liban ang ika-35 pangkat na binago. Sapagkat sa patungutang ito na kinatha ng tatlong magiingat at apat na uusisa, ito’y inihalal: sa tatlong magiingat lumabas na Tagapamahala ang kap. na Silang, Tagapangasiwa ang kap. na Pinkian at Tagaingat yaman ang kap. na Cipriano Pacheco. Sa magsisipagusisa ay lumabas ang mga kap. na Silanganan, Mapilit, Halimaw at Tagaisok, p. itong huli. Sa bagay na ito at sa pagkakailangang magkaroon ang basahang ito na kaunting puhunan, ay pinagkayarian din na hihingan ng sikapat ang lahat at bawat isang k., kasabay ang paghingi ng kani-kanilang mga libro. (r) Ipinagsabi ng kap. na Pinkian ang pagkatatayu ng K.K.K. ng mga A.N.B., na nakasulat sa Patnugutang kinatha niya at ng kap. na Maypagasa, at pinagkaisahang minarapat ng kagalanggalang na kapulungan. Sa pagkatatayung ito ang mga pangunang dapat na malaman ay ang sumusunod: na sa Kat. ang una at lubos na kapangyarihang ay hahawakan ng Kataastaasang Kapisanan; ang dito’y mangaling na utos ay pilit na susundin at ang hindi pagsunod ay malalagay na isang kataksilan sa tunay na Kat., sapagkat ang K.K. ay kinakatawan ng lahat ng mga p. sa lahat ng pulutong, na sila ang pinagsalinan ng kanilang pinangunguluhan ng taglay na kapangyarihan. (s) Pinagkayarian ding padalhan ang S.B. “Laon-Laan” at ang By. “Tanglaw” ng isang kasulatang sasagutin nila; at sa sagut na ibigay ay magbubuhat ang pagkaayos o pagkatiwalag ng naturang S.B. at By. (t) Sa palagay na kap. na Pingkian ang pinagkaisahan na ang tatlong dating kabunyian ay maui lamang sa dalawa, kaw. at ak. Pinagkayarian din na sa bawat kabunyian ay magkakaroon ng tatlong buang subuk, panahung binibilang mula sa pagkapasuk o pagkaangat; kung sa loob ng tatlong buang subok ay hindi nakitaan ang baguhan ng ano mang ugaling masama, at siya’y tumupad sa lahat niyang tungkol at makaraus sa mga subuk sa gawa, na sa kaniya’y ipinagutos, kung ito’y maganap sa loob ng tatlong buan, at saka lamang tuturuan ng mga hudiatan at mangyayaring makialam sa mga pagpupulong at iba pang nauukol sa mga palakad ng Kat. Datapua’t kung ang baguhang kawal at ang akibat ay maihalal sa isang katungkulang kinakailanganan ng kaw., yaun ay inangat ng wala ng tatlong buang subuk. (u) Sa pagkakikita at pagkalam ng Kapulungan na ang kap. na Tiktik kal. ng K.S. ay hindi tumutupad ng ano man sa hinahawakang katungkulan mula ng maihalal, bukod pa sa mga ibang kakulangan siya’y pinagkayariang ilayu at huag turuan ng mga hudiatan hangang sa maiba ang kaniyang kaasalan. (v) Pinagkayarian din na ang K.S. ay magbibigay ng Katunayan sa mga pulutong na magalingin, ayon sa pagkaayos at tibay. (w) Ang Patnugutan ng K.K.K. ng mga A.N.B. na kinatha ng kap. na Maypagasa at Pingkian ay ipinalagay sa pasia ng lahat, at napagkayarian na yau’y siyasatin at paghiningin ng anim na kapisan ng K.K. sa ngalan nito at ang pagkayarian ng anim na ito ay siya ang mangyayari. Sa paghahalal ay nagsilabas ang mga kap. na Bulalakaw, Silang, Maniangat, Tagaisok, Halimaw at Dimasayaran, p. itong huli. (x) Sa lubhang kalaunan na nitong pagpupulong ay pinagkayariang wakasan, at inilibot ang suput ng saklolo na nagsalin ng siam na sikapat at labingdalawang kualta, na karagdag ang sikapat labing dalawang lumabis sa ambagan ng pagkain, ay ibinigay sa kap. na may bahay, alang alang sa mga kapaguran at malaking kaabuluhan at ligalik. (y) Niwakasan itong pagpupulong sa ikawalong palu ng tansu sa bakal ng umaga ng unang araw ng buang ng Diciembre ng taung isang libo walong dan siam na puo’t lima. Maynila ikaunang araw ng Diciembre taung 1895. Ang K.P. Gnubnvnzn[7] Lumagay na Kal. Ang K.T. Pnllkngll
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English paraphrase K x K x. K x. N x. M x. A x. N x. B x. Supreme Assembly The Supreme Assembly convened in the name of the native country and the Katipunan at 10 o’clock in the morning of Saturday, November 30, 1895. Among those present were: Alejandro Santiago and Aguedo del Rosario, the president and secretary of S.B. Katagalugan; Francisco Carreon and Hermenegildo Reyes, the president and fiscal of S.B. Dapitan; Estanislao de los Santos and “Tambuli” [identity unknown], the president and secretary of By. Alapaap; Andres Bonifacio, Vicente Molina and Emilio Jacinto, the president, treasurer and fiscal of the Supreme Council; Pantaleon Torres, the president of By. Dimasalang; Juan Cruz, the president of By. Silanganan; Ignacio Sanchez, Cornelio Sanchez, Mateo Hernandez and “Pagatpat” [identity unknown], the president, secretary, fiscal and treasurer of By. Dalisayan; Adriano Jesus and Isabelo Reyes, the president and treasurer of By. Dimahipo; Lino Villanueva, the president of of By. Kabuhayan; and Pio Valenzuela, Balbino Florentino and others The meeting was held in the house of Kap. “Liwayway” [identity unknown] in Caloocan. There was a collection towards the cost of the food. Members of the KKK section in Caloocan, By. Dalisayan, acted as look-outs throughout the proceedings. The secretary of the KKK Supreme Council, Jose Turiano Santiago, was not present when the meeting began, and so the fiscal, Emilio Jacinto, acted as secretary in his stead. (a) Once the meeting had come to order, the supreme president, Andres Bonifacio, reported on the activities of the members of the Supreme Council since they had assumed their present offices [probably meaning since January 1895]. (b) The next issue discussed was the accounting of the Katipunan’s funds. However, because it was not possible to investigate all aspects of this question there and then, the Supreme Assembly agreed to elect four of its members to investigate the issue, and to charge them with reporting back to all the KKK’s sections on the outcome of their investigation. Everybody present was agreed that there should be no deceit in the accounting, because the allegations that some members of the Supreme Council had stolen from the Katipunan’s coffers were causing much vilification and having serious repercussions. The four members elected were Alejandro Santiago, Francisco Carreon, Aguedo del Rosario and Rafael Gutierrez, the last-named being the president of By. Mahiganti. (c) Hermenegildo Reyes spoke about the past and continuing misdeeds of Telesforo Reyes, who had caused great damage by making allegations that were totally scurrilous, and by accusing members of the Supreme Council of stealing the organisation’s funds. Many of those present knew about his actions, especially what had come out about his theft of a cheque, a shameless act for which he had been committed to Bilibid Prison. In view of these misdeeds, the Supreme Assembly agreed that Telesforo Reyes should be expelled, that his expulsion be made known to the whole Katipunan, and that his picture should be displayed at every meeting of every section, with the word “traitor” written beneath it. (d) The Assembly considered what action all those present should take if the gathering was discovered by the authorities. It was agreed that in the first instance everyone should maintain that they had come together to celebrate Bonifacio’s birthday [which indeed it was] and a child’s baptism. If the authorities refused to believe this explanation, the Assembly members should fight to the death rather than surrender, but one of their number should seek to rescue any incriminating documents and if necessary burn them. (e) Bonifacio asked Ponciano Herrera, the president of the Nagtaha section, about the situation and the behaviour of the members in that section.[8] Herrera replied that the person responsible for the bad situation was Guillermo Sandiego, the compadre of Eleuterio de Guzman. He reported also on the actions of Eulogio Rodriguez, who had collected contributions and then disappeared. The members from whom he had taken money included Ponciano Herrera..... No one was active in the Nagtaha section except Herrera himself and C.G. [identity unknown]. In this light, and having considered other facts related by Herrera, the Assembly ruled that Sandiego and Rodriguez be expelled from the Katipunan and that all members be informed accordingly. The Assembly also agreed that a letter should be sent to certain members of the Nagtaha section who had become passive and neglectful of their duties, asking them to state their true wishes and feelings. If they replied that they still wanted to honour the obligations to which they had sworn, they should be admitted to By. Makabuhay [the KKK section based in Mandaluyong], but if they did not they too should be expelled. (f) The Assembly ruled that any member who disclosed information about the Katipunan to expelled members should themselves be expelled if the breach of secrecy was confirmed by three other members. Such expulsions would be effected by the Supreme Council. (g) Bonifacio spoke about the thievery and treachery of Doroteo Dominguez, Tomas Remigio, Pedro Trinidad, Manuel Ureta, Lorenzo Alonso, Teodorico Guerrero, Julian Nepomuceno, Emiliano Morales, Teodoro Gonzalez, Gregorio del Rosario, Marcelo de la Rosa, Luis Velazco, Mariano Inocencio, Andres Flores and Rosendo Domingo. Because the misdeeds of these members were known to all, the Assembly agreed that they should be punished in the same manner as Telesforo Reyes [i.e. be expelled and be branded as traitors], except for Gregorio del Rosario, Marcelo de la Rosa, Mariano Inocencio and Rosendo Domingo, who would just be expelled. (h) Bonifacio related how S.B. Laong-Laan and By. Dimasalang had been re-established following their disintegration, which had been caused by the treachery of the members whose punishment had just been discussed. He also related how By. Dimasalang had then been fractured again as a result of the actions of its president and secretary, Restituto Javier and Doroteo Lopez. Jose Turiano Santiago, the secretary of the Supreme Council, then arrived at the meeting. By this time it was around two o’clock in the afternoon. He gave an account of what he knew about By. Dimasalang, whose president – Restituto Javier – was his own brother.[9] The members of the branch, he related, had been scared by the activities of the secret police. The president and secretary – Javier and Lopez – had summoned the members to meetings of the branch on three or four occasions, but no one had turned up. Andres Bonifacio responded to this by recalling that around that time Pio Valenzuela, “Kalipulako” [identity unknown][10] and other members of By. Dimasalang had complained to him and Emilio Jacinto that Javier and Lopez had convened a meeting at which they had spoken about the funds that the president [Javier] had loaned to the leaders of the Supreme Council. Lopez had accused the Supreme Council of shamelessly profiteering from the whole Katipunan, and had said other hateful things. If this was the situation, he had argued, By. Dimasalang should not send any more money to the Supreme Council, and it would be better if they broke away from the Katipunan. Restituto Javier had not been in agreement at first, but had later supported the accusations of Lopez. Upon hearing these reports, Bonifacio had agreed that an investigation was necessary, and he had found out about the connivance of Javier and Lopez, who were talking together almost from dawn to dusk. Javier was the one obtaining the donations, he was the only one attending the meetings, and he was the only one who was not bothered. Bonifacio had then informed the members of By. Dimasalang what he had found out, and had said they should elect a new president and secretary and that Javier and Lopez should be expelled. To this, Jose Turiano Santiago insisted that his brother, Javier, was guiltless, and that the trouble had been caused by Lopez alone. Because Bonifacio and Jacinto were being accused of shady business, and because Turiano Santiago was the brother of Javier, the three of them left the meeting room, and the Assembly elected a president in order to preside over its deliberations on this matter. Jose Turiano Santiago returned to the temporary quarters for visitors. Bonifacio and Jacinto returned to their seats in the meeting room, and they were informed that the Assembly had decided that Javier and Lopez should be expelled, and that the whole Katipunan should be told about their actions. (i) By. Ilog Pasig was discussed. Everyone knew about the transgressions committed by many members of this branch, and so it was ruled that the following should be expelled and their pictures displayed with the word “traitor” written underneath: Marcelo Santos, Faustino Manalac, Juan Guerrero, Juan Florentino, Alejo Garcia, Antonio Arocha, Miguel Sancho, Antonio Nadal, Eugenio Reyes and Felipe Reyes, except Miguel Sancho, Eugenio Reyes and Felipe Reyes, who would just be expelled. Roman Basa was together with them. The foregoing judgments all apply in the same way. It was also agreed that the members of By. Ilog Pasig who had become inactive should be sent a letter like that sent to the members of the Nagtaha section, asking them to state their true wishes and feelings. (j) In reply to a question from Bonifacio about the situation in S.B. Dapitan, the president of this council, Francisco Carreon, stated that the serious deficiencies in this section were the fault of the treasurer, Teodoro Vedua, who was committing adultery and had been playing around for a long time, aside from which he knew almost nothing about what was happening in the Katipunan, and above all about his own responsibilities. On hearing this, which was known to many, and given the damage Vedua had caused by his disorderly conduct, it was agreed that he should be expelled and the whole Katipunan informed accordingly. The same judgment was passed on Narciso Gonzalez, who had not attended any meetings for a long time, despite being summoned on many occasions, and also on five members of By. Dalisayan - Justo Zalazar, Andres Perez, Juan de la Cruz, Arcadio de Jesus and Pantaleon de la Cruz. (k) It was agreed that a letter should be sent to Geronimo Cristobal and other inactive members of By. Maluningning, asking them to state their intentions. Any who did not give a positive response would be expelled. The member Marcelo Badel, who without telling anybody had joined the secret police, was also to be expelled, but in addition would be placed under surveillance by Jose Trinidad and Igmidio Tolentino. If they discovered he was doing anything really bad, he would be killed. (l) An account of the grave and numerous misdeeds of Eleuterio de Guzman was read out, and in the light of his treacherous activities it was agreed that his punishment should be formally ratified in a document to be signed by all those present in their true names.[11] (m) The heinous behaviour of Pedro Zabala towards Bonifacio and Jacinto was then discussed. Since they were personally involved in the matter, Bonifacio and Jacinto once again withdrew from the meeting. The Assembly agreed that Zabala should be punished in the same manner as Javier and Lopez, and when Bonifacio and Jacinto returned to their seats they were informed accordingly. It was further agreed that four members of By. Kabuhayan should be expelled likewise - Benito Jose, Eustaquio Santos, Crispulo Chacon and Modesto Quitain. (n) Upon the suggestion of Jacinto, it was agreed that any expelled member who wanted to be readmitted to the Katipunan should be accepted back on a three-month trial basis and given the opportunity to demonstrate they had reformed their ways. They would be required to pay a readmission fee of 1 peso, and also to pay whatever dues they had missed whilst expelled. (o) The Assembly then debated the need to establish a Secret Council. After a long and repetitive discussion, it was agreed that this Secret Council should have the duty, and power, to defend the Katipunan against whoever sought to disrupt or wreck the organisation. Its primary responsibilities would be to maintain vigilance, to deal with threats to the organization both from within and without, and to devise and apply effective methods of preventing undesirable offshoots. The Secret Council would have three members, whose identities would be known to only one person. This person would select the three members, and he would also be the one to communicate between the Secret Council and the Katipunan. He would be the one who sent letters from the Secret Council to any member or section, and likewise he would receive letters addressed to the Secret Council. The Supreme Assembly agreed to give the Secret Council the authority to compel any member to obey its orders, except when these orders were against the teachings and principles of the Katipunan. The letters of the Secret Council would be authenticated by a distinctive seal whose design would incorporate an eye, a bolo and a chalice entwined by a snake.[12] After this discussion, the Assembly approved these arrangements, and elected Emilio Jacinto to be the person who would select and appoint the three members of the Secret Council. (p) Bonifacio explained the need to change the secret signals used within the Katipunan, due to the large number who expulsions that had just been approved. The Assembly decided that the new signals should be as follows:- · If there is a stranger present, touch your ear with one hand and your mouth with the other as a signal that someone might be listening and that it is not safe to speak. · If everything is in order, place your right hand on your left shoulder. · If a member is tied up, and wants to be recognised as a member, he should clench his fist but leave the little finger straight. · When shaking hands, rub the tip of your index finger just below the other’s wrist. · Upon greeting a fellow member, lift your kalu (sombrero) and place it in front of your heart, with the inside facing outwards. · The questions to be asked, and their answers, are as follows: “What day was it yesterday? Peace. What day is it today? Slavery. What day will it be tomorrow? Freedom.” · The password will be “Na La Anak Bayan” [“With the Sons of the People”] The Assembly ruled that the old signals should no longer be used, and the new signals should not be disclosed to members who had been expelled. Anyone who disobeyed this ruling would merit a severe punishment. (q) Jacinto reported on arrangements for the establishment and financing of a “People’s Reading Room”, and these were approved by the Assembly except for the newly affiliated 35th section. The Assembly elected three custodians of the collection – Balbino Florentino (Manager); Emilio Jacinto (Administrator) and Cipriano Pacheco (Treasurer) – and four monitors – Franciso Carreon, Adriano Jesus, Alejandro Santiago and Aguedo del Rosario, the last-named to act as president. Since a little capital would be needed to establish the collection, it was agreed that all members of the Katipunan should be asked to contribute sikapat – 20 kualta. They should also be asked to donate their books to the collection. (r) Jacinto spoke about the establishment of the “K.K.K. ng mga A.N.B.” [presumably meaning the Supreme Assembly itself], which the Directorate created by Bonifacio and himself had written about, and this was approved by the respected Assembly. Within the Katipunan, he said, the Supreme Assembly was to be the primary and paramount body: its decisions had to be followed, and anyone who failed to follow them would be committing treason against the whole organisation. All the presidents of the KKK’s sections would be members of the Supreme Assembly, and they would have the authority to speak and act on behalf of their respective sections. (s) It was agreed that letters should likewise be sent to S.B. Laong-Laan and By. Tanglaw asking them to state their intentions, and depending upon how they replied a decision would be taken either to reorganise those sections or to expel them. (t) Upon the suggestion of Jacinto, it was agreed that the grades of Katipunan membership should be reduced from three to just two – kawal (soldier) and akibat (companion) – It was also ruled that for each of these grades there should be a three-month trial period following admission or promotion. If nothing bad was noticed about the recruit or promotee within this three-month period, if he performed all his duties diligently, passed the trials by deed, and obeyed orders, he could then be taught the secret signals, attend meetings and be kept informed of other matters relating to the progress of the Katipunan. However, the three-month trial period could be waived if the new kawal or akibat was elected to a position of responsibility. (u) Seeing and recognising that Jose Turiano Santiago, the secretary of the Supreme Council, had not been fulfilling any of his duties since the time of his election, aside from other shortcomings, the Assembly ruled that he should be expelled and not told about the new signals until and unless he changed his ways. (v) It was ruled that the Supreme Council should give accreditation to sections that were well-organised and strong. (w) The Directorate of the Katipunan created by Bonifacio and Jacinto was ratified, and it was agreed that it should be subject to review and scrutiny by six elected members of the Assembly, whose authority and judgment would be final. Elections were held, and the six members elected for this purpose were Pantaleon Torres, Balbino Florentino, Vicente Molina, Aguedo del Rosario, Alejandro Santiago and Pio Valenzuela, the last named to act as president. (x) Having regard to the length of time the Assembly had now been in session, it was agreed that the proceedings should be drawn to a close. A collection pouch was passed around and the sum collected was 1 peso and 32 kualta. Together with the 32 kualta collected at the start of the meeting towards the cost of the food, this sum was given to the owner of the house in gratitude for his great hospitality and endurance. (y) The meeting ended at eight o’clock in the morning of December 1, 1895. Manila, December 1, 1895 The Supreme President Maypagasa Acting as Secretary The Supreme Fiscal Pingkian

Notes