DOCUMENTS OF THE Katipunan
HOME Sb. Katagalugan Note dated March 30, 1895 Source: Archivo General Militar de Madrid: Caja 5393, leg.4.3
Introduction Many history books report that Rizal was made the honorary president of the Katipunan, but to my knowledge the brief note transcribed below is the only contemporary document yet located that confirms that fact. Written and signed by “Halimaw” – Alejandro Santiago, the president of the KKK’s Katagalugan Council - the note informs Bonifacio that the contributions collected to meet the cost of a banquet for “the family of our President, Dr. Rizal” totalled 11 pesos and 92 kualta. As Bonifacio had requested, Santiago attached to the note a list of the contributors, but this is now missing. Some history books report that the hero’s sister, Josefa Rizal, was the president of the KKK women’s section; that his niece Angelica Lopez y Rizal (daughter of Narcisa) was the fiscal; and that another sister, Trinidad, and another niece (Delfina Herbosa y Rizal, daughter of Lucia) were also members. Whether these reports are accurate is not yet known, but this note corroborates the testimony of Gregoria de Jesus that a number of Rizal’s relatives were at the very least closely acquainted with the leaders of the Katipunan. And that, in turn, must suggest that Rizal himself had at least heard about the Katipunan some time before its emissary Pio Valenzuela visited him in Dapitan in June 1896 to sound out his views on the wisdom of an imminent revolution. The document is transcribed below first as it was written, in the Katipunan’s cipher, and then in its deciphered form.
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K x K x K x ģx vx Nx Llx Bx Pnģxfxfnll OKgnjnģ gnjnģ lln Px ģ Kx Sx Sn ñllyc pnģ kfñjñģnll, vñllnrnpnt kcģ ñpndnjn nģ kjnkñp lln jñfnv llñtc, lln kñllntntnjnnll ģ vgn pnģnjnll ģ llnģng sñ nbxjcy sn pñgxñģ ģ vgn pnvnjñn ģ ntñg Px Dr. Rñsnr. Txllkj px sn kxnjtn lln nvñģ ñlln qlltrqgn dñnll ny jnbñģ ñsnģ pñsc nt npnt lln snñkpnt nt jnbvñģ dnjnwnģ kxnjtn. Tnllgnpñll ng ynkp kp nt nģ bccģ Kpnynpnñll. Txlldc, Sbx Ktg. 30/3/95. Fnjñvnw Sn Kgx lln Px ģ Kx Sx
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K x K x K x nģ mga Ax Nx Bx Panguluhan O Kagalang galang na Px nģ Kx Sx Sa inyo panģ kahilingan, minarapat kong ipadala ang kalakip na liham nito, na kinatatalaan ng mga pangalan ng nangag si abuloy sa piguing ng mga pamilia ng ating Px Dr. Rizal. Tunkol pu sa kualta na aming ina entrega dian ay labing isang piso at apat na saikpat at labing dalawang kualta. Tangapin ang yakap Kp. at ang boong Kapayapain . Tundo, Sbx Ktg. 30/3/95. Halimaw Sa Kgx na Px nģ Kx Sx