The Katipunan and the Revolution: Memoirs of a The Revolt of the Masses: The Story of Bonifacio
General and the Katipunan
By: Santiago V. Alvarez By: Teodoro A. Agoncillo (2002)
Author’s Background:
Santiago V. Alvarez Teodoro A. Agoncillo
Born: July 25, 1872 in Imus, Cavite Born: November 9, 1912 in Lemery, Batangas
Died: October 30, 1930 in San Pablo City Died: January 14, 1985
Santiago V. Alvarez was revolutionary general and He was a prominent 20th-century Filipino
a founder and honorary president of the first historian. He and his contemporary Renato
directorate of the Nacionalista Party. He was Constantino were among the first Filipino
known as “Kidlat ng Apoy” (Lightning of Fire) historians renowned for promoting a distinctly
because of his inflamed bravery and dedication as nationalist point of view of Filipino. He was also an
commander of Cavite’s famous battles particularly essayist and a poet.
that in Dalahican where the victory was crucial for
the revolutionary cause, since it prevented the Agoncillo’s “History of the Filipino People.” Was
Spanish send reinforcements across the isthmus first published in (1960), To date, it remains a
from Cavite to reconquer the province, he was popular standard textbook in many Filipino
rejoiced in the present-day Cavite as the “Hero” of universities, as are many of Agoncillo’s other
the Battle of Dalahican. works.
Prior to the outbreak of the Revolution, Santiago Some of his other well-known works include
was already a delegado general of the provincial Revolt of the Masses (1956), Malolos: the Crisis of
council of the Katipunan in Cavite. He became the republic (1960), the Fateful Years (1965), and
captain general and later, commander-in-chief, of History of the Filipino People (1960) which are all
the Magdiwang forces and valiantly fought the still being used as textbooks in many schools. For
Spaniards from 1896 to 1897. With his father, this outstanding works as a Historian, he was
Mariano Alvarez, and cousin, General Pascual conferred as a National Scientist in (1985).
Alvarez, they liberated Noveleta from the
Spaniards on August 31, 1896. Agoncillo obtained a bachelor’s degree in
philosophy from the University of the Philippines
In 1902 he was appointed Chairman of the in (1934) and a master’s degree in the arts from
Commission of the peace, an organization created the same university the following year.
by U.S. authorities to promote the material
reconstruction of the country and the He became linguistic assistant at the Institute of
reconciliation between the two countries. In this National Language and as an instructor at the Far
same line created in 1912 the Association Eastern University and the Manuel L. Quezon
Makabuhay. University and a faculty member of U.P., chairing
the Department of History from 1963 to 1969,
until his retirement in 1977.
When was the account written?
According to Journal of the Southeast Asian The Revolt of the Masses: The Story of Bonifacio
Studies, the Original Tagalog text of General and the Katipunan was written in 1947 as the
Alvarez’s memoirs was published in 36 author’s winning entry in a national Bonifacio
installments, from July 24, 1927 to April 15, 1928, biography contest held in 1948. Another focus of
in the Tagalog weekly, Sampaguita. inquiry is the publication of the manuscript in
1956 by the College of Liberal Arts of the
, The translation of “Ang Katipunan at University of the Philippines.
Paghihimagsikan” by Paula Caroline Malay in
English was published in Quezon City, Ateneo de
Manila University Press on 1992.
Mention of Dates
March 25, 1897 - A convention was held in Middle of December 1896 – Bonifacio with his
Tejeros in order to settle the dispute between the wife and two brothers, Ciriaco and Procopio, left
two councils, The Magdalo and The Magdiwang Cavite because Bonifacio accept the request of
group, and to decide on what type of government Mariano Alvarez his uncle-in-law.
should be installed.
January 2, 1897 – Bonifacio wrote from San
March 27, 1897 – those selected at the Tejeros Francisco de Malabon to Mariano Alvarez. Written
convention secretly gathered in the Tanza parish in that letter was “President Mainam: Don’t fail to
house. They knelt before a crucifix and solemnly come this very moment for I want to talk to you
took their office despite the Supremo, Andres privately about what happened to me in Magdalo
Bonifacio’s claim of the voting as null and void. and so that you might explain their organization
to me.”
January 1897 – the feast of San Francisco de
Malabon and is when the rebels enjoyed the fiesta
and relaxed.
March 22, 1897 – General Emilio Aguinaldo’s
Birthday. Also it is when the battle raged between
the Spaniards and the Magdalo soldiers and the
assembly convened the Tejeros.
Mention of Place
Tejeros – the place where the assembly took Cavite – The Tejeros Convention was the meeting
place. held on March 22, 1897 between the Magdiwang
and Magdalo factions.
San Francisco de Malabon – The place where the
election for the new government took place. Mountains of Montalban & Mariquina – A
delegate was sent in the mountains to look for the
Tanza (Santa Cruz de Malabon)- (parish house of Supremo to apprise to him of the urgent necessity
the Catholic Church) many attested seeing Messrs. of mediating of the widening rift between the two
Mariano Trias. Daniel Tirona, Emiliano R. de Dios, popular councils.
Santiago Rilio, and others, and that they were
conferring with the priest, Fr. Cenon Villafranca. Noveleta – The place where Esteban San Juan
The former summer resort of the friars that invited Bonifacio to attend the demonstration of
witnessed the first important election held under the Magdiwang rebels.
the auspices of the Katipunan government.
Estate house of Tejeros – the place where the
Kin Batngas and other towns (Magdalo) leaders of the Magdiwang planned to hold
Nasugbu, Tuwi and Look, in the same province another convention.
(Magdiwang)
Town of Kawit, Bakood, and Imus – The place
Mountains of Montalban and Mariquina – the where the Spanish army seriously threatened it
General and the Katipunan
By: Santiago V. Alvarez By: Teodoro A. Agoncillo (2002)
Author’s Background:
Santiago V. Alvarez Teodoro A. Agoncillo
Born: July 25, 1872 in Imus, Cavite Born: November 9, 1912 in Lemery, Batangas
Died: October 30, 1930 in San Pablo City Died: January 14, 1985
Santiago V. Alvarez was revolutionary general and He was a prominent 20th-century Filipino
a founder and honorary president of the first historian. He and his contemporary Renato
directorate of the Nacionalista Party. He was Constantino were among the first Filipino
known as “Kidlat ng Apoy” (Lightning of Fire) historians renowned for promoting a distinctly
because of his inflamed bravery and dedication as nationalist point of view of Filipino. He was also an
commander of Cavite’s famous battles particularly essayist and a poet.
that in Dalahican where the victory was crucial for
the revolutionary cause, since it prevented the Agoncillo’s “History of the Filipino People.” Was
Spanish send reinforcements across the isthmus first published in (1960), To date, it remains a
from Cavite to reconquer the province, he was popular standard textbook in many Filipino
rejoiced in the present-day Cavite as the “Hero” of universities, as are many of Agoncillo’s other
the Battle of Dalahican. works.
Prior to the outbreak of the Revolution, Santiago Some of his other well-known works include
was already a delegado general of the provincial Revolt of the Masses (1956), Malolos: the Crisis of
council of the Katipunan in Cavite. He became the republic (1960), the Fateful Years (1965), and
captain general and later, commander-in-chief, of History of the Filipino People (1960) which are all
the Magdiwang forces and valiantly fought the still being used as textbooks in many schools. For
Spaniards from 1896 to 1897. With his father, this outstanding works as a Historian, he was
Mariano Alvarez, and cousin, General Pascual conferred as a National Scientist in (1985).
Alvarez, they liberated Noveleta from the
Spaniards on August 31, 1896. Agoncillo obtained a bachelor’s degree in
philosophy from the University of the Philippines
In 1902 he was appointed Chairman of the in (1934) and a master’s degree in the arts from
Commission of the peace, an organization created the same university the following year.
by U.S. authorities to promote the material
reconstruction of the country and the He became linguistic assistant at the Institute of
reconciliation between the two countries. In this National Language and as an instructor at the Far
same line created in 1912 the Association Eastern University and the Manuel L. Quezon
Makabuhay. University and a faculty member of U.P., chairing
the Department of History from 1963 to 1969,
until his retirement in 1977.
When was the account written?
According to Journal of the Southeast Asian The Revolt of the Masses: The Story of Bonifacio
Studies, the Original Tagalog text of General and the Katipunan was written in 1947 as the
Alvarez’s memoirs was published in 36 author’s winning entry in a national Bonifacio
installments, from July 24, 1927 to April 15, 1928, biography contest held in 1948. Another focus of
in the Tagalog weekly, Sampaguita. inquiry is the publication of the manuscript in
1956 by the College of Liberal Arts of the
, The translation of “Ang Katipunan at University of the Philippines.
Paghihimagsikan” by Paula Caroline Malay in
English was published in Quezon City, Ateneo de
Manila University Press on 1992.
Mention of Dates
March 25, 1897 - A convention was held in Middle of December 1896 – Bonifacio with his
Tejeros in order to settle the dispute between the wife and two brothers, Ciriaco and Procopio, left
two councils, The Magdalo and The Magdiwang Cavite because Bonifacio accept the request of
group, and to decide on what type of government Mariano Alvarez his uncle-in-law.
should be installed.
January 2, 1897 – Bonifacio wrote from San
March 27, 1897 – those selected at the Tejeros Francisco de Malabon to Mariano Alvarez. Written
convention secretly gathered in the Tanza parish in that letter was “President Mainam: Don’t fail to
house. They knelt before a crucifix and solemnly come this very moment for I want to talk to you
took their office despite the Supremo, Andres privately about what happened to me in Magdalo
Bonifacio’s claim of the voting as null and void. and so that you might explain their organization
to me.”
January 1897 – the feast of San Francisco de
Malabon and is when the rebels enjoyed the fiesta
and relaxed.
March 22, 1897 – General Emilio Aguinaldo’s
Birthday. Also it is when the battle raged between
the Spaniards and the Magdalo soldiers and the
assembly convened the Tejeros.
Mention of Place
Tejeros – the place where the assembly took Cavite – The Tejeros Convention was the meeting
place. held on March 22, 1897 between the Magdiwang
and Magdalo factions.
San Francisco de Malabon – The place where the
election for the new government took place. Mountains of Montalban & Mariquina – A
delegate was sent in the mountains to look for the
Tanza (Santa Cruz de Malabon)- (parish house of Supremo to apprise to him of the urgent necessity
the Catholic Church) many attested seeing Messrs. of mediating of the widening rift between the two
Mariano Trias. Daniel Tirona, Emiliano R. de Dios, popular councils.
Santiago Rilio, and others, and that they were
conferring with the priest, Fr. Cenon Villafranca. Noveleta – The place where Esteban San Juan
The former summer resort of the friars that invited Bonifacio to attend the demonstration of
witnessed the first important election held under the Magdiwang rebels.
the auspices of the Katipunan government.
Estate house of Tejeros – the place where the
Kin Batngas and other towns (Magdalo) leaders of the Magdiwang planned to hold
Nasugbu, Tuwi and Look, in the same province another convention.
(Magdiwang)
Town of Kawit, Bakood, and Imus – The place
Mountains of Montalban and Mariquina – the where the Spanish army seriously threatened it
