The Creoles and Mestizos gradually founded new societies, which were alleged to aim at obtaining reforms by legal and constitutional means. "The Asociacion Hispano-Filipina" had for its first president Doroteo Cortés, and amongst its officers Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Pedro Serrano, and Deodato Arellano. The "Liga Filipina" was founded by Dr. Rizal and Domingo Franco; its first president was shot. Nearly all the members were Masons; they were well off, and of fair education, not inclined to put their persons or property in danger. They did not want to fight. Their programme may be summed up as follows:-- 1. Expulsion of the friars, and confiscation of their estates. 2. The same political, administrative and economical concessions as had been granted to Cuba. Freedom of the press, and freedom of association. 3. Equalisation of the Philippine and Peninsular armies, and a just division of Civil Service posts between natives and Spaniards. 4. Return to owners of lands usurped by the friars, and sale of such lands as really belonged to the Orders. 5. Prevention of insults to the Philippine natives, either in sermons or in the press. 6. Economy in expenditure. Reduction of imposts. Construction of railways and public works. It was certainly not without risk to be a member of one of these societies, for the Orders are vindictive in the extreme, and are not troubled with scruples when it is a question of punishing an opponent. Still, the Creole and Mestizo element were made cautious by the possession of property, and its members cannot be called fighting-men. They did not intend to run the risk of having holes bored through them. They founded newspapers in Spain; they wrote violent articles, they made speeches, they obtained the support of some Liberals and anti-clericals in the Peninsula, and numbered many adherents in the islands. Still, they were comparatively harmless. Not so, however, was a society which was formed of very different elements. Taking a hint, perhaps, from the murderous brotherhood of the Ku-Klux-Klan, some resolute and courageous Tagals imagined and formed that terrible secret society, the Katipunan. There is no K in the Spanish alphabet, but this letter is found in the Malay dialects, and consequently in Tagal. Therefore, the symbol of the society, K.K.K., was as distinctly anti-Spanish as was the full title, which was represented by the initials-- N M A N B The words corresponding to these initials were:-- Kataas-taasan Kagalang-gálang Katipunan or Sovereign Worshipful Association Nang Manga Anac Nang Bayan of the (plural) sons of the Country. They used signs and passwords. There were three grades of members:--