The Inhabitants of the PhilippinesSawyer, Frederic H.
History
The Inhabitants of the Philippines
Sawyer, Frederic H.
Ethnology -- Philippines; Philippines -- Social life and customs
1st grade Katipun word Anak nang bayan.
2nd grade Kanal word Gom-bur-za. [8]
3rd grade Bayani.
Andrés Bonifacio, a warehouse-keeper in the service of Messrs. Fressel
& Co., of Manila, was the guiding spirit of this society, and at
the meeting of 1st January, 1896, the Supreme Council was elected
as follows:--
President Andrés Bonifacio.
Fiscal and Doctor Emilio Jacinto ó Dison, alias Ping Kian.
Treasurer Vicente Molina.
Councillors Pantaleon Torres.
Hermengildo Reyes.
Francisco Carreon.
José Trinidad.
Balbino Florentine
Aguedo del Rosario.
K
K K
Z LL B
The members of the Katipunan were poor people--writers, common
soldiers, washermen, mechanics, and tenants on the friars'
estates. They subscribed small sums monthly for the purchase of arms,
and for other expenses. Bearing in mind how many conspiracies had been
denounced to the priests by the women, the leaders of this movement
gave their meetings the outward appearance of benevolent associations,
and directed the members to represent the society to their wives in
that light.
Later on a woman's lodge, with twenty-five members was organised,
under the presidency of Marina Dison, but the women were not informed
of the true object of the society.
Fray Eduardo Navarro, Procurator of the Augustinians, in a
cleverly-written work, entitled 'The Philippines; a Study of Certain
Matters of Moment,' published in 1897, prints under No. 3 of the
Appendix the title granted by the Walana Lodge, No. 158, certifying
that "our dear sister, Purificacion Leyva, has been initiated in the
degree of Companion-Mason at the session of 8th April, 1894."
On reading this work, I infer that the friars considered the Katipunan
a Masonic body, but this is a mistake. The Katipunan adopted some
of the Masonic paraphernalia, and some of the initiatory ceremonies,
but were in no sense Masonic lodges.
The programme of the Katipunan was, in its own words, "to redeem the
Philippines from its tyrants, the friars, and to found a communistic
republic." This was simple and direct, and they meant it.
How many men were affiliated to this society cannot be known. Estimates
range from 10,000 to 50,000 members. I think there can be no doubt
that it was the most potent factor in the insurrection of 1896, and
that its members, unlike the Creoles and Mestizos, were ready to give
their lives for their cause.
CHAPTER X.
THE INSURRECTION OF 1896-97.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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