Note 84. Pio Valenzuela, who gave some of the most interesting and
reliable information concerning the inner life of the Katipunan,
testified (fols. 1,663-1,673) that on the 30th of November 1895,
the birthday of Bonifacio, a meeting was held in Caloocan, in
a house situated in the rice fields, some thirty five or forty
individuals assisting thereat, among them being the witness. This
meeting continued all day and all night till the following day, the
first of December. At this meeting they pronounced the death sentence
upon the tailor Guzman for publishing the secrets of the Katipunan;
this sentence was signed by all present including the witness, after
he had made many observations against it, observations the rest would
not listen to. One of the lighter punishments meted out was the public
exposition in the lodge rooms of the picture of the person punished,
with the word traitor written over or under it.
Note 85. The Katipunan enjoyed a peculiar and special organization,
which was given to it in order to avoid surprises and treachery. The
assemblies were always held in secluded places and under the cover
of the greatest secrecy. Sometimes they were held at midnight in the
open cornfields so as not to attract the attention of those indians
who were not members of the society. Valenzuela relates how a secret
meeting was held in the pueblo of Pasig at midnight, on one occasion
to arrange the matter of the annexation of the Islands to Japan in
case that nation did not care to declare a protectorate over them.
The Council of Ministers of the Supreme popular Council was as follows:
President Andrés Bonifacio.
War Teodoro Plata.
State Emilio Jacinto.
Interior Aguedo del Rosario.
Justice Birecio Pantas.
Finance Enrique Pacheco.
Note 86. Pio Valenzuela mentioned one occasion upon which such a
meeting of the society was held, he himself assisting thereat, in
the house of Andrés Bonifacio. It was a supper given in honor of the
baptism of a child to which the said Valenzuela was god-father. After
the supper, which served as a shield under the which the work of the
lodge was to be done, an election was held for the Supreme and the
Popular Councils, and the sections. Some thirty members were present.
Another case he mentioned was that of a meeting held on the birthday
of Bonifacio 30th of November 1895.
The Katipunan moreover had its own festivals. This is how Valenzuela
describes them:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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