Worksheet for Primary vs.
Secondary Sources on the Tejeros Convention (1897​)
Primary Sources:
Santiago Alvarez’ Memoirs of a General
Author’s Background ❖ Born on July 25, 1872 in Imus,
Cavite
❖ A revolutionary general and the
founder and honorary President of
the Nacionalista Party
❖ Known as “Kidlat ng Apoy” due to
his inflamed bravery and dedication
as commander of the famous battle
of Cavite
❖ He rose to Captain General then
later became Commander-in-Chief
of the Magdiwang forces
❖ At age 58, he died due to paralysis
in San Pablo City on October 30,
1930. He was buried at San Pablo
municipal cemetery
When was the account written?(Context) The account was written at the time when
the events transpired, and was first
published in 36 installments, from July 24,
1927, to April 15, 1928, in Sampaguita - a
tagalog weekly. It was then translated in
English by Paula Carolina Malay.
Mention of Places ❖ Tejeros, San Francisco de Malabon
- where the assembly was
convened; also the place where
Secondary Sources:
Teodoro Agoncillo’s Revolt of the Masses.
❖ Born on November 9, 1912 in Lemery,
Batangas; died on January 14, 1985
❖ One of the pre-eminent Filipino historians
of the 20th century, and was renowned for
promoting nationalist historiography.
❖ He was also an essayist and a poet.
❖ In 1985, he was conferred as one of the
National Scientist (the highest honor given
by the President to a Filipino man or
woman who has made significant
contributions in one of the fields of
science and technology).
❖ His notable works include The History of
the Filipino People; Malolos: The Crisis of
the Republic; The Writings and Trials of
Bonifacio; and Revolt of the Masses.
The account was written in 1947 as an entry in a
National Bonifacio Biography contest that was
held in 1948 and published in 1956 by the College
of Liberal Arts of the University of the
Philippines.
❖ Cavite ​- where the Katipunan is divided
into two factions - Magdalo and
Magdiwang
 Baldomero Aguinaldo requested to
hold the revalidation of the
proceedings of the election.
❖ Parish house of the Catholic
church in Tanza, Santa Cruz de
Malabon ​- where Daniel Tirona and
others were seen conferring with
Fr. Villafranca; also where the
Magdalo leaders held their own
meeting.
❖ Imus​ - the town captured by the
Spaniards.
❖ Bakaw​ - the village where the
Magdiwang troops intercepted the
Spaniards.
❖ Noveleta​ - the barrio captured by
the Spaniards
Key Personalities ❖ Secretary Jacinto Lumbreras
❖ Supremo Andres Bonifacio
❖ Mariano Alvarez
❖ Pascual Alvarez
❖ Ariston Villanueva
❖ Mariano Trias
❖ Diego Mojica
❖ Emiliano de Dios
❖ Santiago Alvarez
❖ Artemio Ricarte
❖ Talisay, Batangas - ​where Magdalo
government resides
❖ Nasugbu, Tuwi, and Look - ​where
Magdiwang government resides
❖ Zapote - ​where Emilio Aguinaldo,
Candido Tirona, and Edilberto Evangilista
will meet Andres Bonifacio
❖ Mountains of Montalban and Mariquina​ –
a delegate look for Supremo where he has
been staying
❖ House of Juan Castaneda in Imus​ – where
Bonifacio was brought by the rebel leaders
❖ San Francisco de Malabon​ – where the
assembly takes place
❖ Tanza or Santa Cruz de Malabon​ – it was
this place where the former summer resort
of the friars, that witnessed the first
important election held under the auspices
of the Katipunan government.
❖ Kawit​ - Magdalo's capital before it
❖ Estate house of Tejeros ​- The place where
the leaders of the Magdiwang planned to
hold another convention.
❖ Secretary Jacinto Lumbreras - who opened
and first presided the convention
❖ Supremo Andres Bonifacio - the Supremo,
who presided the rest of the meeting
❖ Mariano Alvarez - the president of
Magdiwang faction and the uncle of
Andres Bonifacio
❖ Emilio Aguinaldo - Leading the Magdalo
Soldiers, faced the Spaniards in Salitran
❖ Luciano San Miguel ❖ Daniel Tirona - who broke the meeting
❖ Severino de las Alas rules and insulted Bonifacio
❖ Baldomero Aguinaldo ❖ Artemio Ricarte - who is the acting
❖ Daniel Tirona Secretary of the convention; Magdalo's
❖ Captain General Apoy military commander brigadier-general
❖ Antonio Montenegro ❖ Baldomero Aguinaldo - the leader of
❖ General Vibora Magdalo; Made the proposal to establish a
❖ Trining and Josephine revolutionary government
❖ Jose del Rosario ❖ Candido Tirona - Magdiwang's minister of
❖ Fr. Cenon Villafranca war
❖ Major Pio Baluyot ❖ Edilberto Evangelista - Magdalo's elected
❖ General Santos Nocon Lieutenant General
❖ General Pio del Pilar ❖ Esteban San Juan - Invited Bonifacio to
attend the demonstration of the
Magdiwang rebels in Noveleta
❖ Ariston Villanueva - Magdiwang's
Minister of War who stood up and said
that if new government was to be
established, Andres Bonifacio who had
organized and planned the entire
revolutionary movement, must of right
occupy presidency without any election
❖ Santiago Alvarez - Magdalo's commander
in chief
❖ Pascual Alvarez - Magdalo's executive
secretary
❖ Luciano San Miguel - Magdiwang
representative
❖ Mariano Trias - Magdalo's minister of
grace and justice
❖ Severino de las Alas - Magdiwang
representative
❖ Santos Nocon - Magdiwang representative

Sequencing of events(use separate sheet)
Differences between the two accounts
❖ Cayetano Topacio - Magdiwang's minister
of finance
❖ Antonio Montenegro - Magdiwang
representative
According to Revolutionary leader According to historian Teoro Agoncillo, these are
Santiago Alvarez, these are the facts the facts surrounding the below-listed concepts:
surrounding the below-listed concepts: ❖ Date of the convention - occurred on
❖ Date of the convention - occurred March 22, 1897 (Emilio Aguinaldo’s
on March 25, 1897 birthday)
❖ Details of Events - concise and ❖ Details of Events - comprehensive since it
straight to the point; only gave full particulars of the events; this
discussing what needs to be started with the Katipunan of Cavite,
conveyed. This was seen at the which was divided into two factions, the
conveyance of the Tejeros Magdiwang and the Magdalo. The
Convention - when the details disputes between the two factions gave
pertaining to the assembly were way to unite the conflicting factions
missed. thereby establishing a new government.
❖ Events after the Convention - it was ❖ Events after the Convention - it was not
not mentioned that Andres mentioned that Magdalo President
Bonifacio wrote a letter to his Baldomero Aguinaldo intended to
uncle-in-law which stated his continue the disrupted assembly, but the
nullification of everything that had Magdalo members still did not show up on
been agreed upon due to Daniel the agreed place. Rather, the members
Tirona’s actions. were secretly gathered in Tanza to take
their oaths of office.
In the primary source, the story line has
been delivered short yet brief, that it made In the secondary source, before going straight to
the whole story not quite detailed the details of the said convention in Tejeros, the
compared to the secondary source, because author first covered what happened before the
there are some part in this source that have convention occurred. The misunderstanding and
been stated directly such as the setting in disputes between Santiago and Montenegro was

YOUR OWN ANALYSIS of the differences
between two accounts
the Tejeros Convention which the story
brought us to the events that will happen in
the story without further detail. Also in this
source there are certain events that are not
present in the secondary source such as the
skirmish that happened in the last part of
the story, and based on the story the author
is favoring Bonifacio. Also, some of the
names in this story differ in the secondary
source and there are mentioned names here
that are not present also in the other. But as
we all know that in the historical system of
writing it is quite direct to the point
especially in stating an information. This
also provided us to know the objectivity of
the story.
The author of the Memoirs of a General
focused on giving the details of what
happened in the convention like how the
election went. Although the details of the
convention was clear, the author did not
give details of what happened before the
event, so it was also kind of incomplete
leaving the readers wondering what was
the convention for or why the convention
needed to happen. Tldr; Alvarez’s account
was not detailed enough to truly
understand what happened before and after
the event. This was due to the briefness of
the explanation of each event in his
account.
tackled. In here, the success and failures of the
revolutions were discussed. It also provided
detailed information with regards to the emotion
of every person included. It paid attention to every
detail of the event. However, there are also
incidents that happened which differ to the
primary source.
The author of the Revolt of the Masses tackled
what happened before and after the meeting,
proving the fact that this account is indeed very
detailed about almost everything that transpired
during the event - from how the election became a
null and was then dismissed.
There was also additional information that was
not included in the primary source such as the
letter that was sent by Bonifacio to his
uncle-in-law, Mariano Alvarez, and also to Emilio
Jacinto.
Upon further inspection, the events explained in
Agoncillo’s account were focused more on the
In this account, many people, especially conflicts the people encountered and on what
those elected, opposed Andres Bonifacio’s really happened on the election (during and after).
decision to make the decisions null and
void. This explains that Alvarez’s account
focuses more on the election that occurred,
showcasing the opposition of the officers
present to Bonifacio’s decision of
declaring the election null and void.
 Primary Sources:
Santiago Alvarez’ Memoirs of a
General
1. The Katipunan forces in Cavite
Sequencing of Events were suffering consecutive defeats
and loss of life with Spaniards
acquiring Magdalo territories.
2. Supremo Bonifacio scheduled a
meeting between the Magdalo and
Magdiwang factions on 3/24/1897.
3. With the death of Lt. Gen.
Crispulo Aguinaldo, the meeting
was postponed for the next day.
4. The Magdalo party came on the
same day (3/24) to announce the
death of Crispulo Aguinaldo and
Diego Mojica proposed a
ceremony of prayers for the
deceased to which Supremo
Bonifacio objected to.
5. Ariston Villanueva of Magdiwang
Council received information of
the plans of Daniel Tirona of the
Magdalo Council of undermining
the proceedings of the assembly.
6. The assembly at Tejeros was
finally convened on 3/25/1897.
7. Secretary Jacinto Lumbreras of the
Magdiwang Council presided over
the meeting.
Secondary Sources:
Teodoro Agoncillo’s Revolt of the
Masses.
1. The Katipunan of Cavite divided
into two factions, the Magdiwang
and the Magdalo.
2. The leaders of both factions never
got along together to elect one
supreme council over the entire
province. The Magdalo and
Magdiwang factions elected
leaders for each faction
independently.
3. An attempt was made by both
factions to make their respective
armies wear the same uniform.
However, the plan did not
materialize due to insufficient
funds of the rebels and allies.
4. When Cavite, led by its rival
factions, successfully rose in
revolt, the leaders fell into
disputes, arising from the desire of
one group to lord it over the other.
5. Men of the Magdiwang faction
invited Andres Bonifacio to Cavite
to witness the accomplishments of
the revolutionists in that area and
to intervene in the conflict.
6. At the first invitations, Bonifacio
refused to heed the request of the
Magdiwang chieftains. However,
8. Chairman Jacinto declared the
assembly open and announced the
main topic which was how to
strengthen the defenses of the
areas still under the Magdiwang
control.
9. At the same time, Severino de las
Alas declared how the meeting
should first discuss the major issue
which is to decide on what kind of
government the Philippines shall
have.
10. Lumbreras deemed the Katipunan
as the authority over the nation
since the group has long
established government and
brotherhood over the islands.
Lumbreras reiterated how the
primary focus of the meeting
should be on strengthening the
Magdiwang force on the remaining
parts of Cavite.
11. Discussions about the symbolisms
in the flag, such as the “K” arose.
Mr. de las Alas made a remark
about how the sun and letter “K”
did not represent the revolutionary
nation’s type of government.
12. The Supremo stressed that the
Katipunan was united in its respect
for universal brotherhood and
equality and it stood for people’s
sovereignty.
he agreed upon the third invitation
from Artemio Ricarte and Mariano
Alvarez.
7. A misunderstanding arose from
this preliminary meeting between
the Magdalo leaders and
Bonifacio.
8. Bonifacio was brought by the rebel
leaders to the house of Juan
Castaneda in Imus.
9. At the Magdalo area,
misunderstandings happened yet
again upon the arrival of certain
Magdalo leaders. It was at this
point the Supremo realized how he
had very little influence in the
Magdalo territory.
10. On 1/2/1897, a disheartened
Bonifacio wrote to his
uncle-in-law, Mariano Alvarez.
11. Esteban San Juan invited
Bonifacio to attend the
demonstration of the Magdiwang
rebels in Noveleta.
12. On 12/31/1896, the two factions
met. Bonifacio occupied the chair
and beckoned to the Magdiwang
Ministers to sit at his right side.
This act was viewed as an obvious
partiality by the Magdalo men.
13. The assembly opened with
Bonifacio as Chairman and
Baldomero Aguinaldo proposed to
13. Antonio Montenegro spoke in
defense of delas Alas and called
the revolutionists “pack of bandits
or of wild, mindless animals” if
they would not agree on what kind
of government they would have.
14. An offended General Apoy and
defended the Katipunan’s
reputation and ordered for the
arrest of Montenegro.
15. Afterwhile, Trining and Josephine
pleaded with Gen. Apoy not to
arrest Montenegro.
16. Others wanted the meeting to be
adjourned because of the
commotion but Supremo
persuaded for the meeting to
continue. Secretary Lumbreras
refused to preside over the meeting
and delegated the chair to
Supremo Bonifacio.
17. Mr. Lumbreras spoke how the
rightful president of this new type
of government should be Supremo
Bonifacio since he is the Father of
the Katipunan and the Revolution.
18. The Supremo agreed and
sympathized with the sentiments
of Lumbreras but wished to
respect the opinion of the majority.
19. The chair proceeded to prepare for
an election to the positions:
president, vice-president, minister
establish a revolutionary
government. This proposal was
met with mixed opinions. The
Magdalo men did not see the
reason to continue with the
Katipunan government as it would
not fit the situation. The
Magdiwang men argued that the
Katipunan had already established
a constitution and by-laws
supported by most of the people
and that there was no need to
change that system.
14. The Magdiwang Minister of War
suggested that if a new
government was to be established,
Supremo Bonifacio should be the
rightful leader since he organized
the entire revolutionary movement
after all. This suggestion was not
received well by the members of
the Magdalo faction.
15. The leaders of the Magdiwang
planned to hold another
convention in the estate-house of
Tejeros.
16. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo led the
Magdalo soldiers to battle the
Spaniards in Salitran on
3/22/1897.
17. On the same day, the assembly
convened at Tejeros.
 of finance, minister of welfare,
minister of justice, and captain
general.
20. Before the election began, the
Supremo proposed that the
candidate who would get the
majority of the votes should be the
winner no matter his status of
living and educational background.
The only important matter to
consider that this candidate should
not be a traitor to the cause of the
Motherland. The proposal was
received well by everyone.
21. The Supremo appointed Gen.
Artemio Ricarte as secretary.
Daniel Tirona helped to distribute
the ballots.
22. Diego Mojica warned the Supremo
that the ballots had already been
fabricated to which the Supremo
ignored.
23. The votes for president were
counted and Emilio Aguinaldo of
Magdalo won over Supremo
Andres Bonifacio.
24. Mr. de las Alas suggested that
since Supremo received the second
highest vote, he should be the
vice-president.
25. Nobody signified
approval/disapproval to de las Alas
18. Jacinto Lumbreras took the chair
and opened the convention.
19. Severino de las Alas suggested to
proceed with the discussion upon
the kind of government to
administer the whole country. This
caused a stir in the assembly.
20. Antonio Montenegro of Magdalo
made a statement which offended
the Magdiwang men, particularly
Santiago Alvarez.
21. Lumbreras yielded his position as
chair to Andres Bonifacio.
Bonifacio called for an election
and proposed an agreement to
respect whoever won the elections
despite their educational
background and social condition.
22. The ballots were prepared and
distributed.
23. After an hour, the ballots were cast
for the presidency, and Emilio
Aguinaldo won in ​absentia ​over
Bonifacio.
24. Severino de las Alas suggested
that Bonifacio should be the
vice-president since he received
the second largest number of
votes. The men appeared
lukewarm to the suggestion so
they went on to continue.
25. The remaining positions were soon
filled with Mariano Trias as
 proposal so Supremo decided to
resume with the election.
26. Mariano Trias won as
vice-president, General Vibora as
captain, Emiliano de Dios as
secretary of war, and Supremo
Bonifacio as secretary of the
interior.
27. Then, Mr. Daniel Tirona halted the
celebration of the election and
went to talk about how being the
secretary of interior should be a
job for someone with a degree in
law and loudly endorsed Mr. Jose
del Rosario as the rightful man for
the position.
28. An embarrassed Supremo
Bonifacio stood up to remind
everyone of the agreement they
had earlier: that whoever won by
majority should be respected as the
man for the position no matter his
background; he then demanded an
apology from Tirona.
29. Then the Supremo aimed his
revolver at Mr. Tirona. Perhaps
because of fear, Tirona slid away
and got lost in the crowd. The
room was in chaos as the
convention secretary tried to
disarm the Supremo.
vice-president, Artemio Ricarte as
captain-general, Emiliano de Dios
as director of war, and Andres
Bonifacio as director of interior.
26. Daniel Tirona of Magdalo
protested against the victory of
Andres Bonifacio as the director of
interior and suggested that it
should be the lawyer Jose del
Rosario.
27. Feeling insulted, Bonifacio
demanded Tirona to retract what
he had said.
28. Tirona ignored Bonifacio and tried
to lose himself in the crowd then
tried to aim at Tirona with his
pistol.
29. Bonifacio dissolved the meeting
and annulled all that has been
approved and resolved; and then
left.
30. Bonifacio wrote to his
uncle-in-law, Mariano Alvarez,
and separately to his friend Emilio
Jacinto.
31. In his letter to Jacinto, Andres
Bonifacio revealed that he
discovered the dirty works of the
meeting even before the election
began.
30. The Supremo adjourned the
meeting and declared all that had
happened null and void.
31. Mr. Baldomero Aguinaldo,
president of the Magdalo faction
convinced the Magdiwang leaders
to reconvene the disrupted meeting
the following day to which the
Magdiwang leaders agreed.
32. Rumors spread of how several
leaders from the Magdalo faction
conferred with the priest Cenon
Villafranca of Santa Cruz de
Malabon.
33. On the request of Mr. Baldomero
Aguinaldo, members of the
Magdiwang faction waited until
five in the afternoon at the estate
house in Tejeros to reconvene the
disrupted meeting, but no one from
the Magdalo faction came.
34. That same night, it was rumored
that the Magdalo leaders were
holding their own meeting at the
parish house in Tanza.
35. On 3/27/1897, eyewitnesses
revealed that indeed a meeting had
taken place at the Tanza parish
house and that the Supremo’s
decisions regarding the election at
the Tejeros house were not
respected.
 36. At the Tanza parish house, those
elected at the Tejeros convention
swore their oaths, but Supremo
was not invited despite him being
elected as the secretary of interior.

MEMBERS

AMARO, Nicole

ASPE, Fatima Angelica

BERSABAL, Lyneth Andrea

CORTEZANO, Nathaniel

MADRIGAL, Francine Isabelle

PADUA, Jairus

PERALTA, Alyssa Loraine

ROMERO, Dominic