MGA GUNITA NG HIMAGSIKAN

(EMILIO AGUINALDO)
First volume of his memoirs “ Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan”
(1964). Translated from the original tagalog “Memoirs of the
revolution” (1967)

In the preface Aguinaldo says the memoirs were

based:
1. On diary he kept.
2. Documents he preserved
3. Family lore gathered from his elders.

All we have is an account from his birth and early

years, ending with the 1897 Treaty of Biak na Bato
 Background of the Author

Emilio Famy Aguinaldo was born on March 22, 1869

In Kawit, Cavite

The seventh children of Carlos Jamir Aguinaldo and

Trinidad Famy-Aguinaldo.
 Emilio attended high school at the Colegio de San Juan de
Letran but has to stop on his fourth year because of his
father’s death.

Aguinaldo’s family was well off since his father

He then took the responsibility of helping his mother run their
was the community’s gobernadacillo of their
farm.
pueblo.
In 1895 at the age of 25 he became Kawit’s first
“gobernadorcillo capitan municipal”

He also joined the Katipunan and used the nom de guerre

Aguinaldo became a freemason, joining Pilar Lodge
“Magdalo” in honor of Mary Magdalene.
No.203, Imus Cavite with the codename “Colon”
 His presidency was cut short when he was captured
by the American soldiers in Palanan, Isabela.

Aguinaldo would later become the first and youngest

president of the First Philippine Republic.

He pledged his loyalty to the American government thus dissolving

the First Republic .
 E. Aguinaldo

He tried to rejoin politics by challenging Manuel L. Quezon President Elpidio Quirino appointed him as member of the
in the 1935 presidential elections. Philippine Council of State in 1950.

He lost, leading him to retire from public life

Emilio Aguinaldo died of coronary thrombosis on February 6, 1964.
he was 94 years old.
In his lifetime he was able to witness the administration of succeeding presidents of the Philippines until the term of
President Diosdado Macapagal.
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF
MGA GUNITA NG HIMAGSIKAN

Aguinaldo produced the first volume of his memoirs

between 1928 and 1946.
The signing of Biak na Bato Treaty in 1897.
The memoirs include accounts from Aguinaldo’s birth and
early years.
These were base on various documents he preserved and
Family lore he personally gathered from his relatives.

It was at the end of 1963 that Aguinaldo after much

deliberation, decided to publish his memoirs.

Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan was officially released

to the public in 1967.
It was presumed by Ambeth Ocampo (2017) that a second
volume was also drafted by Aguinaldo, which could have
covered the resumption of the Philippine revolution against
Spain and Philippine -American war

Until now no one knows whether it was actually written Ocampo

hints that it might hidden in a secret compartment drawer or
passageway in the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite.
 3 REASON WHY GUINTA NG HIMAGSIKAN IS IMPORTANT NARRATIVE OF
PHILIPPINE HISTORY

1. History is about learning the truth, therefore studying every

angle of historical evidence helps in proving which event is
factual.
The Gunita ng Himagsikan can provide
clues or hints for historians
2. Gunita ng Himagsikan is looking at Philippine History
through the eyes of Emilio Aguinaldo. It gives Aguinaldo
perspective on Treaty of Biak na Bato.
3. Gunita ng Himagsikan is still part of Philippine History
• It gives us an insight into the personal thoughts and feelings of Aguinaldo which will help in a deeper understanding of
Philippine History.
• It is an attempt of Emilio Aguinaldo to wash his hands
on the tragic death of Andres Bonifacio.

• This a way of vindicating himself from negatives

aspersions against him.
 CONTRIBUTIONS

Aguinaldo’s memoirs which is a first hand narrative of the

first Philippine Republic.

Offers a different perspective and provides basis for corroboration

of other historical sources.
 LEARNING EXPERIENCE

The document teaches us more about history that encourages

our mind to read more about our history.

How our heroes have changed our lives today.

Proves that we need

to study the past.
 ACTIVITY 1
An Open Letter to the First President

Write an open letter addressed to the

President of the First Philippine Republic,
EMILIO AGUINLADO

If you were to talk to Aguinaldo, what would

you like to tell him?

What would you ask him?

 NEXT LESSON MODULE 3 :
FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD BY
MAGELLAN