CHAPTER 3: CONTROVERSIES AND CONFLICTING VIEWS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

The Needs for Studying Controversies and Conflicting Views

Many years ago, a National Fund Offer (NFO) Trends Survey showed that only 37% of the 1,420
respondents aged 7 to 21 years old, were able to sing the Philippine National Anthem and only 28% could
recite the old version of Panatang Makabayan. Of the many Filipino heroes, they could only name up to 2
heroes and other matters. The conclusion is that the Filipino youth, in general, had a very shallow knowledge
and appreciation of the country‟s history and cultural heritage.

Every student in Philippine history should therefore be able to know, understand and critically analyze
various controversies and conflicting views because these may affect their lives as Filipinos and citizens of
contemporary society.

Controversies and Conflicting Views

It has been said that the Philippines had one past but many histories is true in this case. Different
authors and writers of Philippine history books vary in their description of the Philippine‟s physical features,
its location, number of islands, land area, river systems, mountains, site of the first mass, cry of Balintawak
among others. With these conflicting views in certain events and situations, they are subject for debate. The
following are the controversial issues:

A. THE PHILIPPINE PHYSICAL FEATURES

Pepito M. Capito prepared a list of controversial issues in Philippine history. He got the information
from the book of Pedro H. Gagelonia who happened to be the author‟s history professor in Far Eastern
University (FEU) in 1963. These controversies are:

1. Number of Islands and Islets in the Philippines. Different authors of history books had different
views on the number of islands and islets.

a. Molina – 7,083 islands

b. Agoncillo and Alfonso – 7,000

c. Alip – 7,100

d. Zaide – 7,083

e. Ariola – 7,000

2. Number of Named Islands and Unnamed Islands.

a. Agoncillo and Alfonso – 3,000 named islands and 4,000 unnamed islands

b. Alip – 2,773 named islands, the rest are still unnamed islands

c. Zaide – different data in his own books

d. Gagelonia, the Filipino Historian – 2,000 islands have been named

e. Google, Wikipedia – 5,000 islands are yet to be named.

3. Location of the Philippines.

a. Zafra – Philippines is located about 700 miles from the mainland China

b. Molina – Philippines is located southeast of the Asiatic Mainland

c. Alip – Philippines lies about 700 miles to the southeast of the Asia Mainland.
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d. Zaide – Philippines is a sprawling archipelago fringing the southeastern rim of the Asian continent

4. Location of the Philippine Deep

It is sometimes called Philippine Trench, Mindanao Trench or Mindanao Deep. This is the third
deepest in the world is located on the east of the Philippines. Its length is 1,320 km (820 miles) and a width of
about 30 km (19 miles). This is located in Luzon trending southeast to the northern Maluku Island of
Haimahera, Indonesia. Galathea Depth, its deepest point has a depth of 10,540 meters (5760 fathoms;
34,580 feet).

a. Molina – Philippine Deep or Philippine Trench which is found east of Mindanao and it is the second lowest
region of the earth.

b. Zaide – It is the lowest region in the world, an ocean depth east of Mindanao.

c. Zaide – It is the lowest part of the Earth situated about 15 miles Northeast of Mindanao. It is 34,218 feet
below sea level.

d. Zaide – It is the second lowest place in the world and is located 45 miles east of Northern Mindanao. It is
35,400 feet.

e. Agoncillo – It is the second deepest sea in the world which is located east of Mindanao and with a depth of
35,440 feet.

f. Google – The Philippine Deep Sea has a depth of 34,580 feet.

5. Longest River in the World. The largest, longest, and widest river in the Philippines is the Cagayan
River or Rio Grande de Cagayan. It is located in the Northeastern part of Luzon that traverses the provinces
of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela and Cagayan. Small streams that originate from Balete Pass, Cordillera,
Caraballo and Sierra Madre Mountains meet other streams and rivers and flow to the Cagayan River.

The Rio Grande de Mindanao or Mindanao River is the second largest river located on the southern part
of Mindanao. It has length of 373 kilometers. Its headwaters are in the mountains of Impasugong, Bukidnon,
south of Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental, what it is called the Pulangi River joining the Kabacan River
where it becomes the Mindanao River. Disagreement among the authors of Philippine History:

a. Alip – Cagayan River is the longest river in the Philippines.

b. Molina – Rio Grande de Mindanao is the longest river in the Philippines.

c. Benitez – Rio Grande de Mindanao is the longest river in our country.

d. Zaide – The longest river is the Rio de Mindanao.

e. Google – Rio Grande de Cagayan is the longest and widest river in the Philippines whereas, Rio Grande de
Mindanao or Mindanao River is the country‟s second largest river system with a length of 373 kilometers.

6. Straits. It is naturally formed, narrow but navigable waterway that connects two larger bodies of water.
Disagreements among authors in Philippine History as to the number of straits in the Philippines:

a. Molina – There are 8 land lock straits in the Philippines.

b. Agoncillo – There are 20 land lock straits.

c. Zaide – There are 8 land lock straits.

d. Google – There are 22 straits.

7. Coastline. It is also called seashore where land meets the sea or ocean, or a line that forms the boundary
between the land and the ocean, sea, or lake. Disagreements among the authors:

a. Zaide – The Philippines coastline is thrice longer than the U. S. coastline with 10,850 statute miles.
42
b. Molina – The Philippines coastline is nearly 11,446 statute miles.

c. Alip – The Philippines coastline is nearly 11,000 miles.

d. Benitez – The Philippines coastline is 11,440 statute miles.

8. Mountains. Mt. Apo is the highest mountain in the Philippines but historians disagree or differ in their
data in the height of Mt. Apo.

a. Agoncillo – Mount Apo is 9,600 feet.

b. Alip – Mount Apo is 9,699 feet.

c. Zaide – Mount Apo is 9,690 feet.

d. Google – Mount Apo is 2,954 kilometers high.

9. Mount Pulag

It is sometimes called as Mount Pulog. It is the third highest mountain in the Philippines. It is Luzon‟s
highest peak at 2.922 meters above sea level. It borders between the province of Benguet, Ifugao and Nueva
Vizcaya:

a. Agoncillo – Mount Pulag is the second highest peak in Luzon with 8,481 feet high.

b. Alip – Mt. Pulag is 9,606 feet high.

c. Google – Mt. Pulag is 2.9222 kilometers high. The second highest mountain is Mt. Dulong-Dulong with a
peak of 2,936 meters. The fourth is Mt. Kitanglad Ranges (2899 meters) with Mt. Piapayungan Range (2,890
meters).

B. SITE OF THE FIRST MASS

Decades after the debate on where the Catholic Mass in the Philippines took place has remained
unsolved, local Butuan historians asked the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to resolve
the first mass controversy in the city‟s favor. Local historians in Butuan believed that the first site of the
Catholic mass took place in Mazawa, a place in Butuan now called Masao, not in Limasawa Island in Leyte as
stated in history books.

Local historian and president of the Butuan City Heritage Society (BCHS) Greg Hontiveros said that the
honor belongs to the City of Butuan and not in Leyte. He also requested the CBCP to investigate the first mass
controversy since the event is very symbolic and important to the church.

Here is the detailed historical presentation of the BCHS account of the ceremony:

On March 31, 1521, Easter Sunday, Friar Pedro Valderrama celebrated mass together with Portuguese
explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his men. With the Spaniards were the rulers of Mazawa, Rajah Siaias and
his brother Rajah Colambu, the ruler of Butuan. Afterwards, they planted a cross in the highest hill and
stayed in the area for seven days and helped in the rice harvest for two days together with more than a
hundred of the Rajah‟s men.

Father Joesilo Conalla, curator of Butuan Diocesan Liturgical Museum likewise believed that the site of
the first mass was in Butuan, not in Limasawa because the people who attended the mass harvested rice for
two days, meaning that the place was a huge agricultural area. Limasawa Island was not an agriculture area,
therefore there is nothing to harvest there, Amalla further stated.

He also pointed out that other important evidence is the Yale Codex, which according to Magellan‟s
history scholars, is more impressive than the Ambrosiana Codex used in the past to justify both claims. He
further stated that the document is now kept at Yale University while the other two French manuscripts are in
the French National Library. Another proof, according to Fr. Amalla is the versions of Antonio Pigafetta,
Magellan‟s voyage chronicler, because there are subtle indicators that can be used.
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 However, on March 31, 1998, the National Historical Institute chose to adopt the finding in the
Gancayco Panel which dismissed the Ginés de Mafra account as fake and forthwith unilaterally reverted the
discussion to pre-de Mafra context which was back to whether the site of the first mass was Limasawa, the
isle without anchorage, or Butuan, which is not an isle.

Another evidence to prove that the first Catholic site was held somewhere in Butuan and not in
Limasawa Island was the historical account of Joelito Monzon Ramirez Jr., a local historian and writer.

(1) There was no island named Limasawa in 1521. On that event, Pigafetta recorded today‟s Limasawa as
Gatighan Island, between Bohol and Panaon south of Leyte. Magellan never landed in Gatighan. The name
Limasawa appeared only in 1667, Historia de Mindanao, by Combes. Pigafetta saw these islands on their way
out from Mazaua after their departure on April 4, after the first mass was celebrated on March 31.

(2) They went to Mazaua from Suluan by sailing, as recorded, downwards west. From Suluan, Limasawa can
be reached by sailing northwest but that is not their course. They sailed downwards west.

(3) Upon their departure, they sailed northwards for Cebu. Had they been in Limasawa, that direction would
have landed them in Ormoc of Leyte.

C. THE CRY OF BALINTAWAK

Cry of Balintawak or Cry of Pugad Lawin, where did Andres Bonifacio Cry? The Cry of Balintawak is a
contrived controversy. For nearly a century, the Cry of Balintawak or Cry of Pugadlawin has been the subject
of many controversies. It is considered as a turning point of Philippine history. The main focus of controversy
is the date and place of Bonifacio Cry. There were five dates for the Cry, August 20, 23, 24, 25, and 26 and five
different venues for the first cry: Balintawak, Pugadlawin, Kangkong, Bahay-Toro and Pasong Tamo.

The first issue: It has been widely accepted and believed that the first cry of the revolution took place in
Balintawak, Caloocan in August 23, 1896.

The second issue: The first cry was in August 23, 1896 but the exact place is not in Balintawak but
Pugadlawin. Between these two controversies, the Balintawak tradition continues to thrive.

The third issue: The cry occurred towards the end of August 1896 and that all the places mentioned
above are in Caloocan which in those times was a district of Balintawak.

D. THE CAVITE MUTINY CONTROVERSY

Jose Rizal dedicated his novel El Filibusterismo to the three priests, Mariano Gomez (85 years old),
Jose Burgos (30 years old), and Jacinto Zamora (35 years old), who were executed at Bagumbayan Field in
the morning of February 17, 1872. The three priests were summarily tried and sentenced to death by the
garrote for being linked as instigators of the Cavite Arsenal Revolt of January 20, 1872. The three priests were
very active in the secularization (nationalization) of the clergy.

However, not all Filipinos, including college students knew that there were two accounts or
perspectives in reference to the death of the three Filipino Martyrs, according to Chris Antonette
Piedad-Pugay (a history writer).

a. The Spanish Perspective of the 1872 Cavite Mutiny (based on Pugay‟s historical account)

Jose Montero y Vidal, a prolific Spanish historian documented the event and highlighted it as an
attempt of the Indios to overthrow the Spanish government in the Philippines. Meanwhile, Gov. Gen. Rafael
Izquierdo‟s official report magnified the event and made use of it to implicate the native clergy, which was
then active propagandists proliferated by unrestrained press, democratic, liberal and republican books and
pamphlets reaching the Philippines, and most importantly, the presence of the native clergy who out of
animosity against the Spanish friars, conspired and supported the rebels and enemies of Spain.

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 In particular, Izquierdo blamed the unruly Spanish Press for stockpiling malicious propagandas
grasped by the Filipinos. He reported to the King of Spain that the rebels wanted to overthrow the Spanish
government to install a new hari (king) in the likes of Father Burgos and Zamora. The general even added
that the native clergies enticed other participants by giving them charismatic assurance that their fight will
not fail because God is with them coupled with handsome promises of rewards such as employment, wealth,
and ranks in the army. Izquierdo, in his report lambasted the Indios as gullible and possessed an innate
propensity for stealing.

The two Spaniards deemed that the event of 1872 was planned earlier and was thought of it as a big
conspiracy among educated leaders, mestizos, abogadillos or native lawyers, residents of Manila and Cavite
planned to liquidate high-ranking Spanish officers to be followed by the massacre of the friars. The alleged
pre-concerted signal among the conspirators of Manila and Cavite was the firing of rockets from the walls of
Intramuros.

On February 17, 1872 in an attempt of the Spanish government and Frailocracia to instill fear among
the Filipinos so that they may never commit such daring act again, the GOMBURZA were executed. This
event was tragic but served as one of the moving forces that shaped Filipino nationalism.

b. The Filipino Version of the Cavite Incident (based from the historical account of Pugay)

Dr. Trinidad Hermenigildo Pardo de Tavera, a Filipino scholar and researcher, wrote the Filipino
version of the bloody incident in Cavite. In his point of view, the incident was a mere mutiny by the native
Filipino soldiers and laborers of the Cavite arsenal who turned out to be dissatisfied with the abolition of their
privileges. Indirectly, Tavera blamed Gov. Izquierdo‟s cold-bloodied policies such as abolition of privileges of
the workers and native army members of the arsenal and the prohibition of the founding of school of arts and
trades for the Filipinos, which the general believed as a cover-up for the organization of the political club.

On January 20, 1872 about 200 men comprised of soldiers, laborers of the arsenal, and residents of
Cavite headed by Sergeant Lamadrid rose in arms and assassinated the commanding officer and Spanish
officers in sight. The insurgents were expecting support from the bulk of the army unfortunately, that didn‟t
happen. The news about the mutiny reached authorities in Manila and Gen. Izquierdo immediately ordered
the reinforcement of Spanish troops in Cavite. After two days, the mutiny was officially declared subdued.

Tavera believed that the Spanish friars and Izquierdo used the Cavite Mutiny as a powerful lever by
magnifying it as a full-blown conspiracy involving not only the native army but also included residents of
Cavite and Manila, and more importantly the native clergy to overthrow the Spanish government in the
Philippines. It is noteworthy that during the time, the Central Government in Madrid announced its intention
to deprive the friars of all the powers of intervention in matters of civil government and the direction and
management of educational institutions. This turnout of events was believed by Tavera, prompted the friars
to do something drastic in their dire desire to maintain power in the Philippines.

E. THE TEJEROS ASSEMBLY

Historical Context

The first day of Philippine Revolution saw the defeat of the Katipunan in Manila, forcing Bonifacio and his
men to retreat to the mountains of Montalban. It was a different story in Cavite. Here, the Katipunan under
Emilio Aguinaldo managed to subdue the Spanish forces by surprise and take control of the province. The
victory, however, was short-lived as the Katipuneros–which consisted of two groups the Magdiwang
(Bonifacio) and Magdalo (Aguinaldo)–were soon fighting each other over territory and logistics. Unable to
resolve their differences, Aguinaldo invited the Supremo Andres Bonifacio to Cavite to mediate. However,
when he arrived in infuriated the Magdalos. The two groups finally agreed to form a revolutionary
government (pamahalaang panghihimagsik) which would lead the revolution. The assembly was set to held
in the friar‟s estate house in Barrio Tejeros, a part of the town of San Francisco de Malabon (now Generel
Trias). On March 22, 1897, the Cavite Katipuneros, as well as representatives of the Katipunan from the
nearby provinces, converged as the estate house, Emilio Aguinaldo , however , was not at the assembly as he
was commanding the Filipino forces at the frontlines in Pasong Santol, Barrio Salitran , Dasmarinas, facing
the imminent attack of the Spanish forces.
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Artemio Ricarte’s Account

The following account was written by Gen. Artemjo Ricarte (nom-de-guerre: Vibora) who was one of the
officials of the Magdiwang faction. During the Tejeros Assembly, he served as the secretary of the convention
when Bonifacio began presiding over the session. Ricarte was elected in the Tejero Assembly as Captain
General of the revolutionary government. He initially refused the position but his objections were overruled
by the electoral body. His account of the Philippine revolution was titled “Apuntes Historicos de la
Insurreccion por los Asociados al „Kamahalmahala‟t Kataastaasang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan‟ contra
el Gobierno Español en las Islas Filipinas.” It was written during his imprisonment subversion by the
American authorities in 1904. It was translated in English by a British journalist, William Brecknock Watson,
but remained in manuscript form. Ricarte‟s memoirs were published in Tagalog in 1927 in Yokohama Japan
with the title Himagsikan ng mga Pilipino Laban sa Kastila. The account on the next page is his version of the
Tejeros Assembly.

The Account

Early in the morning of the day set for the assembly (March 22-JVT), men filled the Tejeros estate house,
Among them not only the chiefs of the Magdiwang but also men of the Magdalo. Among the chiefs of the
Magdiwang apart from the Supremo of the Katipunan, were the following Mariano, Pascual and Santiago
Alvarez; Luciano San Miguel, Mariano Trias Closas; Severino de las Alas and Santos Nocon. Among those of
Magdalo were Baldomero Aguinaldo, Daniel Tirona, Cayetano Topacio, and Antonio Montenegro.

The session opened under the presidency of Jacinto Lumbreras who, in a few words, explained the
purpose of the meeting. Severino de las Alas rose to address those present and said that before discussing the
defense of a small piece territory in Cavite, it would be well to consider first the kind of the government then
existing in the country as upon that government would depend whatever defense might be needed. The
chairman replied that from the time the Katipunan was established the country had been ruled by the
Supreme Council, the provincial and popular councils. He repeated that the purpose for which the assembly
had been called was one of the great importance in those critical times. Andres Bonifacio, with permission of
the chairman, spoke in support to Lumbreras and his stand in regard to the government and went to explain
the significance of the letter “K” in the center of the sun on the flag, which stands for liberty, as has already
been said in the description in the insurgent flag. Severino de las Alas again addresses the meeting and said
that neither the letter “K” on the flag nor the flag itself, has anything to do with the character of the
government then existing: that is to say , whether it was a monarchy or a republic. Bonifacio replaced that the
Katipuneros, from the president of the Supreme Council to the most insignificant members, recognized the
principles of Union, Fraternity and Equality, on which account it was very clear that the government of the
Katipunan was rigorously republican in form.

Antonio Montenegro rose and spoke in support of the De Las Alas suggestion and in a louder voice than
usual said that unless some definite understanding was arrived at regarding the matter, the insurgents were
mere groups of tulisanes or, much worse, brutes.

The last word of Antonio Montenegro wounded the pride of Santiago Alvarez, who rose with glaring eyes
and addressing Montenegro, said: “We insurgents of Cavite and especially Magdiwang government recognize
and obey the government established by the Katipunan; if you wish to establish any other kind of government
more suited to your fancy, retire to your province and conquer territory from the Spanish government as we
have done here, and establish there whatever government you like, and no one will interfere with you…”

The session broke up in disorder, but one hour later, when the passion of the adherents of Santiago
Alvarez and Antonio Montenegro had been pacified, it convened against under the presidency of Andres
Bonifacio because of Jacinto Lumbreras said that in as much as they were discussing a subject which was
provided for in the call for the meeting but which concerned the establishment of a general government for
the insurrection, he ought not to preside at the continuation of the meeting. Then Andres Bonifacio… was
chosen by acclamation to be president at the meeting…

Order being restored, Bonifacio opened the session saying: As you wish to establish a supreme
government to direct the insurrection, abolishing that already organized by the Katipunan and agreed upon
in the Imus Assembly.

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 “I, as the Supremo of the Supreme Council of the Katipunan agree to your just petition; but I must first
invite you all to join as in recognizing principle upon which we must base all our decisions in this or in any
other session: this principle is that we respect and obey in everything the vote or decision of the majority.”
Those present signified their unanimous conformity and Philippine Republic was agreed upon and
proclaimed amid repeated enthusiastic applause. They then proceed to the election of the following officers of
the Republic President, Vice-President, Captain General, And Directors of War, Interior, State, Finance,
Commerce and Justice…

Ballots where then distributed and one hour later the votes were counted. As a result of this vote, Emilio
Aguinaldo was elected President of the Republic defeating Andres Bonifacio and Mariano Trias. The result
was proclaimed amidst applause.

They then proceeded to the election of Vice-President. Severino de las Alas remarked that inasmuch as
Andres Bonifacio had secured the second largest number of the election of President, he should be
proclaimed Vice-President. No one expressed a wish to speak in favor or against the suggestion of De Las
Alas, wherefore the chairman ordered that the election be proceeded with, and this being done it resulted in a
majority of votes being cast for Mariano Trias Closas as against Andres Bonifacio, Severino de las Alas, and
Mariano Alvarez.

They then immediately proceeded to the election of a Captain General. The secretary of the session,
Artemio Ricarte, was elected by a large majority over Santiago Alvarez. Ricarte rose and protested against his
own election… Those present disapproved protest viva voce, and the chairman called the meeting to order to
saying that as night was falling, it was advisable to continue the election for the other positions. It was
unanimously proposed and approved that, to cut short the voting, those who are favored any person for a
position should stand on one side, and those who favored other person should stand on other side of the
group, and in that way , they voted for a Director of War Emiliano Riego De Dios…

The election of a Minister of the Interior was proceeded with in the same way, with the result that Andres
Bonifacio was elected. In the midst of acclamation that was accorded Andres Bonifacio, Daniel Tirona
demanded the floor and said: “Fellow countrymen: the position of Minister of the Interior is very important
one and should not be occupied by a person who is not a lawyer. We have in our province a lawyer Jose del
Rosario; hence we must protest against the election of the person elected and acclaimed.” Thee, shouting at
the top his voice, he cried: “Let us vote for Jose del Rosario, the lawyer!”

Bonifacio‟s pride being wounded, he rose and spoke thus: “Have we not agreed that we shall obey the will
of the majority, what might be the social position of the person elected?” Having said this, he asked Daniel
Tirona to repeat what he had said, or to apologize to the assembly for the insult offered to the person elected,
because up to that time not one those elected was fitted by a reason of his culture for the position to which he
had been designated. As Tirona tried to hide himself among the crowd, without paying attention to what
Bonifacio demanded to him, the latter drew his revolver and was about to fire Tirona, but the secretary of the
session (Ricarte) seized his hand and incident passed without more ado. As those present were about to leave
the room, Bonifacio said in a loud voice: “I, as the President of the session, and also as president of the
supreme council for the Katipunan as you all know, declare this assembly closed, and annul everything that
has been done therein.” He then left and followed by his adherents.

Andres Bonifacio’s Account

This account by Andres Bonifacio is from a letter he wrote to Emilio Jacinto in Montalban from Indang,
Cavite on April 24, 1897 a month after Tejeros elections. This would be the first timer the other members of
the Supreme Council would hear of the events happened in Cavite. This was first published in Jose F. Santos,
Si Andres Bonifacio at Ang Himagsikan (1932).

The Account

The majority of the said convention agreed to establish a government, but I explained to them that this
could not be done because of the representatives of the other towns did not arrive, a condition that was
agreed upon in the Imus Assembly by which was disregarded by the majority because of the dire conditions of
the towns; and the Imus Assembly lacks proof because there were no documents, Nevertheless, the ones who

47
were present promised that whatever decision was made, the majority will abide by the decision in the
assembly that is what I will respect.

When the elections were held, elected President of the Republic was Don Emilio Aguinaldo; Vice
President, Don Mariano Trias; Auditor General, Don Artemio Ricarte; Director of War, Don Emiliano R. De
Dios. The election was held through the expression of those who were present (viva voce) because it was
already nighttime. I was elected Director of Interior through the same expression of those who are present
and among the midst of those who were elected: however, after the decision was made and the election for
Director de Hacienda was about to start, Don Daniel Tirona stood up and said that there is cry being raised
that Don Jose del Rosario be chosen Director of the Interior because there is a need that this position should
be filled by someone educated. He announced this after saying that he did not state this with the intention of
insulting me. I answered back that good and educated men are needed for all the positions; I asked him to
point out to me who among the elected ones are already well-versed in their positions but instead, he began
to shout: “Let us agree that Jose Del Rosario a lawyer, be chosen Director of the Interior!” No one responded
to his call which he did four times whereas a few responded by calling out my name. Because of the tumult
that occurred, the President of the Magdiwang announced that this was not an assembly of gentleman
because everything that they did had no evidence. Also, I discovered that even before the elections were
made, some of those who are from Imus had secretly spread the word that it was not good for them to be
under the leadership of someone from other province. It was for this reason that Captain Emilio Aguinaldo
was elected President. When I heard about this, I told them that this assembly was the idea of those with evil
intentions as this was the only thing that they wanted and that they deceived the people. I even added that if
they wished I will point out one by one those who intended to this if they wanted to. The assembly answered
that it was not necessary. I also told them that if the wishes of the assembly are not to be followed, I will not
recognize those who were elected and if I will not recognize them then my men will also not recognize them.
Even General Ricarte-the one elected General-also stated that their assembly was the result of bad
intentions….

Santiago Alvarez’s Account

The account of the Tejeros Convention is found in Chapter 32 of Gen. Santiago Alvarez‟s memoirs. Like
Ricarte, Alvarez was a direct participant and witness to the events that occurred in the elections.

The Account

The assembly at Tejeros was finally convened on 25 March 1897 (sic). The invitations in the meeting
were signed by secretary Jacinto Lumbreras of the Magdiwang Council, and he presided over the assembly.
Seated with Lumbreras at the long presidential table were the Supremo Andres Bonifacio, Messrs. Mariano
M. Alvarez, Pascual Alvarez, Ariston Villanueva, Mariano C. Trias, Diego Mojica, Emiliano R. De Dios,
Santiago V. Alvarez, Artemio Ricarte, Santos Nocon, Luciano San Miguel, Pablo Mojica, Severino de las Alas,
and Santiago Rillo, all of them of the Magdiwang. Among the Magdalo seated at the head table were Messrs.
Baldomero Aguinaldo, Daniel Tirona and Cayetano Topacio.

It must be mentioned that, before the assembly was convened, Secretary of War Ariston Villanueva of the
Magdiwang Council received the confidential information that Mr. Daniel Tirona of the Magdalo faction was
set to undermine the proceeding of the assembly and that he has already acceded in enjoining any among the
Magdiwang leaders to ally with him. Secretary Villanueva kept silent, but nevertheless alerted Captain
General Apoy, who had troops in readiness for any sudden eventuality.

The leaders were seated at the presidential table, as previously described and all the others were standing
in groups both side of those seated. After Chairman Jacinto Lumbreras declared the assembly open, he
announced the main topic of discussion which was how to bolster the defense in the areas still under
Magdiwang control. Presently, Mr. Severino de las Alas rose to speak, and when he was recognized, he said,
“Before we discuss minor details, let us first tackle the major issue such as what kind of government we
should have and how we should go about establishing it. Once we make a decision about these questions, the
problem of organization ang strengthening of defenses will be resolved.”

“As initiator of the Revolution,” Chairman Lumbreras replied, “the Katipunan now holds authority
over the islands. It has a government of law and a definite program. It is obeyed and respected by all because
it stands for freedom, brotherly love, and a well-organized and well-run government…”
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 The chair next recognized the supremo. He concurred with what Chairman Lumbreras had just said and
explained that the “K” in the middle of the sun in the Katipunan flag used in the revolution stood for
“Kalayaan.”

The Supremo replied that from the rank-and-file to the highest levels, the Katipunan was united in its
respect for universal brotherhood and quality of men.it was risking order to establish a sovereign and free
government. In short, it stood for people‟s sovereignty, not a government led only by one or two.

Mr. Antonio Montenegro spoke in defense of Mr. Severino de las Alas‟s stand. He argued that if they
would agree on the kind of revolutionary government they were to have and that if they were to let the status
quo prevail then they who were in the Revolution would be no better than a pack of bandits or of wild,
mindless animals.”

General Apoy was hurt by these words of Mr. Montenegro. He quickly stood up and looked angrily at the
previous speaker.

“We of the Katipunan,” he began, “are under the jurisdiction of our respected Highest Council of the Sons
of the People. This Council is the defender of, and has authority over, the Magdiwang and Magdalo
governments of Cavite. We are true revolutionaries fighting for freedom of the native land. We are not
bandits who rob others of their property and wealth. Nor should be likened to beasts, for we know how to
protect and defend others, especially the political refugees who seek asylum with us. We are rational and we
do not expose those who talk big but do not accomplish anything. If you want to establish a different kind of
government that is to your liking, you must do as we have done : Go back to your localities and snatch them
from Spanish control. Then you can do what pleases you; but don‟t you dare seek refuge among cowards who
might call you bandits and beasts….”

When order was restored, some wanted the convention adjourned but the Supreme Bonifacio prevailed
upon the others to continue. However, the presiding officer, Mr. Lumbreras, refused to resume his role of
chairman. He wanted to yield the chair to the Supremo whom he thought to be the rightful chairman….

Mr. Lumbreras‟s speech was well received and his proposal was unanimously accepted. The Supremo
Bonifacio assumed the chairmanship accordingly and said “Your aim is to establish a new overall government
of the Katipunan and Sons of the People. This would repudiate the decision made at the meeting at the friar
estate house in Imus. In my capacity as “President- Supremo of the Most Venerable Katipunan of the Sons of
the People, I agree and sympathize with you aspirations. But I wish to remind you that we should respect all
decisions properly discussed and approved in all our meetings. We should respect and abide by the wishes of
the majority.”

Because of a repeated clamor for the approval for the establishment of a government of the Philippine
Republic, the chair proceeded to prepare for an election to the following positions: president, vice-president,
minister of finance, minister of warfare, minister of justice, and captain–general.

The Supremo spoke again before the election began. He said that the candidate who would get the most
number of votes for each position should be the winner, no matter what his station in life or educational
attainment….

The Supremo Bonifacio appointed Gen. Artemio Ricarte as secretary. Then with the help of Mr. Daniel
Tirona, he distributed pieces of paper to serve as ballots. When the ballots had been collected and votes were
read to be canvassed, Mr. Diego Mojica, the Magdiwang secretary of the treasury, wanted the Supremo that
many ballots distributed were already filled out and that the voters had not done this themselves. The
Supremo ignored this remark. He proceeded with the business at hand as if nothing unusual had happened.

When the votes of president were counted, Mr. Emilio Aguinaldo won over Mr. Andres Bonifacio, the
Supremo. The winner was acclaimed by applause and shouts of “Mabuhay!”

Mr. Severino de las Alas spoke again to say that since the Supremo Bonifacio had received the second
highest number of votes for the presidency, he should be proclaimed vice-president of the government of the
Philippine Republic. When nobody signified approval or disapproval of the proposal, the presiding officer,

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the Supremo Bonifacio, ruled that the election be continued. For vice-president, Mariano Trias won over Mr.
Mariano Alvarez and the Supremo Bonifacio. General Vibora was elected captain over General Apoy….

Mr. Baldomero Aguinaldo wanted the elections to be finished before it got too dark. To facilitate the
counting of votes, he suggested that for all other positions to be voted upon, voters should stand on one of the
sides of the hall if in favor and on the other side if against. This suggestion was adopted for the rest of the
election. For the position of secretary of war, Mr. Emiliano R. de Dios was elected overwhelmingly…. After
the voters had given the proper honors to the new secretary of war, they proceeded to elect the secretary of
the interior. Mr. Andres Bonifacio, the Supremo won over Mr. Mariano Alvarez. The crowd broke into shouts
of “Mabuhay!” Mr. Daniel Tirona requested for a restoration of order then spoke aloud:

“My brethren, the office of the Secretary of Interior is of to great a scope and of such sensitivity that we
should no entrust it to one who is not a lawyer. One among us here is a lawyer. He is Mr. Jose Del Rosario. Let
us reconsider the choice of the last position, for he has no credentials to show attesting to any educational
attainment.

Then in as loud a voice as he could muster, Tirona shouted, “Let us elect Mr. Jose del Rosario, the
lawyer!”

Greatly embarrassed, the Supremo Bonifacio quickly stood up and said, “We agreed to abide by the
majority vote and accept its choice no matter what the station in life of the person elected. And because of
this, I demand from you Mr. Daniel Tirona, an apology. You must restore to the voters and the one they
elected the honor you have only now besmirched.”

Then he pulled out his revolver and took aim.

Instead of replying, Mr. Tirona ignored the Supremo‟s remarks and, perhaps because of fear, he slid
away and get lost in the crowd. Disorder ensued as the convention secretary tried to disarm the Supremo,
who was intent on Mr. Tirona. The people began to disperse and the Supremo adjourned the meeting with
these words:

“In my capacity as chairman of this convention and President-Supremo of the Most Venerable Katipunan
of the Sons of the People which association is known and acknowledged by all, I hereby declare null and void
all matters approved in this meeting.”

Then he left quickly and was followed by his aides and some others present.

F. THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL FLAG

Before the 18896 revolution, the Filipinos had no common flag. It was only on the height of revolution
that started to exist. The Katipunan generals designed different flags to signify the unit or battalion whey they
belong. But, the flags that they created cannot be called as a national flag.

Here is Pugay‟s detailed historical account in the controversial Philippine National Flag.

Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo aspired to establish a new nation to be signified by a flag and an anthem during
the second phase of the Philippine Revolution. With this, he himself made the sketch of the flag that he
submitted to Doña Marcela Agoncillo who was then living at 535 Morrison Hill Road in Hong Kong. In
sewing the flag, Mrs. Agoncillo was assisted by her daughter Lorenza and by Delfina Herbosa Natividad. After
five days of hard work, the flag was delivered to Aguinaldo who went back to the Philippines on May 17, 1898
through S.S. McCulloch. The flag as described by the maker herself was made from fine silk with a triangle at
the left containing a sunburst with eight rays at the center, a five-pointed star at each angle of the triangle, an
upper stripe of dark blue and a lower stripe of red. The white triangle stood for the Filipinos‟ hope for
equality; the blue color stood for peace, truth and justice; and the red stood for patriotism and valor. The
sunburst of eight rays represented the first eight provinces to take up arms Spain, and the three stars
symbolized Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

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Philippine Flag was Banned

Just like our country and its constitution, the Philippine flag also experienced different controversies.
When the Americans took over the Philippines in 1898, mutual distrust among the Filipinos and Americans
started. This prompted the Philippine Commission to enact the Flag Law of 1907 that forbade the Filipinos to
use or display the Philippine flag anywhere, even inside Filipino homes. The Filipinos responded with bitter
protests as they saw the Flag Law as a violation of the fundamental principle of free expression.

Several efforts were done by Filipino legislators to repeal the law, but to no avail. In 1919, Senator
Rafael Palma sponsored the Senate Bill No. 1, a bill repealing the Flag Law of 1907 following Gov. Gen.
Francis Harrison‟s recommendation that the law should be repealed since the distrust between the Filipinos
and the Americans no longer exists. On October 24, 1919, Act No. 2871 was approved and signed by Gen.
Harrison. Therefore, the Flag Law of 1907 was repealed.

Inclusion of a 9th Ray or Crescent in the Flag

In the early part of 1970, appeals for the inclusion of an additional ray or a crescent in the Philippine
flag created another issue. House Bill No. 7725 sponsored by Rep. Sultan Omar Dianalan of the 1 st District of
Lanao del Sur petitioned for the addition of 9th ray in the rays of the sun in the Philippine flag to symbolize
the Moslems and the cultural minorities who fought the Spaniards and waged war against them. Other
groups proposed that a crescent be placed beside the sun as a form of tribute to the pre-colonial past.
However, historians, headed by Teodoro Agoncillo singled out that when Aguinaldo himself designed the
flag, he had in his mind the eight provinces which rise in arms against Spain during the Philippine Revolution
namely; Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna and Batangas. He also pointed out
that the one of the three stars in the flag already represents the Moslem and the Moslem lands.

The Blue Color of the Flag

The repeal of the Flag Law of 1907 gave reason for the Filipinos to be jubilant. However, it created a
new controversy concerning the true color of the flag‟s blue field. The issue was raised as early as mid-1970‟s
until mid-1980‟s. Through studies it appeared that the conflict in the shades of blue might have resulted from
the alleged hasty preparations of the flag was used for the Flag Day of March 26, 1920 following the repeal of
the Flag Law. The quartermaster was said to have run out of light blue cloth and used blue instead similar to
the one used for the American flag.

Specification of the blue color of the original flag through a documented interview of Emilio Aguinaldo
by the historian Teodoro Agoncillo was noted before the former‟s death. In the interview, Aguinaldo specified
that the blue color of the flag is bughaw neither azul oscuro nor azul marino. Meanwhile, Juan Luna‟s
painting of the flag on May 21, 1899 in Monograph illustrated the flag in China blue, not navy blue, whereas
Mariano Ponce in his letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt described the blue color of the flag as blue as the sky
symbolizing hope. Ponce‟s description was complemented by Salvador Vivencio del Rosario‟s in his article La
Bandera de la Patria published in October 1899 where he stated that the flag‟s color was color celeste (color of
the sky). In 1943, however, The Philippine Flag wore a bright royal blue during the inauguration of the
Japanese sponsored Republic.

Nonetheless, numerous personalities maintained that the color of the flag is navy blue or dark blue.
The daughter of the flag-maker also named Marcela Agoncillo believed that it was not sky blue or light blue
but dark blue. She also argued that, if there was error in the color of the flag, why did Aguinaldo never
question it during his lifetime? Her description was supported by Teodoro Kalaw‟s description of the flag.
Meanwhile, Arturo Tolentino raise that the flag that was used and adopted by the 1935 and the 1973
Constitution, which colored dark blue should be maintained because it was the one which was consecrated
and honored by the people and the change of its color or shade is a violation of law.

On February 25, 1985 President Ferdinand E. Marcos issued Executive Order No. 1010 which changed
dark blue to a lighter shade, lighter than navy blue but darker than sky or azure which is the basis of the true
shade of blue in the Philippine flag.

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Where is the Original Philippine Flag?

In his letter to Captain Baja dated June 11, 1925 Aguinaldo mentioned that in their Northward retreat
during Filipino-American War, the original flag was lost somewhere in Tayug, Pangasinan. Some people
believed that the original flag that was hoisted during the proclamation of independence on June 12, 1898
was the one stored in the Aguinaldo Museum at Baguio City. It cannot be denied that the said flag was
authentic and a contemporary of the original flag but experts found out that its materials was made of
combined silk and cotton fabric, not fine silk as stated by the flag-maker herself in Philippine Herald
published in October 1929. There were also reports that the first original flag of the Philippines was returned
in July 1957 by US Ambassador Charles E. Bohlen.

Very recently, American War Commission Public Director Rudy Asercion noticed a Philippine flag in
an American Trophy Room of the San Francisco War Memorial Building. He then asked if the flag in San
Francisco could be the same flag sewn by Agoncillo in 1898. Looking at the flag closely, it was made of fine
silk but its sun has 12 rays while the original has eight; it has six-pointed stars while the original had
five-pointed stars; the sun and stars in the original flag were sewn by hand while the San Francisco flag has a
painted sun and stars; and most importantly, the original flag had a plain blue field while the San Francisco
flag has a printed blue field with a floral design. While the flag was proven to be authentic and was really used
during the Filipino-American War, it is definitely not the original Philippine flag of 1898. Until today, the
whereabouts of the original flag of 1898 remains a mystery.

G. ANTONIO LUNA’S ASSASSINATION

Who really ordered Luna‟s murder? Is Aguinaldo a hero or a traitor? History books blamed Aguinaldo as
the mastermind in the death of Gen. Antonio Luna. Luna suffered over 30 wounds from bolos, bayonets, and
bullets. Was the death of Luna under the command and order of Aguinaldo?

(1) Gen. Antonio Luna, lieutenant commander of the Filipino Army has been assassinated by order of
Aguinaldo. He was stabbed to death by a guard selected by Aguinaldo to kill him. Investigation of the incident
proved that Luna had been killed and Gen. Otis, the American Governor-General, had authentic information
regarding the death of the insurgent general.

(2) Another information says that Ney, a guard of Aguinaldo, by order of Gen. Aguinaldo purposely insulted
Luna and forced a quarrel. One report says that Luna was shot before Ney stabbed him.

(3) Pedro Paterno, one of the Filipino leaders believed that Aguinaldo ordered the killing of Luna. The
assassination, he recalled, was similar to the late of Bonifacio in Cavite province. Both Luna and Bonifacio
were rivals of Aguinaldo for the leadership of the Filipinos.

(4) Gen. Luna was exceedingly unpopular among the Filipino troops on account of his stubborn and
dictatorial manners, and very little regret was expressed at his death. Luna and Aguinaldo were unable to
agree as to the manner of conducting the campaign against the Spanish authorities and it is said that
Aguinaldo was afraid he would be assassinated by Luna‟s orders.

On the other hand, those who believed that it was not Aguinaldo who ordered the death of Luna, but it
was Luna‟s fault and men who assassinated him expressed the following views:

(1) Emilio Jun Abaya, former Transportation Secretary and great grandson of Aguinaldo had to defend his
great grandfather. He said that Luna was not assassinated on order of Aguinaldo.

(2) Professor Xiao Chua of De La Salle University noted that there is no valid evidence to support the claims
that Aguinaldo had Luna killed. According to Professor Chua, there are various accounts on Luna‟s death,
including one by Pedro Janolino, Aguinaldo‟s men from Kawit who was one of the people who killed Luna.

(3) Antonio Abad who interviewed Pedro Janolino said that it was he who killed Luna by self-defense.
According to the interview with Janolino, he was so afraid that Luna might kill him and his men that they
killed him first.

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H. JOSE RIZAL’S RETRACTION CONTROVERSY

Rizal‟s retraction letter was discovered by Father Manuel Garcia, C.M. in 1935. From this time on, the
letter‟s content has become a favorite subject of dispute among history writers, history professors, and
academicians. The retraction letter dated December 29, 1896 was said to have been signed by Rizal himself.

The first version: “I declare myself a Catholic and in this religion in which I was born and educated. I
wish to live and die. I retract with all my heart whatever in my words, writings, publications, and conduct has
been contrary to my character as son of the Catholic Church.”

The second version: “I retract with all my heart whatsoever in my words, writings, publications, and
conduct have been contrary to my character as a son of the Catholic church.”

Upon analysis of the two versions of Rizal‟s letter, it can be shown that there are different words used and
some words are missing in the second version. At any rate, whether Rizal truly resigned his Catholic faith is
still a controversy. However, there are groups who believed or did not believe that Rizal retracted.

a. Believers or defenders of Rizal Retraction:

1. Nick Joaquin, writer

2. Leon Maria Guerrero III

3. Gregorio Zaide, author of history books

4. Guillermo Gomez Rivera

5. Ambeth Ocampo, author of history books

6. John Schumaker

7. Antonio Molina

8. Paul Duval

9. Austin Craig, historian

10. Teodoro Kalaw, 33rd degree mason and handwriting expert

11. H. Otley Beyer, UP Professor

12. Jose Del Rosario, UP Professor

13. Fr. Marciano Guzman, great grandnephew of Rizal

14. Fr. Vicente Balaguer, a Jesuit Missionary

15. Fr. Pio Pi, Society of Jesus of the Philippines, Jesuits Superior

16. Dr. Augusto de Vierra, UST Department of History, Head

The believers of Rizal retraction had the following arguments:

(1) The retraction document (letter) is authentic having judged by a foremost handwriting expert. Teodoro
Kalaw and handwriting experts are known and recognized in our courts of justice.

(2) 11 witnesses saw Rizal wrote his own retraction, signed a Catholic prayer book and recited Catholic
prayers and kissed the crucifix before his execution.

(3) Rizal‟s 4 confessions were certified by 5 eyewitnesses, 10 qualified witnesses, 7 newspapermen, and 12
historians and writers.

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(4) Aglipayan bishops, masons, and anti-clerics witnessed Rizal‟s signing of the retraction document.

(5) The head of the Spanish Supreme Court notarized his retraction letter.

(6) Being a Catholic, he was buried inside the sacred grounds of Pako (now Paco) Catholic cemetery.

(7) The retraction letter was not forged because witnesses were present while Rizal was signing it.

(8) Rizal retracted his masonry because he wanted to be at peace when he dies.

(9) Direct evidence which have a greater weight need to prove Rizal retraction than just circumstantial
evidence.

b. Non-believers of Rizal Retraction:

1. Ricardo Pascual, a historian

2. Senator Rafael Palma, former UP President and prominent mason

3. Frank Laubach, a Protestant minister

4. Austin Coates, a British writer

5. Ricardo Manapat, National Archives director

6. Tomas U. Santos, a historian

7. Jose Victor Torres, history professor of De La Salle University

Non-believers of Rizal retraction had the following arguments:

(1) There is no certificate of Rizal‟s catholic marriage to Josephine Bracken.

(2) There is an allegation that the retraction document was a forgery. There are two versions of the retraction
letter with some words missing in the second document. Which document is authentic? Were these
documents written in Spanish, English, or Filipino? Since the signing of the document, if it true, would have
been written in Spanish, not in English. There was no mention that the original writing is Spanish and
translated in English.

(3) The document was not in Rizal‟s own handwriting according to Senator Rafael Palma.

(4) The retraction letter is not in keeping with Rizal‟s character and mature beliefs.

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