Ang Kalatas Volume V June 2015 Independence Day Special Edition | Page 15

5. IT ALREADY HAD A NATIONAL ANTHEM.
Julian Felipe’s Lupang Hinirang is not the first
national anthem of the country. That honor belongs to
Julio Nakpil and his ‘Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan’
which he composed in 1896 after being asked to create a
national hymn by Bonifacio.
With Bonifacio’s death, however, Nakpil’s work was
overlooked by Emilio Aguinaldo in favor of that of Felipe.
Incidentally, both men were province mates. Nakpil later
renamed his piece to Salve Patria as a tribute to Rizal.
Although the original scores were lost during World War
II, the current version—which Nakpil reconstructed from
memory in his old age—is still alive today.
6. THE AIMS OF THE KATIPUNAN AFTER THE
REVOLUTION.
Thanks in part to the political rivalry between
Bonifacio and Aguinaldo, we can only speculate what
would have happened had the Katipunan remained a
united front.
Although it is generally held that the Katipunan’s
aim was to completely break away from Spain, not much
is really known what kind of government Bonifacio
wanted to establish aside from it being anti-colonial. The
issue is a matter of debate for historians up to now, with
some inferring from Bonifacio’s writings that he wanted a
“communist republic.”
However, other historians have dismissed that view
due to a lack of evidence. According to them, Bonifacio’s
wish to create a government and society which treated
men as equals did not mean he was an outright
communist.
7. IT LOST MUCH-NEEDED SUPPORT AFTER
THE RIZAL MEETING.
We all already know how the Katipunan respected
Rizal’s advice so much they sent Pio Valenzuela to Dapitan

liberate the Philippines. Although the Japanese agreed
to sell to the Filipinos much-needed arms and ammo, the
deal never transpired due to a lack of funds and because
the revolution broke out prematurely.

to secure his blessing for an armed revolution. However,
instead of saying yes, Rizal denounced their plan as
premature and urged them to gather more material
support from wealthy Filipinos if they wanted to really win.
Disappointed by Rizal’s hesitation to support the
revolution, Bonifacio was said to have called him a coward
and ordered Valenzuela to keep silent on the matter lest it
affect the morale of their men. However, Valenzuela was
reportedly compelled to reveal the details of his meeting
with Rizal by the top leaders of the Katipunan.
Hearing the news of Rizal’s refusal to endorse an
armed uprising, many of the wealthier supporters of the
Katipunan withdrew their support to the movement while
many rank-and-file members lost heart.
8. IT TRIED TO GET JAPAN’S HELP.
The Katipunan looked to Japan as a source of
potential aid. At the time, Japan had been a shining
example of defiance against Western influence and the
Katipuneros hoped that the Japanese would help them
fight the Spanish. In fact, the Katipunan’s Big Three along
with Daniel Tirona and interpreter Tagawa “Jose” Moritaro
secretly met with the captain of a Japanese warship and
the Japanese consul in Manila on May 1896.
At the meeting, the Katipunan handed to the captain
their letter to the Japanese emperor asking for help to

9. THE BONIFACIO PLAN.
Another misconception that needs to be dispelled
is the notion that Bonifacio was a terrible strategist. On
the contrary, he actually planned to take Intramuros—
the seat of the Spanish government—to take out their
leadership in a decapitation strike and while most of
their forces were still stationed in Mindanao.
But the plan failed as the rebels from Cavite did not
join the battle. According to them, Bonifacio failed to
raise the signal for them to march to Intramuros. Many
variations of the signal in question have been put forth
including fireworks, cannonfire, balloons, and even a
blackout in Bagumbayan.
10. THE LITTLE-KNOWN REVOLTS IN
MINDANAO.
So much attention has been focused on the
revolution in Luzon and in Visayas that we have
forgotten Mindanao had also been turned into a
battlefield. Specifically, the “Calaganan Mutiny” and the
establishment of the Republic of Zamboanga prove the
fight for freedom was a national endeavor.
The mutiny was said to have started a month
after full-blown hostilities broke out in Luzon. The
mutineers—reported to be conscripts, KKK deportees
from Luzon, lumads and Moros—initiated a revolt in
Lanao del Norte which then spread to neighboring areas
including Bukidnon and Cagayan.
The Republic of Zamboanga was formally established
on May 18, 1899 after the Spaniards surrendered and
evacuated the city. It existed for another four years
before the Americans finally dissolved it.

[Used with permission. Abridged version. For full text and reference, see www.filipiknow.net].

ANG KALATAS

JUNE 2015

15