Traitors

In 1989, I was given access to original documents on Andres Bonifacio from the collection of Epifanio de los Santos, the historian honored by the most important road in Metro Manila. I was drawn to Bonifacio’s handsome penmanship, written on printed letterhead. His elegant, flowing signature carried both his Christian name and his Katipunan alias “Maypagasa” (There is hope). His signature was authenticated, made official, by an intricate seal. From a handful of seals used by the Katipunan leadership on official correspondence and circulars, one has come out of hiding. It was presented to the historian Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera as a gift from Julio Nakpil (high-ranking Katipunero who later married Bonifacio’s widow, Gregoria de Jesus). It is on the block at Leon Gallery.

Various seals are found on the papers of the Katipunan (First Phase of the Philippine Revolution, 1896-1897, under Bonifacio) and on the “Philippine Insurgent Records” (Second Phase of the Philippine Revolution, 1898-1901, under Emilio Aguinaldo). The Katipunan seal has a sun with the baybayin character “Ka” for Katipunan at the center. Others have the mythological sun with eyes, nose, and mouth. The sun can be set with stars (like the flag), or behind mountains to suggest daybreak or “bukang liwayway.” Impressed in either black, red, or blue ink, does the color have meaning? Or was it the only ink available? Both as art and symbol, these seals deserve further research.

Other primary sources on the Katipunan are preserved in Spain: in the archives of the religious orders, and the Archivo General Militar de Madrid. Documents captured by the Spanish authorities include: Katipunan oaths, signed in blood; documents in the hand of Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto; even printed forms like the three-question exam taken by applicants to the Katipunan: What was the state of the motherland before the Spanish conquest? What is the state of the motherland at present? What is the state of the motherland in the future?

A curious document marked “TAKSIL” (Traitor) has a series of smudges imaginatively described as “fingerprints formed from blood.” These are actually remnants of glue on which 14 photographs of Katipuneros were formerly affixed. The names and aliases of these 14 traitors are as follows:

“Restituto Javier (Mapangahas/Audacious), Faustino Mañalak (Mayon), Roman Baza (Liwanag/Light), Antonio Arocha (Dorado/Gilded), Julian Nepomuceno (Digma/War), Pedro Trinidad (Maliksi/Nimble), Eueuterio de Guzman (Lintik/Lightning), Marcelo Santos (Tahin), Pedro Zabala (Pagpalain/Blessed), Tomas Benigno (Foremige), Luis Velasco (Kulog/Thunder), Benito Jose (Palaso/Arrow), Doroteo Dominguez (Abang/Brother), and Eustaquio Santos (Orani).”

Another 15 names follow with physical descriptions. Five were from the Manila suburb of Santa Cruz: Lorenzo Alonso, married, sculptor, resides in Calle Misericordia, blind in one eye; Manuel Ureta (Mahusay/Skillful), married, employee of Casa M. Ulman, thin, dark, excitable, around 40-50 years old; Teodorico Guerrero (Kidlat/Lightning) married, clerk at the Diario de Manila, thin, brown (kayumanggi) around 30-35 years old; Andres Flores (Matigas/Hard), widower, silversmith, tall, bald, eccentric, has a bad face, 40-45 years old; and Telesforo Reyes (Marahas/Violent) single, recently released from Bilibid, baby face (mukang pitong buang anac), 18 or 20 years old.

Aside from Marcelo Badel (Tubong) who was described as a member of the secret police, others who lived close to Manila were: Doroteo Lopez (Silang/East) native of Trozo, Binondo, single, licensed land surveyor, resident of Calle Benavides, arrogant (lakad hambog); Antonio Nadal (Mercurio), native of Quiapo, married a second time, machinist in Manila, bent shoulders, short hair, from 35 to 40 years old; Eulogio Rodriguez, from Sampaloc, widower, bookbinder, “mapawas ang mukha,” double chin, long hair, and cohabiting with a woman out of marriage, 40 or 45 years old; and Gregorio del Rosario, native of Camarines, married, employee of Casa Ulman, fat, stocky, kayumanggi, resident of Imaos, Trozo, 25-45 years old.

Juan Guerrero (Kalipulaku/Lapulapu) native of Tanjay, Cavite, married, moneylender, fat, likes to wear black stripes (redillo negro), “magaspang ang mukha” from 25-40 years old. Juan Florentino, native of Cavite, machinist, scarred by smallpox (tadtad ng bulutong), talkative, elegant, 30-35 years old. Arcadio de Jesus (Marikit/Beautiful) from Caloocan, married, good-looking, often goes about barefoot (madalas lumakad ng walang sinelas) 25 to 30 years old. Could he be related to Bonifacio’s wife, Gregoria de Jesus? Juan de la Cruz (Karing) from Malabon, married, “Habanero,” looks like a Castilian, has deep gray eyes, 33 years old. Andres Perez (Pana) from Caloocan, single, tailor, short (pandak), “kayumangue,” round-faced, short hair, 40 years old.