Philippine Revolution and Birth of the Republic PDF

(THE REVOLUTION AND THE BIRTH OF THE PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC) THE CAVITE MUTINY The mutiny at the navy arsenal in Cavite is as a watershed event in Philippine history. Filipino historians considered it as the birth of Filipino nationalism. In th...

(THE REVOLUTION AND THE BIRTH OF THE PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC) THE CAVITE MUTINY The mutiny at the navy arsenal in Cavite is as a watershed event in Philippine history. Filipino historians considered it as the birth of Filipino nationalism. In this event, the natives of the Philippines realized their common oppression as colonial subjects and that they need to struggle as a nation. The root of the birth nationalism begins with the members of educated class began to see some defects in Philippine society that needs to be changed: (1) issue of secularization, (2) unjust eviction and very high fees to the peasants, and (3) high taxes and restoring forced labor. The seculars and liberal laymen accused by the Spaniards of being part of a conspiracy of separating the Philippine from Spain. The following are three versions of the Cavite Mutiny by a Frenchman Edmund Plauchut, a Spaniard Jose Montero Y Vidal and a Filipino, Dr. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera. THE CAVITE MUTINY OF 1872 AND THE MARTYRDOM OF GOMBURZA BY EDMUND PLAUCHUT Mr. Edmund Plauchut, a French writer, who was then residing in Manila, witnessed the execution of Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora. His account of the Cavity Mutiny of 1872 was published originally in the Parisian periodical “Revue des deux mondes” (Review of the Two Worlds) March, April and June 1877. A Spanish translation was printed in La Solidaridad in Madrid, February 15, 1892. The Tagalog translation, written by Patricio Mariano, was published in Manila, 1916. “The best and biggest curacies in the Philippines, ever since the arrival here of the Spaniards, were administered by Filipino priests and Augustinian friars. When it became known what good fortune there was to be enjoyed in Oceania, they flocked here petitioning that they been trusted, with the saving of souls but in reality aiming to acquire wealth. The provinces were partitioned amongst them in order that there would be no quarrels, and rich Pampanga, which from the very beginning had always been in the hands of the Filipino priests, was given to the Augustinians; Cavite to the Dominicans; Visayas to the Recollects; and Mindanao to the Franciscans.” “Thanks to the support given to the Filipino priests by their bishops, some of the latter were able to remain in their respective curacies. But in 1870, there started another grabbing of curacies, and the Archbishop of Manila thought it is his duty to protest to the government in Madrid…” “After the protest was sent to Spain, the Archbishop of Manila sent for the curate of the cathedral, Padre Jose Burgos, inviting him and his friends to sign a pledge of fidelity and loyalty to Spain. After a moment of vacillation, Padre Burgos acceded to the request of the archbishop and took the trouble to gather the signatures of the others. This document, later on, was twisted as a revolutionary manifesto, and the signatories thereof, about 300 in all, were considered traitors, rebels and filibusteros.” “As is usually the case, the Madrid government did not pay attention to the observations of the archbishop nor to the petitions of the secular clergy. The Filipino priests, after the Revolution of 1868 in Spain, had been taking advantage of the freedom of the press, and had been defending themselves in the newspapers of the peninsula. But the Governor-General prohibited the entry into the Philippines of the Spanish El Correo de Ultramar, which did not, in reality have any definite political color. “At the time too, there was in Manila a public celebration occasioned by the transfer of the remains of D. Simon de Anda y Salazar from the cathedral to the church of Francisco.” “Because of the fearful significance of what had happened in the church of San Agustin, General La Torre decided to do something for the welfare of people of the colony. ….At the same time, there was created by the government in Madrid a committee to investigate the same problems submitted to the Manila committee. When the two committees finished their work. It was found that they came to the same conclusions. THE SUMMARY OF THE REFORMS THAT THEY CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO INTRODUCE: 1. Changes in the tariff (taripa/tax na ipinapataw sa mga imported products mula sa malalayang bansa) rates at customs and the methods of their collection. 2. Removal of surcharges (additional fees or taxes that are added to the purchase price of goods and services) on foreign importations. 3. Reduction of export fees” 4. Permission for foreigners to reside in the Philippines, buy real estate, enjoy freedom of worship and operate commercial transports flying the Spanish flag. 5. Establishment of an advisory council to inform the Minister of Overseas Affairs in Madrid on the necessary reforms to be implemented. 6. Changes in primary and secondary education. 7. Establishment of an Institute of Civil Administration in the Philippines, rendering unnecessary the sending home of short-term civil officials everytime there is a change of ministry. 8. Study of the direct-tax system. 9. Abolition of the tobacco monopoly.” “The arrival in Manila in 1871 of General Rafael Izquierdo y Gutierrez put a sudden end to all dreams of reforms. “The Philippines under administration of Governor-General Rafael Izquierdo y Gutierrez: 1. Because of the desire to repress the growth of liberal teachings, he suspended the opening of the Society of Arts and Trades to be opened in March 1871. 2. The harmonious relationship between the Spanish and Filipino artillerymen was destroyed when they ordered the two units should be fused into one. 3. The newspapers in Manila could publish only those which were permitted to be published by the board of censors, so nobody could protest to such changes. 4. The Filipinos had a duty to render service on public roads construction and pay taxes every year. 5. A decree by the Governor-General withdrew from such old employees their retirement privileges and declassified them into the ranks of those who work on the public roads. “It was not long after this new order was announced that forty men of the marine infantry, together with 22 artillerymen, attacked and captured the Fort of San Felipe in Cavite.” “News of that revolt reached Manila the morning that followed and there, it must be understood, there was no public disturbance at all. A force consisting of two regiments of infantry, a brigade of artillery carrying four cannons headed by General Felipe Ginoves Espinar proceeded to Cavite to subdue the rebels.” “What the Vice-Governor did was to let them approach till they were about fifteen steps away and then he commanded his soldiers to mow down with gunfire the entire rebel contingent.” “The plan of the rebels, according to the most reliable rumors which went around, was known to some people in Manila and in the provinces. But the truth of the matter was that on the same day, the news of the rebellion reached Manila, the following were apprehended and brought to prison: Jose Burgos, Agustin Mendoza (curate of Sta. Cruz), Mariano Gomez (curate of Bakoor), Feliciano Gomez, Antonio Ma. Regidor (well-known lawyer and counselor), Joaquin Pardo de Tavera (government adviser), Enrique Paraiso, Pio Basa, Jose Basa, Maximo Paterno, Crisanto Reyes, Ramon Maurente and many, many others who were seized later.”  “Some of the sergeants and soldiers who were taken inside Fort San Felipe were hailed before a military court and summarily shot in Cavite, while some others were shot in Manila. The men of the marine infantry were also sentenced to be shot, but at the request of the admiral, their sentence was commuted to ten years at hard labor in Palawan and Mindanao, dangerous places of banishment.” “The priests, the lawyers and the businessmen who were accused likewise brought before a special military tribunal. ” “After eight hours of debate, the military court decreed the execution of the priests Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez and Jacinto Zamora. One surnamed Saldua (Francisco Zaldua), who was hopefully waiting for his pardon since it was he who denounced the alleged traitors to the government, was also sentenced to be executed along with the three priests.” “Enrique Paraiso and Jose Basa Enriquez were sentenced to ten years at hard labor together with the vicars Mendoza, Guevara, Feliciano Gomez, Laza, Desiderio, Dandan, del Pilar and etc.” “…lawyers and businessmen like Regidor, Paterno, Pardo, Mauricio and many others, all of them to be banished to the Marianas for a period of from two to eight years.” “It was eleven o’clock at night on the 15th of February, 1872, when the military court rendered its decision on the case against the three priests. “The accused were herded inside the fortress and the following day at 5:00am, the dreadful message of the death sentence was delivered to them by a government representative.” “The whole day of the 15th of February, up to the morning of the 16th, the people never got tired of visiting the chapel where the condemned were confined. …About 40,000 people, almost all in mourning black, crowded into the space between the cells and the four garrote platforms.” “At seven in the morning the doleful roll of drums announced to all that the funeral procession was starting and complete stillness descended upon the multitude.” “Saldua was the first to climb the garrote platform. Gone was the self assured work on his face which he displayed earlier. His gaze was fixed in the distance, impatient at the failure of the pardon-bearing messenger to arrive. The messenger did not show up and the executioner, as may be supposed, put an end to his hopes.” “Padre Gomez was the next to be called. His Recollect confessor kept  advising him in a loud voice to receive calmly and with full resignation the consequences of manmade justice.” “When Zamora heard his name, he climbed up to the platform without a word, sat at the assigned place, and did nothing else but to place himself in the hands of the executioner. For two days he had been insane as a result of his sufferings.” “Padre Burgos was the only one left. Being the son of a Spaniard, his punishment should be heavier and so it was ordered that he be executed last. Burgos continued climbing up and sat down on the fatal seat. In one brief moment he stood up and shouted, “But what crime have I committed? Shall I die in this manner? Is there no justice on earth? …Before the executioner started to do his work, he knelt before Padre Burgos and said, “My father, please forgive me for being your executioner. I do not want to do this work.” “My son, I forgive you. Perform your duty” were Padre Burgos’ last words. The executioner made the sign of the cross and after a few minutes, the soul of Padre Burgos departed.” THE ANTI-FRIAR MANIFESTO OF 1888 On March 1, 1888, Manila woke up to a noisy demonstration led by members of the Filipino middle class. The demonstrators who included gobernadorcillos of the towns around Manila marched through the city streets towards the Ayuntamiento or the city hall of Manila. They were led by Doroteo Cortes, Marcelo H. del Pilar and Jose A. Ramos. They were protesting what they called the frailocracy-the rule of the friars in the Philippines. The focus of their protest was Archbishop Pedro Payo, O.P. The friars were accused of having long interfering with the political and social life in the Philippines. The demonstrators demanded the expulsion of the friars of the Philippines. The friars retaliated by ordering the arrest of those involved in the demonstration. The following year, the Queen issued an amnesty pardoning the demonstrators. Cortes, del Pilar and Ramos, on the other hand, evaded arrest were forced to flee outside the Philippines. THE WORKS OF THE REVOLUTIONARIES Filipino revolutionaries produced a body of written work as part of their propaganda. These works are aimed to satisfy their political agenda and to inform the public as well as its followers what they were fighting for. The Philippine Reform Movement had failed in its attempts in seeking peaceful change from Spain. The campaign for reforms was met with suspicion and hostility from the Spanish authorities. Seeing the futility (lack of effectiveness) of seeking reforms, some Filipinos moved towards seeking separation and independence from Spain. The revolutionaries aimed to bring back the freedoms enjoyed by their ancestors with their united and determined effort. THE WORKS OF THE REVOLUTIONARIES (ANDRES BONIFACIO) Andres Bonifacio (1863-1897), originally believed in reforms and was a member of La Liga Filipina which was founded by Jose Rizal. The arrest and deportation of Rizal to Dapitan prompted him and several others to found the Kataas-taasang Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan which sought to fight for independence from Spain. Bonifacio was the third Supremo of the Katipunan which he led from 1895 until his death in 1897. though he was an eloquent speaker and a passionate demagogue, Bonifacio was a poor military leader. The final break came after the Tejeros Convention when the Katipunan was replaced by the Revolutionary Government in which new officials had to be elected. Emilio Aguinaldo was chosen as its President but when Andres Bonifacio was to be proclaimed as Secretary of the Interior, he was opposed by Daniel Tirona. Deeply insulted, Bonifacio declared the elections null and void and went on to create his own government. Bonifacio’s breakaway from the rest of the revolutionary government was seen as a threat by Aguinaldo who ordered his arrest. Bonifacio and his brother, Procopio were arrested by pro Aguinaldo forces and were tried at Naic. They were found GUILTY of PLOTTING TO ASSASSINATE AGUINALDO and were executed on May 10, 1898. ANG DAPAT MABATID NG MGA TAGALOG BY ANDRES BONIFACIO “Ngayon sa lahat ng ito’y ano ang sa mga ginawa nating paggugugol nakikitang b kaguinhawang ibinigay sa ating Bayan? Ano ang nakikita nating pagtupad sa kanilang kapangakuan na siang nagging dahilan ng ating paggugugol? Wala kung di pawang kataksilan ang ganti sa ating mga pagpapala at mga pagtupad sa kanilang ipinangakung tayo’y lalung guiguisingin sa kagalingan ay bagkus tayong binulag, inihawa tayo sa kanilang hamak na asal, pinilit na sinira ang mahal at magandang ugali ng ating Bayan; Yminulat tayo sa isang maling pagsampalataya at isinadlak sa lubak ng kasamaan ang kapurihan ng ating Bayan; at kung tayo’y mangahas humingi ng kahit gabahid na lingap, ang naguiguing kasagutan ay ang tayo’y itapon at ilayo sa piling ng ating minamahal na anak, asawa at matandang magulang. Ang bawat isang himutok na pumulas sa ating dibdib ay itinuturing na isang malaking pagkakasala at karakarakang nilalapatan ng sa hayop na kabangisan.” “Panahon na ngayong dapat na lumitaw ang liwanag ng katotohanan; panahon ng dapat nating ipakilala na tayo’y may sariling pagdaramdam, may puri, may hiya at pagdadamayan. Ngayon panahun ng dapat simulan ang pagsisiwalat ng mga mahal at dakilang aral na magwawasak sa masinsing tabing na bumubulag sa ating kaisipan; panahun na ngayong dapat makilala ng mga tagalog ang pinagbuhatan ng kanilang mga kahirapan. Araw na itong dapat kilalanin na sa bawat isang hakbang ay tumutuntong tayo at nabibingit sa malalim na hukay ng kamatayan na sa ati’y inuumang ng mga kaaway.. “Kaya! oh mga kababayan! Ating idilat ang bulag na kaisipan at kusang igugol sa kagalingan ang ating lakas sa tunay at lubos na pag-asa na magtagumpay sa nilalayong kaguihawahan ng bayang tinubuan. THE WORKS OF THE REVOLUTIONARIES (EMILIO JACINTO)  Emilio Jacinto (1875-1899) is remembered as the Brains of the Katipunan. He lost his father at a very young age and he was raised by his mother and uncle. He studied at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran where he obtained the degree of bachelor of arts. Later, he enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas to study law. It was during this time when Jacinto joined the Katipunan and was known by his pseudonym (pen name) o (sagisag-panulat) “Pingkian” and he became the editor of the Katipunan newspaper “Kalayaan”. As one of the main leaders of the Katipunan, Jacinto authored the Kartilya or the primer of the Katipunan which was adopted by Bonifacio. The Kartilya contains a code of conduct for the Katipuneros and it reveals that aside from seeking political and social change, the Katipunan aims to create a moral change for its members and it aspires that this Kartilya will instill moral and patriotic values for the Filipinos in general. In the Katipunan, Jacinto served as its secretary and fiscal. He fought in Laguna and Morong and while he was fighting in Laguna, he was wounded and captured by the Spaniards. He was saved from execution when he passed himself off as a spy working for the Spaniards. Upon his release, Jacinto refused an offer to be the adviser to Aguinaldo because he believed that Aguinaldo had a hand to the death of Andres Bonifacio. Jacinto decided to live the simple life as a meat merchant. In 1899, Jacinto was afflicted with malaria and in his state, he was also afflicted by dysentery which caused his death. He died on April 16, 1899 in Majayjay, Laguna. KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN BY EMILIO JACINTO 1.Ang kabuhayang hindi ginugugol sa isang malaki at banal na kadahilanan ay kahoy na walang lilim, kundi damong makamandag. 2. Ang gawang magaling na nagbubuhat sa pagpipita sa sarili, at hindi sa talagang nasang gumawa ng kagalingan, ay di kabaitan. 3. Ang tunay na kabanalan ay ang pagkakawang gawa, ang pag-ibig sa kapua at ang isukat ang bawat kilos, gawa’t pangungusap sa talagang Katuiran. 4. Maitim man at maputi ang kulay ng balat, lahat ng tao’y magkakapantay; mangyayaring ang isa’y higtan sa dunong, sa yaman, sa ganda ngunit di mahihigitan sa pagkatao. 5. Ang may mataas na kalooban inuuna ang puri sa pagpipita sa sarili; ang may hamak na kalooban inuuna ang pagpipita sa sarili sa puri. 6. Sa taong may hiya, salita’y panunumpa. 7. Huag mong sasayangin ang panahun; ang yamang nawala’y magyayaring magbalik; ngunit panahong nagdaan na’y di na muli pang magdadaan. 8. Ipagtanggol mo ang inaapi at kabakahin ang umaapi. 9. Ang taong matalino’y ang may pagiingat sa bawat sasabihin at matutong ipaglihim ang dapat ipaglihim. 10. Sa daang matinik ng kabuhayan, lalaki ay siyang patnugot ng asawa’t mga anak; kung ang umaakay ay tungo sa sama, ang patutunguhan ng iaakay ay kasamaan din. 11. Ang babai ay huag mong tignang isang bagay na libangan lamang, kundi isang katuang at karamay sa mga kahirapan nitong kabuhayan; gamitan mo ng buong pagpipitagan ang kanyang kahinaan, at alalahanin ang inang pinagbuhata’t nagiwi sa iyong kasangulan. 12. Ang di mo ibig na gawin sa asawa mo, anak at kapatid, ay huag mong gagawin sa asawa, anak, at kapatid ng iba. 13. Ang kamahalan ng tao’y wala sa pagkahari, wala sa tangus ng ilong at puti ng mukha, wala sa pagkaparing kahalili ng Dios wala sa mataas na kalagayan sa balat ng lupa; wagas at tunay na mahal na tao, kahit laking gubat at walang nababatid kundi ang sariling wika, yaong may magandang asal, may isang pangungusap, may dangal at puri; yaong di napaaapi’t di nakikiapi; yaong marunong magdamdam at marunong lumingap sa bayang tinubuan. 14. Paglaganap ng mga aral na ito at maningning na sumikat ang araw ng mahal na kalayaan dito sa kaabaabang Sangkalupaan, at sabugan ng matamis niyang liwanag ang nangagkaisang magkalahi’t magkakapatid ng ligaya ng walang katapusan, ang mga ginugol na buhay, pagud, at mga tiniis na kahirapa’y labis nang natumbasan. Kung lahat ng ito’y mataruk na ng nagiibig pumasuk at inaakala niyang matutupad ang mga tutungkulin, maitatala ang kaniyang ninanasa sa kasunod nito. AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION AND THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN WAR  Eyewitness accounts are very important historical sources because these are made by people who were actually there during the occurrence of the event. Eyewitness accounts also give the reader a feel about the time and the place and the sentiment of the person who narrated the event. The readers of eyewitness accounts may also deduce the bias of the storyteller. Accounts from the Spanish side in the Philippine Revolution would naturally have a pro-Spanish bias while that from a Filipino source will have a pro-Filipino bias. Eyewitness accounts may tend to be self-serving. As eyewitnesses, they are in the direct contact of the event. If they were participants in the event, they would naturally portray themselves in the most possible light. They may justify themselves and their actions or hide, mask or at least reduce their faults. FR. MARIANO GIL One of the eyewitness accounts was that of Fr. Mariano Gil who narrated how he discovered the Katipunan. Fr. Gil was the Augustinian curate of Tondo and it was through him that Teodoro Patiño betrayed the secrets of the Katipunan. Fr. Gil was born in Carrion delos Condes in Valencia, Spain. He joined the Augustinian Order in Valldolid in 1867 and he came to the Philippines in 1873. He served as the curate of Baliwag, Bigaa, Pulilan and Norzagaray. His assignments in these Tagalog towns enabled him to master the language. In 1889, he became curate of Tondo, the birthplace of Katipunan. Fr. Gil returned to Spain after the revolution and died on December 11, 1903 at the age of 54. FR. MARIANO GIL NARRATES THE DISCOVERY OF KATIPUNAN Fr. Gil was one of those Spaniards trying zealously to secure evidence of the existence of the Katipunan. He considered Governor-General Ramon Blanco an inept official who thought the existence of the Katipunan was the work of “friars and some fanatical Spaniards”. According to Fr. Gil, Teodoro Patiño had a personal feud with Apolonio dela Cruz, a Katipunero. Both were employees of the newspaper “Diario de Manila”. Patiño was angry because of an anonymous letter to the plant manager pointed to him as the pilferer of some of the company equipment. Apparently, the incident involving the anonymous letter prompted Patiño to betray the Katipunan with revenge as his motive. He knew that his fellow workers in the printing press were Katipuneros and revealed the existence of the organization to his sister, Honoria, an inmate nun at the Augustinian orphanage in Mandaluyong. Upon hearing the story from Honoria, the Mother Portress of the orphanage convinced Patiño to tell his story to Fr. Gil. Understandably, the Spaniards praised Patiño by calling his name “a sweet name”. As a reward for his role in the betrayal of the Katipunan, Patiño received protection from the Spanish government during the Philippine Revolution. When the Philippines to the United States, Patiño was with General Diego delos Rios, the last Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines. He was evacuated to Spain when the Spanish troops left the Philippines. Patiño stayed in Spain for one and a half year “living like a duke at the expense of the Spaniards”. Later he returned to the Philippines and lived in his hometown in Dao, Capiz then he returned to Manila where he married his second wife, Wenceslawa Dulfo on August 16, 1902. Patiño lived in Sampaloc. At the time of his second marriage, he was a sergeant of the Manila police. He died on May 8, 1910, a victim of cholera at the age of 45. HILARION MARTINEZ NARRATES THE EXECUTION OF JOSE RIZAL One of those who were very close to the hero when he was shot was Hilarion Martinez, a member of the drummer corps which accompanied the firing squad. Martinez, who was only 20 years old then described Rizal at very calm and composed as he faced his death. He was only a few paces from him. Fifty-three later, Martinez, who at that time was 72 years old and retired employee of the Sheriff’s Office of Manila, told his eyewitness story to Mr. Alberto Mendoza of the Manila Times which was published in the issue of the Sunday Manila Times on December 29, 1949. Later, Martinez joined the Filipino Revolutionary forces and served under the command of General Pantaleon Garcia and Colonel Rosendo Samson during the Filipino-American War. He rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant and was captured by the Americans when his group attacked an enemy cavalry unit in Tondo. He was imprisoned at Intramuros for eight months. He was subsequently transferred to Cavite and imprisoned there until the end of what the American called the Philippine Insurrection against the United States. GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO: MGA GUNITA NG HIMAGSIKAN In his long and eventful life, General Emilio Aguinaldo wrote his life’s story which centered on his role in the Philippine Revolution. Gen. Aguinaldo published his book “Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan” in 1964. In this book, he was able to narrate his accounts on election of Tejeros Convention and his other accounts on Philippine Revolution. APOLINARIO MABINI, THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION Known as the General Emilio Aguinaldo’s chief adviser, Apolinario Mabini was an eyewitness to the Philippine Revolution and the Filipino-American War. He had personal knowledge of the events and major personalities of those periods. He was a member of the La Liga Filipina which Rizal founded and became an official of the Cuerpo de Compromisarios which succeeded La Liga. Mabini avoided execution for complicity in the Philippine Revolution because of his paralysis and was confined at the San Juan de Dios Hospital during the first half of the Philippine Revolution. Mabini joined it during the second half when he became Aguinaldo’s chief adviser. One of Mabini’s writings was the Revolucion Filipina was written by Mabini when he was an exile in Guam. It was a recollection of events of this important phase in Philippine history. APOLINARIO MABINI DESCRIBE’S RIZAL EXECUTION IN THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION In contrast to Burgos who wept because he died guiltless, Rizal went to the execution ground calm and even cheerful, to show that he was happy to sacrifice his life, which he had dedicated to the good of all the Filipinos, confident that in love and gratitude they would always remember him and follow his example and teaching.” “He had known perfectly well that, if he denounced the abuses which the Spaniards were committing in the Philippines, they would not sleep in peace until they had encompassed his ruin; yet he did so because, if the abuses were not exposed, they would be remedied. “From the day Rizal understood the misfortunes of his native land and decided to work to redress them, his vivid imagination never ceased to picture to him at every moment of his life the terrors of the death that awaited him; thus he learned not to fear it and had no fear when it came to take him away; the life of Rizal, from the time he dedicated it to the service of his native land, was therefore a continuing death, bravely endured until the end for love of his countrymen.” MABINI BLAMES AGUINALDO FOR END AND FALL OF THE REVOLUTION "...Luna would have succeeded in imposing and maintaining discipline if Aguinaldo had supported him with all the power of his prestige and authority, but the latter was also beginning to grow jealous, seeing Luna slowly gain ascendancy by his bravery, audacity and military skill. All those affronted by his actuations were inducing Aguinaldo to believe that Luna was plotting to wrest from him the supreme authority." "The death of Andres Bonifacio had plainly shown in Mr. Aguinaldo a boundless appetite for power and Luna's personal enemies exploited this weakness of Aguinaldo with skillful intrigues in order to encompass Luna's ruin."  "To say that if Aguinaldo, instead of killing Luna had supported him with all his power, the Revolution would have triumphed…” "With Luna, its most firm support, fell the Revolution and the ignominy of that fall bearing wholly on Aguinaldo, brought about in turn his own moral death, a thousand times more bitter than physical death. Aguinaldo therefore ruined himself, damned by his own deeds. Thus are great crimes punished by Providence." "To sum it up, the Revolution failed because it was badly led.... instead of supporting the men most useful to the people, he made them useless out of jealousy. Identifying the aggrandizement of the people with his own, he judged the worth of men, not by their ability, character and patriotism but rather by their degree of friendship and kinship with him…” DECLARATION OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE (KAWIT, JUNE 12, 1898) On June 12, 1898, three weeks after General Emilio Aguinaldo established the Dictatorial Government, the Philippines celebrated its first "Independence Day" amidst jovial festivities at Kawit, Cavite Province. *This historic celebration was highlighted by the hoisting of the new Philippine Flag, which was sewn by Mrs. Marcela Agoncillo in Hong Kong, at the balcony of General Aguinaldo's house, to the stirring tune of the Philippine National Anthem (Marcha Nacional Filipina) composed by Julian Felipe, a patriotic Caviteño music maestro. "After the flag ceremony, Atty. Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Aguinaldo's adviser, solemnly read the Philippine Declaration of Independence which he had written in Spanish.