Tejeros Convention

Tejeros Convention

  The Estate House of Tejeros and Bonifacio furious at Tirona

The Tejeros convention which was held on March 22, 1897 only worsened the rivalry between the two faction of the Katipunan. The aim of the convention was to form a central revolutionary government that would unite the two councils. An election of officers was held in Tejeros. Although he was away fighting the Spaniards in Dasmarinas, Cavite, Emilio Aguinaldo was elected president of the new revolutionary government.  Bonifacio was nominated for the position of director of the interior, but Daniel Tirona of Kawit stood up and questioned his ability to hold that job. Tirona said that the position needed someone with a law degree. Bonifacio took Tirona’s words as an insult. He declared that, as the leader of the Katipunan, all the acts of the Tejeros convention were unlawful. Hurt and angry, he left with his wife, his two brothers, and some trusted bodyguards. A day later Emilio Aguinaldo became president of the new revolutionary government. He was sworn into office along with other elected officials, most of whom were Cavitenos. Bonifacio was not present.

     The Tejeros Convention (alternate names include Tejeros Assembly and Tejeros Congress) was the meeting held between the Magdiwang and Magdalo factions of the Katipunan at San Francisco de Malabon,Cavite on March 22, 1897. These are the first presidential and vice presidential elections in Philippine history, although only the Katipuneros (members of the Katipunan) were able to take part, and not the general populace.

The convention was called to discuss the defense of Cavite against the Spaniards during the Philippine Revolution. The contemporary Governor general, Camilo de Polavieja, had regained much of Cavite itself. Instead, the convention became an election to decide the leaders of the revolutionary movement, bypassing the Supreme Council.

Andrés Bonifacio, the contemporary Supremo (supreme leader) of the Katipunan presided over the election. He secured the unanimous approval that the decision would not be questioned.

 Summary of the March 22, 1897 Philippine presidential Philippine presidential election, 1897

Candidate	Party	Results
		Votes	%
Emilio Aguinaldo	Magdalo Party	146	57.03%
Andres Bonifacio	Magdiwang Party	80	31.25%
Mariano Trias	Magdalo Party	30	11.72%
Valid votes		256	100.00%
Votes cast		256	100.00%
Registered voters		256	100.00%

Andres Bonifacio

Emilio Aguinaldo

Mariano Trias

Nominee Emilio Aguinaldo Andrés Bonifacio Mariano Trias Party Magdalo Party Magdiwang Party Magdalo Party Popular vote 146 80 30 Percentage 57.03% 31.25% 11.72%

President before election None Elected President Emilio Aguinaldo Magdalo Party

    

Director of the Interior  Andrés Bonifacio

      Aguinaldo, who was busy at a military front in Imus, won the election. Bonifacio's position fell to Director of the Interior.

        Bonifacio, who was not formally educated, accepted the decision but not before insisting on a recount of the votes. Supporters such as Severino de las Alas made abortive efforts to help make Bonifacio vice president. However, Daniel Tirona, a Caviteño (a native of Cavite), objected that the post should not be occupied by a person without a lawyer's diploma. He suggested a Caviteño lawyer, Jose del Rosario, for the position. Bonifacio, clearly insulted, demanded that Tirona retract the remark. When Tirona made to leave instead, Bonifacio drew a pistol and was about to fire at Tirona, but stopped when Ricarte grabbed his arm. Bonifacio then voided the convention as Supremo of the Katipunan.

 Summary of the March 22, 1897 Philippine presidential Philippine presidential election, 1897

Candidate                                  Party                                  Results

Votes    %

Emilio Aguinaldo               Magdalo Party                      146         57.03%

Andres Bonifacio               Magdiwang Party                  80           31.25%

Mariano Trias                    Magdalo Party                       30           11.72%

Valid votes                                                                         256         100.00%

Votes cast                                                                           256         100.00%

Registered voters                                                              256         100.00%

The results of the election:

Position                                   Name

President                       Emilio Aguinaldo

Vice-President             Mariano Trías

Captain-General          Artemio Ricarte

Director of War            Emiliano Riego de Dios

http://masternoel.tripod.com/compdev/page42.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tejeros_Convention

                                                      

Basilica del Sto. Niño and its History

Basilica  Minore del Sto. Niño

History

      The discovery of the Philippines is linked to Spain's glorious chain of conquests. On September 20, 1519, a fleet of five galleons commanded by Portuguese Navigator Ferdinand Magellan at the service of the king and queen of Spain set sailed from San Lucar de Barrameda to search for the Spice Islands. They did not find the spice island, instead they landed in Limasawa, a small island south of Leyte in the central part of the Philippines. Magellan took possession of the islands and named it after King Philip of Spain.

          Magellan's expedition headed for Cebu and found the island very hospitable. He made Cebu the base of his exploration, Christianization and conquests. King Humabon and Queen Juana of Cebu gave him a warm reception and embraced Christianity as well. As gratitude to his hospitality, Magellan agreed to fight with king Humabon who was at war with the neigboring tribe, Mactan. Unfortunately, Magellan was killed in the battle. His men returned to Spain, and that same expedition has set the record to be the first to circumnavigate the earth.

                Spain sent another expedition to the Far East Region. An Augustinian priest, named Andres Urdaneta, a world-known cosmographer who lived inside the monastic walls of the Augustinian monastery in Mexico was summoned to lead the expedition. On November 21, a memorable expedition left Mexico for the Philippines and arrived in Cebu on April 27, 1565.

DISCOVERY OF THE IMAGE 

OF THE SANTO NIÑO

     Because of Cebuanos suspicion that their return is bringing retribution to Magellan's death, another battle broke out. But heavy artilleries and huge cannons forced the natives to flee to the mountain leaving behind their villages burnt to the ground. As Spanish soldiers inspected the burnt village, one soldier found an image of the Child Jesus under the pile of ashes unscathed inside the wooden box.

      As earlier authenticated entry in the Journal of Pigafetta, clerk in the Magellan expedition, explains the origin of Santo Nino: "On the day Queen Juana was baptized by Father Pedro Valderama, chaplain of that expedition, Pigaffeta himself presented her with the Image." The same Image now lies in the Basilica del Santo Nino and become a favorite destination for millions of pilgrims each year. For four and half centuries now, the Image of Santo Nino continues to make wonders in the lives of many Filipinos. On the third Sunday of each year, in Cebu, millions flock to the streets for a colorful festivity, honoring and placing the Island and the entire Philippines under His Patronage.

              During the last World War, a bomb fell inside the Church but the Image was recovered unscathed. It was one of the numerous miracles and powers attributed to the Holy Image.

            In 1965 the historic Santo Nino Church was renovated for the observance of the Fourth Centenary of the Christianization of the Philippines held in Cebu City. It was during the centennial celebration that the Sacred Congregation of Rites elevated the Santo Nino Church to the rank of Basilica Minore with all the rights and privileges accruing to such title.

 The Founder's Mission:

THE SANTO NINO DE CEBU ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL

In 1968, Sally Famarin brought the devotion to the Holy Infant Jesus to the Bay Area. Her tireless effort has brought national distinction to Americans of Filipino descent, and the Santo Nino Fiesta become a recipient of numerous Proclamations from top US government and ecclesiastical officials as one of the most beautiful celebration and a recognition of the continuing friendship and outstanding achievements of Filipino-American community. 

             The devotion of the Santo Nino was also considered the means of inspiring the highest values in upholding sacred traditions of Philippine culture and heritage here in the Bay Area. Through the late Fr. McGee, pastor of the St. Joseph Church in San Francisco, a marble altar was constructed to enthrone the Image of the Santo Nino de Cebu inside St. Joseph Church. On January 17, 1982 a mass in honor of the Santo Nino was celebrated in thanksgiving for the passing of the US Congress Resolution in recognition of the Shrine as part of National Registry of Cultural and Historical Places. The Vatican and Pope John Paul II also sent an Apostolic Blessing, and said "by this time of writing, the Santo Nino de Cebu is the only Filipino identity that is registered in the National Registry of cultural and Historical Places in Washington D.C·. The Santo Nino in San Francisco strengthen that Image."

         In the 1987 Saint Joseph Church became one of the casualties of the strong earthquake that hit San Francisco and consequently closed.

          Today, the Santo Nino de Cebu Association International at St. Dominic's Church has continued the lead in upholding its centuries-old devotion to the Holy Infant Jesus.

\http://www.santoninodecebu.org/history.html

Caliph Pulaka also known as Lapu-Lapu

Caliph Pulaka also known as Lapu-Lapu

Born : 1491  Death : 1542 

 Caliph Pulaka also known as Lapu-Lapu is celebrated as one of the first persons of Mactan to resist colonization. A descendent of a royal family he was born a King in the year 1491. Known for his courage and skill in warfare, he is regarded as the first Bayani of the Visayas. Lapu-Lapu was believed to be an extraordinary and admired leader.

          His personal and environmental background shaped him not what he wanted to be but what he needed to be – a fighter for freedom from colonialism. His sense of achievement was high due to his independent thinking. Lapu-Lapu became the forefront to the many Bayani’s to come who resisted colonization. He believed in not becoming a slave of another culture, but to be free to live among one’s own culture. 

           He assumed that if he surrendered himself to colonizers, the people of the Viasayas and its neighboring islands would suffer greatly under oppression. 

Achievements

           Lapu-Lapu was the king of Mactan, an island in the Visayas, Philippines, who is known as the first native of the archipelago to have resisted Spanish colonization. He is now regarded as the first Filipino hero. 

            On the morning of April 27, 1521, Lapu-Lapu and the men of Mactan, armed with spears and kampilan, faced Spanish soldiers led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. In what would later be known as the Battle of Mactan, Magellan and several of his men were killed. 
             According to Sulu oral tradition, Lapu-Lapu was a Muslim chieftain, and was also known as " Kaliph Pulaka". The people of Bangsamoro, the Moro homeland in the Philippines, consider him to be a Muslim and a member of the Tausug ethnic group. A variant of the name, as written by Carlos Calao, a 17th century Chinese-Spanish poet in his poem Que Dios Le Perdone ( Spanish, "That God May Forgive Him") is "Cali Pulacu". 

             The 1898 Philippine Declaration of Independence refers to Lapu-Lapu as "King Kalipulako de Maktan". In the 19th century, the reformist Mariano Ponce used a variant name, "Kalipulako", as one of his pseudonyms.

The "Battle of Mactan"

          On the morning of April 27, 1521, Lapu-Lapu and his men, armed with spears faced Spanish soldiers led by Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan. Magellan and his men invaded Mactan.  The fearless Lapu-Lapu stood firm and fought hard in what would later be known as the Battle of Mactan. The battle was furiously fought.  Magellan underestimated the fighting prowess and fierce courage of Lapu-Lapu and his men. A poisoned arrow wounded Magellan in his right leg; twice his helmet was knocked off, and a bamboo spear struck him in the face. He fell face downward, and Lapu-Lapu and his fighters pounced and killed him. The Spanish invaders were beaten and forced to retreat back onto their ships. 

          Lapu-Lapu’s belief system served a great part of his success in the Battle of Mactan. He did not back down from a technologically superior force. Lapu-Lapu is one the first recognized Bayani’s of the Philippines, and he stands today as one of the leaders in Asia who stood up to colonizers and emerged victorious.

Written by Margarita Mansalay

http://www.bayaniart.com/biography-of-lapu-lapu/

Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal y Alonzo Realonda
June 19, 1861- December 30, 1896 

        Jose Rizal is the National Hero of the Philippines. Dr. José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was born June 19, 1861 and died December 30, 1896 in Bagumbayan. His parents Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandro and Teodora Morales Alonzo Realonda y Quintos were prosperous farmers who were granted lease of hacienda.  He was the 7th child of their eleven children.

      Rizal’s life is one of the most documented of the 19th century due to the vast and extensive records written by and about him. Most everything in his short life is recorded somewhere, being himself a regular diarist and prolific letter writer, much of these material having survived. His biographers, however, have faced the difficulty of translating his writings because of Rizal’s habit of switching from one language to another. They drew largely from his travel diaries with their insights of a young Asian encountering the west for the first time.


Rizal was a very prolific author since young age. Among his earliest writings are El Canto de los Dioses, A la juventud filipina, Canto del viajero, Canto de Maria Clara, Me piden verson, Por la ducacion, Junto al Pasig, etc. On his early writings he frequently depicted renowned Spanish explorers, kings and generals, and pictured Education (the Philippines enjoyed a free public system of education established by the Spaniards) as “the breath of life instilling charming virtue”. He had even written of one of his Spanish teachers as having brought “the light of the eternal splendor”.

        Rizal also tried his hand at painting and sculpture. His most famous sculpture work is “The Triumph of Science over Death”, a clay sculpture composed of a naked, young woman standing on a skull while bearing a torch.

Upon his return to Manila in 1892, he formed a civic movement called La Liga Filipina. The league advocated these moderate social reforms through legal means, but was disbanded by the governor. At that time, he had already been declared an enemy of the state by the Spanish authorities because of the publication of his novel.

         Rizal was implicated in the activities of the nascent rebellion and in July 1892, was deported to Dapitan in the province of Zamboanga, a peninsula of Mindanao. There he built a school, a hospital and a water supply system, and taught and engaged in farming and horticulture.

By 1896, the rebellion fomented by the Katipunan, a militant secret society, had become a full-blown revolution, proving to be a nationwide uprising and leading to the first proclamation of a democratic republic in Asia. To dissociate himself, Rizal volunteered and was given leave by the Governor-General, Ramon Blanco, to serve in Cuba to minister to victims of yellow fever. Blanco later was to present his sash and sword to the Rizal family as an apology.

           Moments before his execution by a firing squad of native infantry of the Spanish Army, backed by an insurance force of Spanish troops, the Spanish surgeon general requested to take his pulse; it was normal. Aware of this, the Spanish sergeant in charge of the backup force hushed his men to silence when they began raising ‘¡vivas!’ with the partisan crowd. His last words were those of Jesus Christ: “consummatum est“,–it is finished.

Explanation :

     Dr. Jose P. Rizal was known as Philippine Hero since he do everything just to commit independence and justice to our beloved country. He wrote many books that signify how Filipino maltreated to the Spaniards and other foreign people who visited and own to our land. Noli Me Tangere and El Filibustirismo was one of his writings that made him proved to the people who criticized and underestimate us.  Just like the first novel, it had great effects on the Filipino readers and thus, increased more the anger of those involved in injustices and abuses.When he went home in the Philippines for the second time on June 26, 1892 after passing through and staying in Hongkong from November 1891 to June 1892, he organized Liga Filipina on July 3, 1892 to nationally unify the Filipinos. But he was arrested and deported in Northern Mindanao, particularly Dapitan where he lived for four years and twenty four days - from July 7, 1892 to July 31, 1896. In Dapitan, he lived a useful and peaceful life serving and improving the community as a physician, an engineer, an educator, an artist, a farmer, a businessman, and an inventor. There, he finally met the Irish girl, Josephine Bracken, who became his wife.One September 2, 1896, he left Manila for Spain hoping to contribute his medical skill to combat the yellow fever epidemic in Cuba which was his destination. But he was arrested before reaching Spain and jailed in Barcelona, shipped back in the Philippines on November 3, 1896 and imprisoned at Fort Bonifacio, Manila. After a trial, which was a farce due to the hatred of abusive officials and bad friars, he was proven guilty of rebellion, sedition, and illegal association which twisted the truth. The verdict given was death by firing squad which was approved by Governor Camilo G. de Polavieja who ordered his execution on December 30, 1896.The death of Jose Rizal at Bagumbayan on the said date was so remarkable as he was not afraid to die for his country. His love for the Philippines was indeed shown in his last poem which was later titled by Rizalists as "Mi Ultimo Adios".

http://filipinobiography.com/famous-filipino/filipino-heroes