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