Running head: BONIFACIO: THE FIRST PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT

Andres Bonifacio: The First President of the Philippines

Tamayo, Alexis Andrea D.
University of the Philippines-Manila

BONIFACIO: THE FIRST PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT

Andres Bonifacio: The First President of the Philippines

The presidential seat is one of the most powerful positions in a state. People use different
campaign tactics in order to secure presidency, often resorting to black propaganda. In 2013 and
2014, the films El Presidente and Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo were entries for Metro Manila
Film Festival (MMFF) respectively. These films gained the attention of the masses and left them
wondering on how much they really know about our history and our heroes stories. Most
interesting is the story behind the presidency of Andres Bonifacio. Some say that Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo is in fact, not the first president of the Filipino people because Andres Bonifacio has a
more solid claim. One may therefore conclude that the issue of who was the first Philippine
president continues to be a contentious topic that haunts Filipinos till today.
Numerous mysteries and theories often accompany the rise of a president, but Andres
Bonifacio should be the first president mainly because he was the one who founded
Kataastaasang Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK), and also
because he was its first and only supreme president. It was also proven that the
organization which promotes nationality and freedom, was transformed into a working
government that lead the people into liberation. The organization has also met all the
requirements for it to be recognized as a government and we can practically say that its
our first and very own. These were proven by letters and documents sent and kept by
Bonifacio and his revolutionaries, which yield the information that a central government
inside the Katipunan handles and oversees the activities within the organization. Being the
one to transform the organization into a government and serving as its Supremo, it is only
right to declare Andres Bonifacio as our first president.

BONIFACIO: THE FIRST PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT

Bonifacio, the eldest of five children was forced to give up formal education to help in
raise his siblings after their parents died. He was burdened with the hardships of life, but did not
fail to feed his mind by using his free time to read books about human rights, revolution, and
foreign constitution (Villanueva, 1989). That is how he prepared himself for his future
endeavors. That is how one of the most prominent figures of the armed revolution started his
career as a leader, a follower, and as a father of a nation.
After he outgrew self-employment by selling homemade products like canes, fans, and
signage, Bonifacio started to take his career up a notch. According to Alejo Villanueva (1989),
Bonifacio started seeking for employment in Fleming and Company. His career flourished until
such time that he pursued employment from another company because despite of promotions,
both ends dont meet, Villanueva added. He sacrificed a lot to support his family and in turn, his
desire and motivation to have a better life transformed into a need to support and unite his
countrymen.
On July 7, 1892, a secret council was gathered in No. 72 Azcarraga Street after learning
that Dr. Jose P. Rizal was to be deported and that his works were to be banned in the country
(Presidential Museum & Library). Andres Bonifacio, Deodato Arellano, Jose Dizon, Ladislao
Diwa, Teodoro Plata, Valentin Diaz, and a few more members of La Liga Filipina, were all
present in the secret council (Agoncillo, 1956). Bonifacio looks up to Rizal, and he fervently
follows his works and ideals. But the reason why the Kataastaasang Kagalang-Kagalang na
Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK) was born was the fact that the propaganda movement
was failing, leading them to believe that an armed revolution might as well pave the way to a
faster independence, or equality at the very least, as compared to passively fighting the Spanish
regime (Constantino & Constantino, 1975). The organization, under the leadership of Bonifacio,

BONIFACIO: THE FIRST PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT

achieved success in terms of starting an armed revolution. Theirs is the first revolutionary
movement that encompasses numerous states and provinces.
Some people say that if we follow the line of logic stating that Bonifacio is president,
then according to Jon Royeca (2014), we should honor Deodato Arellano and Roman Basa too,
for they are the first and second president of the Katipunan respectively. They argue that if the
first and second president of the Katipunan was not considered for the presidential seat, what
more for the third?
Gen. Aguinaldo has won the election in Cavite despite the fact that Bonifacio was also
present (Royeca, 2014). This proves that the people, the state, and the republic chose Aguinaldo
over Bonifacio, Royeca added. That matters a lot because as a republic, as mentioned by Abriel
Nebres (2007), the choice of the people is comparable to divine command. Aguinaldo, as a new
and young commander and leader proved that gaps presented by age, popularity, and power can
be overwhelmed by pure talent. That is why some people believe that Aguinaldo deserves his
title as the first President of the Philippine Republic.
Aguinaldo has also displayed his leadership potentials. This, he have done by winning all
of his battles against the Spanish army in Cavite, earning him the title of General. While the
Katipunan faction led by Bonifacio are doing their retreats in other parts of the country,
Aguinaldos Magdalo faction was conquering the different parts of Cavite (Gripaldo, 2009). He
successfully declared independence in the province. Unlike Bonifacio who had many battles lost,
Aguinaldo seized strategic military locations and Cavite successfully, this only shows that he and
his cohorts has a more solid plan of action and a more effective method of performing it.

BONIFACIO: THE FIRST PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT

Furthermore, Aguinaldo has in fact been elected and has won the presidential elections
even after Bonifacio voided the convention of Tejeros (Andaquig, Estrella, Galvez, & Oliveros,
2007). This proves that Aguinaldo, as much as everyone else in the election, recognizes the
power and the importance of the presidential seat and by this theyve chosen to follow a
democratic process of choosing the president. According to Jeremias Buraga and Rowena Pilar
(2013), they have done justice to the republic and have not violated any decrees that guide the
hand of the people. As such, Aguinaldo is the first President by right as much as by due process.
After the revolution broke out in August 1896, Andres Bonifacio who was the supreme
president of the Katipunan, changed the nature of the organization into a government known as
the Tagalog Republic. With this, KKK was not only a revolutionary organization and force but
was also a form of government dubbed Haring Bayang Katagalugan (Chua, 2014). According to
Coleen Luspo (n.d), in the Kartilya ng Katipunan (Constitution of Katipunan), Bonifacio called
the Philippines not Republika ng Pilipinas but Republika ng Katagalogan since he defined
Katagalogan as the entire archipelago and all its native residents as Tagalogs. The word Filipino
at that time was used to refer to the insulares, or Spaniards born in the Philippines (Reyes, 1993).
The Spaniards always referred to the natives as indios, Reyes added. Thus, the entire Philippines
was under the Haring Bayang Katagalugan, which was a government established by Bonifacio
(Chua, 2014).
In Encarnacion, Guerrero, & Villegas (2003) NCCA article, Pio Valenzuela confirmed in
his testimony before the Spanish authorities the transformation of the Katipunan into a
revolutionary government by August 1896. They also said that Bonifacios election to the
presidency was confirmed by Del Rosario, who was captured and was described as one of those

BONIFACIO: THE FIRST PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT

assigned by the Katipunan to form the revolutionary government of the Philippines and to push
through the function of local government administration.
In Michael Chuas (2014) article, the Katipunan became a government with western
recognized characteristics as proven by recently accessed documents confiscated by the Guardia
Civil during the revolution. Different papers amounting to 150 documents prove that the
Katipunan had a working centralized government with Bonifacio presiding over it. Further
research yields that the Katipunan has the following: 1) A constitution as manifested by the
Kartilya of Emilio Jacinto, 2) Territorial jurisdiction primarily over Batangas, Tarlac, Maynila,
Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Pampanga, and Laguna, 3) Foreign recognition as proven by
documents like 3a) A letter pertaining to supportive armaments from either Japan or Hong Kong
3b) A photo from La Ilustracion Espanola y Americana, a newspaper from Madrid of Bonifacio
captioned Titulado Presidente de la Republica Tagala (Richardson, 2013).
Just like any other government, the Katipunan also has its own seal, flag, and hymn. The
Roundel Escutcheon Seal of the Haring Bayang Katagalugans Kataastaasang Kapulungan, in
Bonifacios appointment to Emilio Jacinto, dated April 15, 1897 has a marking of a baybayin
K surrounded by rays can also be seen in other documents and letters by Andres Bonifacio
(Chua, 2014). Teodoro Agoncillo (1956) said that early in the revolution, there was a flag both
used by Magdalo and Magdiwang while fighting in Cavite that is similar to the flag of
Katipunan. It also has the rays of the light of liberty with the baybayin Ka in the middle, he
added. Agoncillo also said that in Artemio Ricartes memoirs were documents of the same flag
that the revolutionaries brought down after the armistice with the Spaniards at Biac-na-bato.
These were found with the rest of the letters and documents, and were verified with Artemio

BONIFACIO: THE FIRST PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT

Ricartes documentation, Agoncillo added. Jim Richardson (2013) mentioned that Juan Nakpil
also claimed that the Katipunan had an anthem and that Nakpil even composed it. The anthem
was entitled Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan. Juan Nakpils claim was later supported by
three letters from the documents of the Katipunan dated March 1897, April 5, 1897 and May 31,
1897, Richardson added. These letters were sent by an orchestra master E.S Kalunuran
mentioning Dalit ng Katagalugan and citing that Kalunurans orchestra performed the
composition for the Mataas na Sangunian ng Pantayanin (Pasig). Richardson also said that in
one of Bonifacios letter to Nakpil, Bonifacio was referred to a Himno Nacional dated February
13, 1897. These only proves that the Katipunan was able to establish an official seal, flag and
hymn that signifies a real government.
According to Encarnacion, Guerrero and Villegas (1994), in the late 1980s, Epifanio
Delos Santos historian and former director of the prewar Philippine Library and Museum
made a part of the collection of noted letters and other important documents signed by Bonifacio
accessible. Three letters and one appointment paper, written by Bonifacio on printed letterheads
dated from 8 March to 24 April 1897, and all addressed to Emilio Jacinto, prove that Bonifacio
was the first president of a national government. These letters contained the following titles and
designations: Pangulo ng Kataastaasang Kapulungan (President of the Supreme Council), Ang
Kataastaasang Pangulo (The Supreme President), Pangulo ng Haring Bayang Katagalugan
(President of the Sovereign Nation of Katagalugan), Ang Pangulo ng Haring Bayan, May Tayo
ng Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan, Unang nag galaw ng Panghihimagsik (The President
Sovereign Nation Founder of the Katipunan, Initiator of the Revolution), Kataastaasang
Panguluhan at Pamahalaang Panghihimagsik (Office of the Supreme President and Government
of the Revolution). Also, based on the documents retrieved from Archivo General Militar de

BONIFACIO: THE FIRST PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT

Madrid (AGMM), Bonifacio rarely signed himself as Supremo. He was always Pangulo ng
Kataas-taasang Kapulungan, Pangulo ng Haring Bayan, or Kataas-taasang Pangulo to
distinguish himself from the local presidents (Richardson, 2013). Ignacio Bunye (2014) also
mentioned that Bonifacio was referred as the Kataastaasang Pangulo and General No. 1 by the
prewar scholar Jose P. Bantug. Bunye also added that in 1933 and 1939, historians Jose P. Santos
and Gregorio F. Zaide both had the same conclusions, and recognized Bonifacios presidency
respectively.
Bonifacio has also displayed his leadership prowess and battle skills in the confrontations
that he has fought and won. One of his most prominent moments is the Cry of Pugadlawin in
which the Katipuneros, after being discovered and fleeing, announced their allegiance to the
Haring Bayan by shredding their cedulas into pieces (Constantino & Constantino, 1975). That is
as good as raising and waving a flag of the country for by doing that, they have proved that they
are not under the influence or power of the Spanish regime anymore. Their battle cry Mabuhay
ang Pilipinas! served as the shout that led to the rise of the Philippine Republic from the ashes
that the Spanish colonialization has buried it in. That, more than anything, is surely an action of
patriotism and it is a movement that can only be led by no less than a president. A president by
the name of Andres Bonifacio.
As the supreme president, Bonifacio also acted as the commander-in-chief. He supervised
the strategies and planned the preparation of orders, manifests, and decrees (Encarnacion,
Guerrero, & Villegas, 2003). He judicially settled the offences against the nation and intervened
in political disputes. Also, according to Encarnacion, Guerrero, and Villegas (1994), the
organization engaged mostly in attack-and-withdraw operations, and neutralized the enemies by
seizing town halls and capturing supplies. Unlike Aguinaldos consecutive victories in Cavite,

BONIFACIO: THE FIRST PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT

the fact that the Guardia Civil were well concentrated in Manila made it even more difficult for
Bonifacio to win (Constantino & Constantino, 1975). On the basis of command and
responsibility, all victories and defeats all over the archipelago is credited to Bonifacio himself.
He was responsible for the whole archipelagos struggles, and defeat cannot be avoided (Salazar,
1997). Of course, Bonifacio will look like he lost most of his battles even though he didnt. Thus,
the claims that Aguinaldo was better than Bonifacio when it comes to battle strategies and
methods, and that Bonifacio lost almost every battle are invalid because the number of opponents
and areas subjugated were not taken into consideration.
Some people may say that if we will consider the Katipunan as a government, then
shouldnt Deodato Arellano become the first president of the Philippines? The answer to that is
even though Deodato Arellano was the first president of the Katipunan, Andres Bonifacio had
greater power and authority over him, so much that Bonifacio had the right to replace Arellano
with Roman Basa because the former was ineffective (Agoncillo & Guerrero, 1970). Let us also
consider the fact that both men have never signed themselves as the presidents of the Haring
Bayan, even more so of the Philippines, since the formal battle cry for the mother country was
after their time. This shows that as the founder of the organization turned government, Andres
Bonifacio is the first and the supreme president of the Katipunan. Also, as the real president and
leader of KKK, Bonifacio immediately organized the cabinet of his government even before the
war started, Teodoro Agoncillo (1956) added.
During the Tejeros convention, plans were set to discuss the defense of Cavite against the
Spanish force there. But, the convention somehow transformed into an election. In Amanda
Fernandez (2013) article, she mentioned that UP Manila professor Danilo Aragon said in the
GMA News documentary Case Unclosed: Ang Lihim ng 1897 that [A]t the Tejeros

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10

Convention on March 22, 1897, Emilio Aguinaldo wanted to dissolve the Katipunan and
establish a revolutionary government. This denotes that the Katipunan had to be dissolved to
remove Bonifacio from his position, Fernandez explained further. Obviously outnumbered by the
Magdalo faction composed by Cavitenos, Bonifacio lost the seat for presidency settling for the
position of the Director of Interior (Churchill, 1997). According to Renato Constantino and
Letizia Constantino (1975), Daniel Tirona then objected and pointed out that the position
Bonifacio was elected for should not be given to a person without a lawyers diploma. He
suggested Jose Del Rosario, a Caviteno lawyer for the position. This certainly shows how biased
and prejudiced the election was. Bonifacio was much insulted by Tirona that he declared the
election null and void, the Constantinos added. He has every right to do it as the chairman of the
assembly and the supreme president of the Katipunan. It is also valid to nullify the elections
since the whole council for election was not represented by every provincial leaders. This proves
that Bonifacio, as the recognized president of the Haring Bayan in which the convention was
summoned under the flag of, had the power to veto decisions of his associates. This power is
vested by his right as the supreme president and in under no condition can it be done by another
persona not seated in the position According to Fernandez (2013), the day after the snap
elections, Bonifacio and other members of the Magdiwang faction created a document stating
that they did not adopt the election results of the convention; it was called Acta de Tejeros.
Evidences prove that Bonifacios form of government is the same form that Aguinaldo
has assumed. The same system of governance was adopted and followed. General Emilio
Aguinaldo based the constitution of Biac-na-Bato on the Katipunans Kartilya and he also
replicated the same military exploitations and schemes against the Spanish regime. That is to say

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11

that Aguinaldo chose to base his governance on Bonifacios regime because it is a fully
functioning successful model of a government.
Bonifacio should be the first president of the Philippines because he has more factual
claims over Aguinaldo than history books have given him credit for. He was a hardwired leader
for he has carried the burden of raising a family from an early age. He is the model of a selfsufficient Filipino because he has trained his mind during his free time while not neglecting his
duties to his family. He founded the Katipunan as an armed revolutionary movement because of
the fact that the propagandist movement is failing. He started the unification of the different
provinces of the Philippines as duly represented inside the Katipunan. And last, he turned the
said organization into an established government that is truly ours molded by love for ones
land and courage, and built by the bright minds of our countrymen. He showed the people that
anyone can lead, even an orphan who didnt finish school. He was the face of the masses and he
showed us that that face is the one no one shall forget. There may be claims that he lost most of
his battles and lost his presidency on the elections, but facts dont lie. Whatever was left in the
Archivo General Militar de Madrid (AGMM) papers, and the documents and letters at the
Emmanuel Encarnacion and Epifanio Delos Santos collection proves the fact that the Katipunan
was a government, and Andres Bonifacio is the first and supreme president of the Katipunan. By
this, he has served his countrymen, and the nation by being the primary figure of the Philippine
revolution, and the patriarch of Filipino independence. Andres Bonifacio was the hero and the
president the nation needed and for that, he deserves justice and proper credit.

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