On This Day - July 3, 1892 - Dr. Jose Rizal founded the La Liga Filipina

 

Today in Philippine history, July 3, 1892, Dr. Jose Rizal founded the La Liga Filipina

In the night of July 3, 1892, Dr. Jose Rizal founded and inaugurated the La Liga Filipina at house No. 176 Ilaya St., Tondo. It was formed not for the purpose of independence, but for mutual aid and protection of its members, and the fostering of a more united spirit among Filipinos. Its constitution declared the ends, form, duties of members and officials, rights of members and officials, the investment of funds, and general rules.

(An artist concept of Dr. Jose Rizal and other Liga members)

CONSTITUTION OF THE LIGA FILIPINA

Ends:

1. To unite the whole archipelago into one compact, vigorous, and homogeneous body.
2. Mutual protection in every want and necessity.
3. Defense against all violence and injustice.
4. Encouragement of instruction, agriculture, and commerce.
5. Study and application of reforms.

Motto: Unus instar omnium [i.e., one like all.]

Countersign:.

Form:

1. To set these ends in operation, a Popular Council, a Provincial Council, and a Supreme Council shall be created.
2. Each Council shall consist of a Chief, a Fiscal, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and members.
3. The Supreme Council shall consist of the Provincial Chiefs, just as the Provincial Council shall be composed of the Popular Chiefs.
4. The Supreme Council shall have command of the Liga Filipina, and shall deal directly with the Provincial Chiefs and Popular Chiefs.
5. The Provincial Council shall have command of the Popular Chiefs.
6. The Popular Council only shall have command of the members.
7. Each Provincial Council and Popular Council shall adopt a name different from that of their locality or region.

Duties of the Members:

1. They shall pay monthly dues of ten centimos.
2. They shall obey blindly and promptly every order emanating from a Council or a Chief.
3. They shall inform the Fiscal of their Council of whatever they note or hear that has reference to the Liga Filipina.
4. They shall preserve the most absolute secrecy in regard to the decisions of the Council.
5. In all walks of life, preference shall be given to the members. Nothing shall be bought except in the shop of a member, or whenever anything is sold to a member, he shall have a rebate. Circumstances being equal, the member shall always be favored. Every infraction of this article shall be severely punished.
6. The member who does not help another member in the case of need or danger, although able to do so, shall be punished, and at least the same penalty suffered by the other shall be imposed on him.
7. Each member, on affiliation, shall adopt a new name of his own choice, and shall not be able to change the same unless he become a Provincial Chief.
8. He shall bring to each Council a service [trabajo; evidently a service done for the organization], an observation, a study, or a new candidate.
9. He shall not submit to any humiliation or treat anyone with contempt.

Duties of the Chief:

1. He shall continually watch over the life of his Council. He shall memorize the new and real names of all the Councils if he is the Supreme Chief, and if only a Popular Chief those of all his affiliated members.
2. He shall constantly study means to unite his subordinates and place them in quick communication.
3. He shall study and remedy the necessities of the Liga Filipina, of the Provincial Council, or of the Popular Council, according as he is Supreme Chief, Provincial Chief, or Popular Chief.
4. He shall heed all the observations, communications, and petitions which are made to him, and shall immediately communicate them to the proper person.
5. In danger, he shall be the first, and he shall be the first to be held responsible for whatever occurs within a Council.
6. He shall furnish an example by his subordination to his superior chiefs, so that he may be obeyed in his turn.
7. He shall see to the very last member, the personification of the entire Liga Filipina.
8. The omissions of the authorities shall be punished with greater severity than those of the simple members.

Duties of the Fiscal:

1. The Fiscal shall see to it that all comply with their duty.
2. He shall accuse in the presence of the Council every infraction or failure to perform his duty in any member of the Council.
3. He shall inform the Council of every danger or persecution.
4. He shall investigate the condition of the funds of the Council.

Duties of the Treasurer:

1. He shall enter in a ledger the new names of the members forming the Council.
2. He shall render strict monthly account of the dues received, noted by the members themselves, with their special countermarks.
3. He shall give a receipt and shall have a note of it made in the ledger in the hand of the donor, for every gift in excess of one peso and not over fifty.
4. The Popular Treasurer shall keep in the treasury of the Popular Council, the third part of the dues collected, for the necessities of the same. The remainder, whenever it exceeds the sum of ten pesos, shall be delivered to the Provincial Treasurer, to whom he shall show his ledger, and himself writing in the ledger of the Provincial Treasurer the amount delivered. The Provincial Treasurer shall then give a receipt, and if it is in accordance with the accounts, shall place his 0. K. in the ledger of the other. Like proceedings shall follow when the Provincial Treasurer delivers funds in excess of ten pesos to the Supreme Treasurer.
5. The Provincial Treasurer shall retain from the sums handed to him by the Popular Treasurer one-tenth part for the expenses of the Provincial Council.
6. Whenever any member desires to give the Liga Filipina a sum in excess of fifty pesos, he shall deposit the sum in a safe bank, under his vulgar name and then shall deliver the receipt to the Treasurer of his choice.

Duties of the Secretary:

1. At each meeting he shall keep a record of proceedings, and shall announce what is to be done.
2. He shall have charge of the correspondence of the Council. In case of absence or incapacity, every authority shall name a substitute, until the Council name one to fill his place.

Rights of the members:

1. Every member has a right to the moral, material, and pecuniary aid of his Council and of the Liga Filipina.
2. He may demand that all the members favor him in his trade or profession whenever he offers as many guaranties as others. For this protection, he shall transmit to his Popular Chief his real name and his footing, so that the latter may hand it to the Supreme Chief who shall inform all the members of the Liga Filipina of it by the proper means.
3. In any want, injury, or injustice, the member may invoke the whole aid of the Liga Filipina.
4. He may request capital for an enterprise whenever there are funds in the treasury.
5. He may demand a rebate of all the institutions or members sustained directly by the Liga Filipina, for all articles [sold him] or services rendered him.
6. No member shall be judged without first being allowed his defense.

Rights of the Secretary [sic; Chief?]

1. He shall not be discussed unless an accusation of the Fiscal precede.
2. For want of time and opportunity, he may act by and with himself, as he has the obligation to perform the charges which may be laid on him.
3. Within the Council he shall be the judge of every question or dispute.
4. He shall be the only one who shall be empowered to know the real names of his members or subordinates.
5. He shall have ample power to organize the details of the meetings, communications, and undertakings, for their efficacity, security, and rapid despatch.
6. Whenever a Popular Council is sufficiently numerous, the Provincial Chief may create other subordinate Councils after first appointing the authorities. Once constituted, he shall allow them to elect their authorities according to the regulations.
7. Every Chief shall be empowered to establish a Council in a village where none exists, after which he shall inform the Supreme Council or Provincial Council.
8. The Chief shall appoint the Secretary.

Rights of the Fiscal:

1. He shall cause every accused person to go out or appear while his case is being discussed in the Council.
2. He shall be able to examine the ledgers at any time.

Rights of the Treasurer:

He shall dispose of the funds in an urgent and imperious necessity of any member or of the Council, with the obligation of giving account and answering before the tribunal of the Liga Filipina.

Rights of the Secretary:

He may convoke extra meetings or assemblies in addition to the monthly meetings.

Investment of the funds:

1. The member or his son, who while not having means, shall show application and great capacities shall be sustained.
2. The poor shall be supported in his right against any powerful person.
3. The member who shall have suffered loss shall be aided.
4. Capital shall be loaned to the member who shall need it for an industry or for agriculture.
5. The introduction of machines and industries, new or necessary in the country, shall be favored.
6. Shops, stores, and establishments shall be opened, where the members may be accommodated more economically than elsewhere.

The Supreme Chief shall have power to dispose of the funds in needy cases, whenever he later renders an account to the Supreme Council.

General Rules:

1. No one shall be admitted without a previous and unanimous vote of the Council of his village, and without satisfying the tests to which he must submit.
2. Offices shall end every two years, except when there is an accusation by the Fiscal.
3. In order to obtain the posts, three-fourths of all the votes present shall be required.
4. The members shall elect the Popular Chief, the Popular Fiscal, and the Popular Treasurer. The Popular authorities shall elect the Provincial authorities; and the Provincial authorities shall elect the Supreme authorities.
5. Every time that a member becomes the Popular Chief, that fact shall be communicated to the Supreme Chief, together with his new and old names; and the same shall be done whenever a new Council shall be founded.
6. Communications in ordinary times, shall bear only the symbolical names both of the writer and of the persons for whom they are intended, and the course to be pursued shall be from the member to the Popular Chief, from the latter to the Provincial Chief or the Supreme Chief, and vice versa. In extraordinary cases alone shall these formalities be omitted. However, in any time or place, the Supreme Chief may address anyone directly.
7. It is not necessary for all the members of a Council to be present to render decisions valid. It shall be sufficient if one-half the members are present and one of the authorities.
8. In critical moments, each Council shall be considered as the safeguard of the Liga Filipina, and if for any cause or other the other Councils are dissolved or disappear, each Council, each Chief, each member, shall take upon himself the mission of reorganizing and reestablishing them.

This constitution was partly printed at London, at the London Printing Press, No. 25 Khulug St., in both Spanish and Tagalog. Those parts printed (the ends, duties of the members, and the general rules) contain some changes from Rizal's MS. Preceding the constitution proper is the membership pledge to the Liga. It is as follows: "Number. i.. To.. of.. I.. of.. years of age, of.. state, profession., as a chosen son of Filipinas, declare under formal oath that I know and entirely understand the ends aimed at by the Liga Filipina, whose text appears on the back of the present. Therefore, I submit myself, and of my own accord petition the chief.. of this province, to admit me as a member and coworker in the same, and for that purpose I am ready to unconditionally lend the necessary proofs that may be demanded of me, in testimony of my sincere adhesion! " The ends of this printed text are the same as those of the MS. The motto is the same, and there is also a place for a countersign.

The duties of the members are somewhat changed, the changes being as follows:

1. He shall pay two pesos for one single time, as an entrance fee, and fifty centimos as monthly fee, from the month of his entrance. 2. With the consciousness of what he owes to his fatherland, for whose prosperity and through the welfare that he ought to covet for his parents, children, brothers and sisters, and the beloved beings who surround him, he must sacrifice every personal interest, and blindly and promptly obey every command, every order, verbal or written, which emanates from his Council or from the Provincial Chief. 3. He shall immediately inform, and without the loss of a moment, the authorities of his Council of whatever he sees, notes, or hears that constitutes danger for the tranquillity of the Liga Filipina or anything touching it. He shall earnestly endeavor to be sincere, truthful, and minute in all that he shall have to communicate. 4. He shall observe the utmost secrecy in regard to the deeds, acts, and decisions of his Council and of the Liga Filipina in general from the profane, even though they be his parents, brothers and sisters, children, etc., at the cost of his own life, for this is the means by which the member will obtain what he most desires in life." Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are the same.

The general rules of the printed version are as follows:

"In order that the candidate may be admitted as a member to the Liga Filipina, he must possess morality, good habits, not have been proceeded against justifiably as a robber, shall not be a gambler, drunkard, or libertine. The candidate must solicit and petition his entrance from a member; and the latter shall communicate it to his Fiscal, for the investigations that must be made in regard to his conduct."

On Dec. 30, 1903, a monument was erected to Rizal, to his companions, and to other founders of the Liga Filipina by the village of Tondo, on a site given by Timoteo Paez, one of the members of the Liga. On the monument is the following inscription: "Remember [this word in English, the rest in Spanish]. Facing this site and at house No. 176 Ilaya St., Dr. Rizal founded and inaugurated on the night of July 3, I892, the Liga Filipina, a national secret society, with the assistance and approval of the following gentlemen:

Founder, Dr. Rizal; shot.
Board of directors- president, Ambrosio Salvador; arrested.
Fiscal, Agustin de la Rosa; arrested.
Treasurer, Bonifacio Arevalo; arrested.
Secretary, Deodato Arellano; first president of the national war Katipunan society; arrested.

Members

• Andres Bonifacio; supreme head of the Katipunan, who uttered the first warcry against tyranny, August 24, 1896.
• Mamerto Natividad; seconded, in Nueva Ecija, the movement of Andres Bonifacio, August 28, 1896; shot.
• Domingo Franco; supreme head of the Liga Filipina; shot.
• Moises Salvador; venerable master of the respected lodge, Balagtas; shot.
• Numeriano Adriano; first guard of the respected lodge, Balagtas; shot.
• Jose A. Dizon; venerable master of the respected lodge, Taliba; shot.
• Apolinario Mabini; legislator; arrested.
• Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista; first patriot of '68; arrested.
• Timoteo Lanuza; initiator of the manifestation for the expulsion of the friars in I888; arrested.
• Marcelino de Santos; arbitrator and protector of La Solidaridad, the Filipino organ in Madrid; arrested.
• Paulino Zamora; venerable master of the respected lodge, Lusong; deported.
• Juan Zulueta; member of the respected lodge, Lusong; died.
• Doroteo Ongjunco; member of the respected lodge, Lusong; owner of the house.
• Arcadio del Rosario; orator of the respected lodge, Balagtas; arrested.
• Timoteo Paez; arrested.

Sources:

1. The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; (Vol. 1, no. 52), Emma Helen Blair, MCMVII

On This Day - July 2, 1650 - Francisco Macombo lead the assault on Palapag Mesa, which ended the Sumuroy rebellion

 

 

On the rainy evening of July 2, 1650, Francisco Macombo lead the assault on the fortification of Palapag Mesa, which eventually ended the Sumuroy rebellion.

The victorious Don Gines de Rojas ascended the hill with his whole army, and destroyed the insurgent quarters by setting fire to them. Having published a general pardon, those who had been insurgents before, presented themselves in peace including Don Pedro Caamug.

Sumuroy and his father survived the battle but refused to give up.

The Dutch who were headquartered in Formosa (present day Taiwan) never came.

Sumuroy was beheaded by his own men as demanded by Don Gines de Roxas. At first this demand was not taken seriously by the men of Sumuroy who would send a pig's head instead Sumuroy's head.

Later as a token of obedience, his head was presented by his men, without anyone asking for it.

Sources:

    The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803, Emma Helen Blair, Volume 38
    Gems of Philippine oratory; selections representing fourteen centuries of Philippine thought, carefully compiled from credible sources in substitution for the pre-Spanish writings destroyed by missionary zeal, to supplement the later literature stunted by intolerant religious and political censorship, and as specimens of the untrammeled present-day utterances, by Austin Craig

On This Day - July 1, 1788 - Felix Berenguer de Marquina arrived in Manila as Governor-general

 

Today in Philippine History, July 1, 1788, de Marquina arrived in Manila as Governor-general

On July 1, 1788, Felix Berenguer de Marquina arrived in Manila and assumed his post as governor-general of the Philippines. De Marquina made Manila an open port to all foreign commerce. Manila and Cavite were fortified and the Spanish military force increased.

	(Felix Berenguer de Marquina)

Marquina took much pains to have the obras pias honestly administered. He ordered that the nipa houses which still existed within the walls of Manila should be torn down, as being both a disfigurement and a danger to the city. During his term of office, a severe epidemic of smallpox was experienced in the Islands; he gave large sums to the parish priests to relieve the poverty caused by the pestilence.

The islands during his time, were ravaged by the Moros year after year, the naval force of the Spaniards doing little more than to remain on the defensive. He wrote the King in 1789 saying that "the continual warfare of the Moros was an evil without remedy". It is recorded that the terms of Basco (his predecessor) and Marquina's (in all, fifteen years), spent over 1,500,000 pesos fuertes in building and arming vessels to chastise the pirates.

Marquina proposed that Filipinas should be made a viceroyalty, and the viceroy be rendered independent of the Audiencia and of the religious orders. Among many other reforms he proposed were:

• The reform of the chief accountancy by limiting its exorbitant powers;
• The establishment of an acordado, or a sort of police, in the provinces, directed rather to intimidating and restraining criminals by means of vigilance than to punishing them with harshness and violence;
• Allowance of fixed and decent salaries to the alcaldes-mayor, and putting a stop to their trading (which absorbed all their time, with great risks to impartial conduct and justice);
• The desirability of abolishing the odious monopolies on playing-cards and gunpowder;
• The transfer of the natives from the Batanes Islands to Cagayan, on account of the wretched condition of the former; and the advantage of occupying, in preference to the Batanes, the island of Mindoro - which was richer, and nearer to Manila, and at the time reduced to the utmost indigence by having been abandoned (by its inhabitants) and by the incursions of the Moros.
• Taking advantage of the eluvial gold deposit, so abundant in the country, from which was obtained no less than 200,000 pesos worth of gold a year;
• The establishment of a mint, with which the exportation of gold from the country would be avoided.

However Marquina was met with much trouble in his government, from "class interests" and from the ingratitude of those whom he had helped. He resigned his office in 1793 and returned to España "poor and disheartened".

Felix Berenguer de Marquina was accused of selling offices through the agency of a woman. He suffered a hard residencia, and was not permitted to depart for España except by leaving a deposit of 50,000 pesos fuertes, with which to be responsible for the charges made against him. At Madrid, he was sentenced to pay 40,000 pesos.

Marquina's successor was a military officer, Rafael Maria de Aguilar y Ponce de Leon who began his duties as Governor-general on September 1, 1793.

References

1. The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803, volume 1, number 50, Emma Helen Blair, James Alexander Robertson, Edward Gaylord Bourne. University of Michigan Library, 2005.

On This Day - June 30, 1856 - Manuel Luna was born in Badoc, Ilocos Norte

 

Today in Philippine History, June 30, 1856, Manuel Luna was born in Badoc, Ilocos Norte

On June 30, 1856, Manuel Luna y Novicio, a violin virtuoso and conductor was born in Badoc, Ilocos Norte to Joaquin Luna and Laureana Novicio.

Manuel was brought to Manila at the age of five and began his early studies at the Ateneo Municipal. Later, he transferred to the Spanish Nautical School where he, being a brilliant student, completed his course in 1877 with first honors. Ambitious as he was, Manuel studied violin in his leisure hours with a teacher known only as Nicacio and, consequently, under the Spanish music teacher, Professor Remifio Calahorra. Not satisfied with the training he had received from them, and to further his artistic education, he decided to go to Europe.

(Manuel Luna, a painting by Juan Luna)

He sailed for Spain, where he enrolled at the Conservatory of Madrid. He was admitted as a member of the fourth-year class because of his previous training. He garnered many diplomas from the Conservatory, the most precious of which was that of “Professor de Violino”, signed by its director, Emilio Arrieta. Jesus Monasterio, the most celebrated man of Spain in the field of music was Luna’s music professor as well as admirer of his brilliant execution.

Toward the end of 1879, he sailed back for the Philippines. He became a member of the Liceo Cientifico Artistico-Literario. He performed in one of its selected concerts at the Variedades Theater on December 22, 1879, a benefit affair for the Spanish provinces of Alicante, Murcia, and Almeria. With Luis Vicente Arche at the piano, he executed a work of De Beriot, entitled “Scena di Balleto”, on the violin. One of the Manila papers said of his performance: “Mr. Luna played with brilliancy, delicacy, sentiment and purity of intonation, thus giving honor to Monasterio, his former professor.”

As conductor, Luna was among the best during his time. He had handled with aplomb big choruses and full orchestras that rendered masses written by famous composers. His real genius as baton wielder was seen in the morning of January 8, 1881, when he led a grand chorus of about 80 voices with members of the orchestra of the Manila Cathedral, Gruet, and the Famous Artillery Band. On that day, the fine church of the Recoletos was once more inaugurated, and the celebrated mass of Niedermeyer of which the “Gloria” and the “Credo” were the climax – was splendidly sung. Luna’s participation in the rousing, if solemn, performance was proof of his dexterity and self-assurance as conductor.

The last concert he appeared in while in Manila was the one patronized by Arche in honor of the latter’s departure for Spain. It was held at the Variedades Theater on the evening of February 3, 1882. About 60 musicians composed the orchestra under Arche’s direction. The program was made up of three selected parts. With Coppa at the piano, Luna executed the “Souvenir de Merique”. El Comercio said of his rendition: “Mr. Luna has the heart of a true musician for he feels what he plays ... if his enthusiasm does not decline and if he studies as true artists do, he will occupy a distinguished place in his career”.

He did not stay long in Manila. Since he intended to visit Europe once more, he went to Agoo, La Union, to bid farewell to his parents. Unfortunately, on July 15, 1883, he died – a victim of an acute disease – and was buried immediately.

He had brothers who also had distinguished careers: Juan Luna, was a celebrated painter; Jose Luna, a famous doctor and an excellent surgeon; Joaquin Luna, was an amiable senator. (The violin he used in his concert, a J.B. Vieullaume (1799-1875), was left in the possession of Joaquin.); and Antonio Luna, General of Filipino Revolutionary Army. He also had one sister, named Numeriana, who became the wife of Urbano Ramirez. She was a noted pianist.

References (via the Philippine National Historical Commission)

1. Aguilar-Cruz, E. Luna. Manila: Department of Public Information, 1975.
2. Manuel, E. Arsenio. Dictionary of Philippine Biography Volume 1. Quezon City: Filipiniana Publications, 1955.
3. Dictionary of Philippine Biography Volume 2. Quezon City: Filipiniana Publications, 1955.
4. Villanueva, Hector K. Eminent Filipinos. Manila: National Historical Commission, 1965.

On This Day - June 29, 1626 - Juan Niño de Tabora arrived in Manila to serve as Governor-General of the Philippines

 

Today in Philippine History, June 29, 1626, Juan Niño de Tabora arrived in Manila to serve as Governor-General of the Philippines

On June 29, 1626, Juan Niño de Tabora, the Spanish general and colonial official, arrived in Manila to serve as Governor-General of the Philippines. De Tabora brought the wooden statue of the Virgin Mary known as Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage), now placed in Antipolo Church.

	(Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage)

Appointed Governor and Captain-General of the Philippines and president of the Royal Audiencia of Manila, De Tabora left New Spain (Mexico) for the Philippines on March 25, 1626 aboard the galleon El Almirante, bringing with him the wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. The statue was said to have protected the ship from storms and a shipboard fire during his 3-month voyage.

The statue became the patron of the Manila-Acapulco galleons.

De Tabora's term ended with his death on July 22, 1632.

Reference:
Philippines News Agency archives

On This Day - June 28, 1848 - Rizal's parents Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso got married

 

 

On June 28, 1848, Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso, the parents of Dr. Jose Rizal, got married. Francisco was from Biñan, Laguna while Teodora was from Meisik, Tondo. They had 11 children, 2 boys and 9 girls.

(Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso)

1. Saturnina (1850-1913) was the eldest child. She married Manuel Timoteo Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas.
2. Paciano (1851-1930), the only brother of Jose Rizal and the second child. Studied at San Jose College in Manila, became a farmer and later a general of the Philippine Revolution.
3. Narcisa (1852-1939), the third child, married to Antonio Lopez of Morong, Rizal. She was a teacher and musician.
4. Olympia (1855-1887), the fourth child married Silvestre Ubaldo. She died in 1887 from childbirth.
5. Lucia (1857-1919), the fifth child, she married Matriano Herbosa.
6. Maria (1859-1945), the sixth child, married to Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna.
7. Jose (1861-1896), the second son and the seventh child. He was executed by the Spaniards on December 30, 1896.
8. Concepcion (1862-1865), the eight child. She died at the age of three.
9. Josefa (1865-1945), the ninth child. She was an epileptic, died a spinster.
10. Trinidad (1868-1951), the tenth child. She died a spinster and the last of the family to die.
11. Soledad (1870-1929), the youngest child, she was married to Pantaleon Quintero.

References

1. Pambansang Komisyong Pangkasaysayan
2. http://www.joserizal.ph

On This Day - June 27, 1863 - Ladislao Diwa, co-founder of the Katipunan, was born in San Roque, Cavite

On June 27, 1863, Ladislao Diwa, co-founder of the Katipunan, was born in San Roque, Cavite to Mariano Diwa and Cecilia Nocon, who both hailed from San Francisco de Malabon (present day General Trias), Cavite.

Diwa studied under the supervision of Father Francisco Mañalac, who later recommended him at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran as capista. After he finished his Bachelor of Arts degree from Letran, he enrolled in Theology but abandoned the idea of becoming a priest when his father disapproved it. Thus, he opted to become a lawyer so he enrolled Law at the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

	Ladislao Diwa

It was during his law studies at UST when he became acquainted with Andres Bonifacio, who was already engaged in distributing propaganda materials. Diwa was already employed as curial de juzgado or oficial de mesa for the district of Quiapo when he joined La Liga Filipina, which Rizal formed on July 3, 1896 and became secretary of the Liga's popular council of Tondo headed by Bonifacio. But the Liga was short-lived. It was dissolved after Rizal was deported to Dapitan. This, however, did not douse the spirit of activism in Diwa, who, upon learning Rizal’s deportation on July 6, proposed the forming of another liberal and secret organization, patterned after the "Black Mask" of Italy, where members belonged to a triumvirate.

Thus, on the night of July 7, 1892 at the house of Deodato Arellano along Azcarraga Street, now Claro M Recto, near Elcano Street in Tondo, he founded with Andres Bonifacio and Teodoro Plata the Katipunan and formed with them its first triangle. With them at the time of the founding were Jose Dizon, Valentin Diaz and Deodato Arellano. Thereafter, they performed a blood compact around a flickering lamp and vowed to carry the aims of the society. Diwa took the name “Balete” and set up his triangle with Roman Basa and Teodoro Gonzales. He was elected fiscal of the Katipunan’s first supreme council in October 1892. In the election in February 1893, he was elected one of its councilors.

When Diwa was transferred to the Justice of the Peace court in Pampanga, he took advantage of it by recruiting members of the Katipunan in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac. Among his well-known recruits was Francisco Makabulos, who later became general after revolution finally erupted.

On August 19, 1896, the Spanish authorities discovered the secret society and as a result, many Filipinos were arrested including Diwa who was picked up in Betis, Bacolor, Pampanga. The discovery left Andres Bonifacio, who was the president of the Katipunan, with no choice but to declare a revolution. Diwa was imprisoned in Bilibid and shared the same cell with Severino de las Alas and Teodoro Plata, his friend who was the clerk of court in Mindoro. On February 1897, Teodoro Plata met his death in Bagumbayan while Diwa was released from prison because of prisoners swap between the Spaniards and the Filipinos.

To elude another arrest, Diwa left for Cavite by disguising himself as fisherman and walked along the seashore, even had to wade under water on his way to San Francisco de Malabon, where he joined the group of General Mariano Trias and earned the rank of a colonel. Diwa was instrumental in the surrender of the Spanish troops under Leopoldo Garcia Peña on May 28, 1898.

After General Aguinaldo was captured in 1901, Diwa surrendered together with Mariano Trias to the Americans.

Like many other revolutionaries who surrendered or captured during the war with America, Diwa took the oath of allegiance to the United States government. Soon after, he was appointed clerk of Court of First Instance for Cavite. He helped establish the Ligaya College in his hometown, where he also taught. He had acquired tracts of land in Tagaytay and Mendez, which he planted with coconut and abaca.

Diwa married twice. The first was with Delisa Dandan from Parañaque with whom he had three children and the second was with Honorata Crescini, with whom he had five children: Edna, Heraclito, Cecilia, Betis, and Alicia.

On March 12, 1930, Diwa died of nephritis at the age of 67. In his honor, the Caridad Elementary School in Cavite was renamed after him in November 1964.

References:
(Agoncillo, Teodoro A. History of the Filipino People. 8th Ed. Quezon City: Garotech, 1990.
Eminent Filipinos. Manila: National Historical Commission, 1970.
Manuel, Arsenio E. Dictionary of Philippine Biography Volume 1. Quezon City: Filipiniana, 1955.
Unpublished interview with Edna and Cecilia Diwa, surviving daughters of Ladislao Diwa. March 10, 2000. ); All via The Philippine Historical Commission
Photo credit: Philippine Center for Masonic Studies