MatangHari Blog

Posted on March 3, 2013

The much awaited film El Presidente by Governor ER Estregan who plays the lead role as Emilio Aguinaldo, written and directed by Mark Meily the elder brother of my best friend Dominick Meily. There is no doubt about its film aesthetic definitely it is one of the biggest historical films that ever made in the Philippine history.

I was talking to Dom the brother of Director Mark over the phone he was so amazed to describe how excited he is about the set of El Presidente. He told me about his role not as the lead role as Governor Estregan, to cut the chase while the gov. is not yet around the shooting must go on—Dom played the part as double of Emilio Aguinaldo.

Since I’ve heard the news about the film I was so excited about its output whenever our history is being told my heart keeps on banging. I was about to tell him if it is possible to talk to his elder brother mark (I just want to discuss things about the history especially if they will deliberately cover the truth behind the real Emilio Aguinaldo and it’s participation on the execution of Bonifacio), while I’m listening to Dom I was surprised he mentioned something about Bonifacio — something that will put the great plebian into bad light that came from the people behind the Film El Presidente. Well, if you will work really for this kind of Film it is a must for you to believe the things based on the intention of the producer or the creator –or else you cannot give your best to a project which you do not believe.

Based on historical account of Jose Mari Avellana and Jose Victor Torres claimed that it took them 12 years to complete their meticulous research work. In my passion to know the truth behind history significantly with the Philippine Revolution, I believe every single Filipino have the right to know their history and it is not only the duty of historians. I recall what Teodoro Agoncillo said to his book entitled Bonifacio and The Philippine Revolution that his documents and research are ready of any criticism and scrutiny.

From the article of Edgar Cruz of Daily Tribune-Buzz Station dated December 22, 2012, the writer stated what Director Meiley –“the summary execution of Supremo Andres Bonifacio and the summary execution of General Antonio Luna, among others. But Gen. Aguinaldo’s story still being revealed. Mark stated at the film’s grand media event that he recently read the findings of historian Ambeth Ocampo that it was the Katipunan’s Magdiwang Council Lieutenant-General Artemio Ricarte who told Gen. Aguinaldo that the Supremo must be terminated, removing the blame from him”

But According to an Insider

Lt. Manuel Sityar(1863-1927) joined the forces of Emilio Aguinaldo and later served as his aide de camp. He was a member of Malolos Congress which approved the first Philippine Constitution and eventually gave rise to Asia’s first constitutional democracy. After the revolution, Sityar taught at the Liceo de Manila and became a close personal friend of President Manuel L. Quezon.

Lt. Manuel Sityar’s handwritten memoirs cover a wide range of topics and events relating to the revolution. His diary contains first-hand accounts of an insider who occupied sensitive positions of power and authority, and witnessed and participated in the dramatic events of the Revolution. Following is a translation of the pertinent sections from his extant memoirs (pages 136, 137 and 138);

At the outset of the year 1897, as the Spanish troops were about to enter Silang to crush the revolution in Cavite, a consultation was held among the officials of the revolution under the leadership of Andres Bonifacio at the convent of San Franciso de Malabon where the Supremo was in residence. IN this gathering, there arose a contentious discussion concerning the defense plan proposed by Bonifacio as opposed to that which other leaders from Cavite wanted. Due to lack of consensus on what to do, Emilio Aguinaldo left the meeting disgruntled and was followed by other rebel leaders.

Toward midnight that evening, Andres Boinifacio accompanied by about 200 followers some of whom were armed, left San Franciso de Malabon and headed in the direction of Silang, bringing with them the funds of Revolution consisting of then thousand. Mexican pesos which they had kept at the convent that served as their central treasury.

When Aguinaldo learned of the flight of Bonifacio, he ordered General Tomas Mascardo to pursue him and to capture him, dead or alive. Aguinaldo planned to surrender Bonifacio to the Spanish General Lachambre- Mascardo brought with him a force more or less equal to that under the command of el Supremo.

Realizing that he was being pursued by Mascardo and knowing that he could not avoid an encounter as his destination was out of reach, Andres Bonifacio sought refuge in the barrio of Alulut, in the town of Indang.

Since Mascardo did not have the opportunity to kill Bonifacio in actual combat, he dispatched a soldier to deal him the lethal blow.

Bonifacio was carried on a hammock toward the town of Naic where they formed a Council of War which would try him and sentence him to death by firing squad at the earliest possible time.

Often times Bonifacio was malign and misrepresented (just like the camisichino and the red scarf of Bonifacio while Aguinaldo in his Military Uniform) in different version of history and Aguinaldo is nothing to do with it. Let’s get it directly from the words of Aguinaldo himself and if he is truly concern about our INDEPENDENCE –no interpretation let his words speak for himself.

These are accounts of Lt Sityar then let’s get it directly from the words of Aguinaldo himself and if he is truly concern about our INDEPENDENCE –no interpretation let his words speak for himself.

December 14 1897 that the truce of Biak-na-Bato was signed through the intercession of Pedro Parterno (a collaborator) who said to be aspiring for a dukedom. The terms were the surrender of rebel arms, the exile of Aguinaldo and other leaders to Hong Kong, the sum of 400,000 pesos paid to Aguinaldo, the first 200,000 upon the surrender of 1500 guns, and the balance when the terms had been complied.

When Aguinaldo was interviewed by the reporter of El Imparcial when he was about to leave for Hong Kong in 1898:

“We took to the field not because we wished for separation from the mother-country, which gave us her laws, her religion, her customs, her language, and her way of thinking, but because we were tired of bearing the material and moral burden laid on us by that arch, the keystone of which in our country is the friars. It is quite true that the Katipunan instilled in us another desire- that of independence- but that desire was unattainable, and moreover it was in opposition to our sentiments. It served as the banner of Andres Bonifacio, a cruel man whom I ORDERED shot with his death the Katipunan disappeared. You may be sure of this: we ask no reforms other than that the influence the friars hold under the laws in all our towns be restrained. We do not ask for their expulsion, for such radical measures should not be carried into effect under present conditions. We desire that the parishes be secularized or that they be presided over the friars who depend, not on their provincials, but on the archbishop, and, in a measure, we ask that some part of the patrimony of the haciendas in the provinces be diverted from the religious orders to us.

According to Adrian Cristobal the author of the book entitled “The tragedy of Revolution” This statement was reformist talk and grave indictment of Bonifacio before the world. True, Aguinaldo could just be lulling the Spaniards into a false sense of security as he embarked for Hong Kong to buy arms for another try at revolution. But the statement about ordering Bonifacio’s execution is quite revealing.

Now, can we remove the blame to Aguinaldo about Bonifacio’s execution? Is this information not part of their so called meticulous research? Is independence really meant by Aguinaldo?

In any military or revolutionary organization there is a chain of command and we are not stupid to believe that Aguinaldo should not be blame about the execution of Andres Bonifacio, it is his plan from the start he wants to pursue Bonifacio dead or alive that resulted the death of his brother Ciriaco.

While it is good to make such great a historical film from its director, lead actor and best of Filipino talents but please do not distort what really happens to our history. We hated what Marcos did and his kangaroo court for the Trial of Sen. Benigno Ninoy Aquino- I still remember what the senator said about the witnesses that he never seen before the trial pointing fingers and accusing him for the crimes that he did not committed. I think , We ,Filipinos should treat the same respect and point of view about what really happens on the trial by the kangaroo military of court of Aguinaldo to the Father of Philippine Revolution.

In the book of Judge Abraham Sarmiento III, The Trial of Bonifacio- the Appeal – using the modern day court trial and proceedings they revealed that Bonifacio is innocent and I was quite frustrated about the decision of Judge Sarmiento (considering he is against death penalty) and line of his reasoning and judgement because of the existence of Revolutionary Government Bonifacio should be executed; when it is proven behind the shadow of a doubt that Bonifacio is innocent from the Accusation of Pedro Giron that Bonifacio paid him 5 pesos to kill Aguinaldo.

According to dessenting decision of honourable former commelec commissioner Haydee Yorac (although they were friends with judge Sarmiento) –she said ” My own reading of that evidence and the law of the case is that even for the purpose of making historical judgement. Aguinaldo should have been CONVICTED BY HISTORY.” and she further discussed the innocence of Bonifacio “when life is at stake you don’t have the right to execute an innocent person. There is no need for us to become one of our honourable magistrates in order to give our right judgement; our conscience will tell us we should not subject an innocent person to any injustices”. None of the majority of Philippine Historians said the Bonifacio had a fair trial not even Teodoro Agoncillo who is a relative to the 2nd wife of Aguinaldo. We accept the innocence of Rizal about the crime that his detractors inflicted to him that caused his death why it is very hard for us to accept that really our fellow countrymen particularly the council of war and Aguinaldo facilitated to murder an innocent man, not guilty to the crimes they implicated, the person we owe our true independence.

When we learned from an Insider before the trial it is really intention of Aguinaldo to kill the person who accepted him in Katipunan, The Supremo who facilitated his appointment as provincial general of Magdalo, the leader who gave him support in terms of monetary, gunpowder, and food. The Father of Revolution who really cares about Independence to separate our Country to Spain, the person who cannot be bribed in any amount of money to surrender, just like the Lord Jesus Christ was killed by his own countrymen—the Jews and world accepted this truth while Gat. Andres Bonifacio was killed also by his own countrymen. We don’t celebrate the Death of Bonifacio like what we are doing to the Death of Rizal, Why? Is it painful to remember that Bonifacio was killed by Filipinos and Rizal was murdered by Spaniards?

To Entertainers, Politicians,Historians and all the people behind this conspiracy- the Filipino is mature enough to discern about the truth of our history, we are ready to face the truth of our past, we can accept this reality and none of us can change it, but please don’t make us fool with our own history.