The

Tejeros
Assembly
Historical Context
 The first days of the Philippine Revolution saw the defeat of the
Katipunan in Manila.
 Bonifacio and his men was forcing to retreat to the mountains of
Montalban.
 The Katipunan under Emilio Aguinaldo managed to subdue the
Spanish forces by surprise and take control of two groups.
 Cavite Katipuneros consist of two groups
 ● Magdiwang (Bonifacio)
 ●Magdalo(Aguinaldo)
 Magdalo and Aguinaldo were soon fighting each other over territory
and logistics.
 Aguinaldo invited the Supremo Andres Bonifacio to Cavite to
mediate.
 The two groups finally agreed to form a revolutionary government
(Pamahalaang Panghihimagsik) which would lead the revolution.
 Friar’s Estate House in Barrio Tejeros-place where the assembly
was set to be held.
 Barrio Tejeros- part of the town of San Francisco de Montalban
(now General Trias)
 March 22, 1897- the Cavite Katipuneros, as well as representatives
of the Katipunan from the nearby provinces,converged at the estate
house.
 Pasong Santol, Barrio Salitran, Dasmariñas- Emilio Aguinaldo was
not at the assembly as he was commanding the Filipino forces at
the frontlines.
Artemio Ricarte’s Account
 Gen. Artemio Ricarte- was one of the officials of the Magdiwang
faction.
 During the Tejeros Assembly, he served as the secretary of the
convention when Bonifacio began presiding over the session.
 Ricarte was elected in the Tejeros Assembly as Captain-General of
the revolutionary government.
 His account of the Philippine revolution was titled “Apuntes
Históricos de la Insurreccíon por los Asociados al ‘Kamahalmahala’t
Kataastaasang katipunan nang mga Anak ng Bayan’ contra el
Gobierno Español en las Islas Filipinas”
 It was written during his imprisonment for subversion by the
American authorities in 1904.
 Itwas translated into English by a British
journalist, William Brecknock Watson, but
remained in manuscript form.
 Recartes memoirs were published in Tagalog in
1927 in Yokohama, Japan with the title
Himagsikan ng mga Pilipino Laban sa Kastila.
 March 22-JVT, the day set for the assembly.
 The Tejeros estate house filled with men, among
them not only the chiefs of Magdiwang but also
men of the Magdalo.
 Amongthe chiefs of the Magdiwang apart from the
Supremo of the Katipunan, were the following:
 ●Mariano
 ●Pascual
 ●Santiago Alvarez
 ●Luciano San Miguel
 ●Mariano Trias Closas
 ●Severino de las Alas
 ●Santos Nocon
Among those of Magdalo were:
●Baldomero Aguinaldo
●Daniel Tirona
●Cayetano Topacio
●Antonio Montenegro
 JacintoLumbreras- opened the session and
explained the purpose of the meeting.
 Severino de las Alas- address those present.
 Andres Bonifacio- explain the significance of the
letter “K” in the center of the sun on the flag,
which stands for liberty.
 AntonioMontenegro- spoke in a louder voice and
said that the insurgents were mere groups of
tulisanes or, much worse, brutes.
 Santiago Alvarez said that “ We insurgents of Cavite and
especially of the Magdiwang government recognize and obey the
government established by the Katipunan; if you wish establish
any other kind of government more suited to your fancy, retire to
your province and conquer territory from the Spanish government
as we have done here, and establish there whatever government
you like, and no one will interfere with you.”
 Andres Bonifacio was chosen by acclamation to be president at
the meeting.
 At the meeting after voting:
 Emilio Aguinaldo was elected President of the Republic,
defeating Andres Bonifacio and Mariano Trias.
 Severino de las Alas-elected as Vice-President
 Artemio Ricarte- the secretary of the session, elected as Captain
General by a large majority over Samtiago Alvarez.
 Emiliano Riego de Dios-elected as Director of War.
 Andres Bonifacio- elected as Minister of the Interior
 Daniel Tirona demanded and said that Jose del Rosario should be
the Minister of the Interior because he is a laywer and not
Andres Bonifacio.
 After Tirona said that Bonifacio, as a president of the session
and also a president of the supreme council of the Katipunan
declare that the assembly will close and annul everything that
has been done and left, followed by his adherents.
 Andres Bonifacio’s Account

This account by Andres Bonifacio is from a letter

he wrote to Emilio Jacinto in Montalban from
Indang, Cavite on April 24, 1897, a month after the
Tejeros elections. This would be the first time the
other members of the Supreme Council would hear
of the events that happened in Cavite. This was
first published in Jose P. Santos, Si Andres
Bonifacio at Ang Himagsikan.
 The letter contain the event in Imus Cavite where election were held.
 The elected president of Republic was Don. Emilio Aguinaldo
 Vice President was Don Mariano Trias
 Auditor General, Don Artemio Ricarte.
 Director of war in Don Emilio R. de Dios
 The election were held through the expression of those who were present ( viva
voice)
 Andres Bonifacio elected as director of interior but;
 Don Daniel Tirona stood up and said that Don Jose del Rosario be chosen
Director of Interior because the position should filled by someone educated
 Bonifacioanswer but Don Tirona shout; “ Let us agree that Jose del Rosario, a
Lawyer, be chosen Director of the Interior”
 At last, Bonifacio said that their assembly was the result of bad intention.
Santiago Alvarez’s Account
The account of the Tejeros
convention is found in Chapter 32
of Gen. Santiago Alvarez’s
memories. Like Ricarte, Alvares
was a direct participant and
witness to the events that occurred
in the election.
 Tejeros convention is found in Chapter 32 of Gen. Santiago Alvares’s memories.
 Assembly at Tejeros was finally convened on March 25, 1897
 The invitation to the meeting were signed by Secretary Jacinto Lumbera.
 Lumbera is Magdiwang Council
 Lumbera is sitting at long presidential table were
 Andres Bonifacio, Messrs. Mariano M. Alvares ,Pascual Alvares
 Emiliano R. de Dios, Ariston Villanueva, Mariano C. Trias,
Diego Mojica, Santiago V. Alvares, Artemio Ricarte
Santos Nocon, Luciano San Miguel, Pablo Mojica
Severino de las Alas, Santiago Rillo
 Magdalo seated at the Head Table were Messrs. Baldomero Aguinaldo, Daniel
Tirona, and Cayetano Topacio
 Lumbera had declared the assembly open, he announced the main topic of discussion which how
to bolster the defence in the areas still under Magdiwang control.
 Lumbera said that Katipunan holds authority over the islands.
 It is obeyed and respected by all because it stands for;
 Freedom
 Brotherly love
 Well organized
 Well run government
 Lumbera explained that;
 K in the middle of the sun in Katipunan flag stood for Kalayaan
 Mr. Severino De las Alas spoke again. K is not indicated whether the revolutionary government
was democratic or not.
 Bonifacio say that it stood for people’s sovereign, not a government led only by one or two.
 At the middle Lumbera gave a speech because Katipunan member was having a trouble
 Lumbera’s speech was well received and his proposal was unanimously accepted.
 Bonifacio agree and sympathize in the proposal
 Because of the glamour for the approval for the establishment of
a government of the Philippine Republic ,the chair was
proceeded to prepare for an election for the following position
 President
 Vice President
 Minister of Finance
 Minister of welfare
 Minister of justice
 Captain General
 Bonifacio appointed Gen. Artemio Ricarte as secretary
 Mr.Emilio Aguinaldo won over Mr. Andres Bonifacio, the
Supremo
 They shout “ Mabuhay”
 Mr. Severino de las alas spoke again to say the Supremo
Bonifacio had received the second Highest number of votes for
the presidency
 Should be proclaimed vice president of the government of the
Philippine Republic but nobody signified approval or
disapproval of the proposal
 The presiding officer, the supremo Bonifacio, ruled that the election be continued
for vice president
 Mariano Trias won over Mr. Mariano Alvares
 General Vibora was elected captain over General Apoy.
 Mr. Baldemora Aguinaldo want to finished the election before it got dark so he
suggest that all the people that votes will go in one side of the hall and other side
if against.
 Mr. Emiliano R. de Dios was elected for secretary of war
 Secretary of Interior, Mr. andres Bonifacio won over Mr. Mariano Alvares.
 Crowd shout Mabuhay.
 Mr. Daniel Tirona Suggest for restoration of order so he spoke aloud.
 One among use here is a Lawyer. He is Mr. Jose del Rosario. Let us consider the
choise of the last position, for he has no credentials to show attesting to any
educational attainment.
 Tirona Shouted, “Let us elect Mr. Jose del Rosario, the Lawyer”
 Bonifacio quickly stood up and said. “We agreed to abide by the
majority vote and accept its choice no matter what the station in
life of the person elected. And because of this, I demand from
you, Mr. Daniel Tirona, an apology. You must restore to the
voters and the one they elected the honor you have only now
besmirched.”
 Instead of replying, Mr. Tirona ignored the Supremo’s remarks
and, perhaps because of fear, he slid away and got lost in the
crowd.
 Bonifacio declare null and void all matters approved in this
meeting then he left quickly and was followed by his aides and
some others present.