Tejeros Convention

Purpose

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.

The Revolutionary Leaders held an important Meeting in a Friar Estate Residence at Tejeros to resume their discussions regarding the escalating tension between the Magdalo and Magdiwang Forces; And also to settle once-and-for-all the issue of governance within the Katipunan through an Election.^[2] Amidst Implications on whether the Government of the "Katipunan" should be established as a Monarchy or as a Republic, Bonifacio defended that it should be maintained as a Republic. According to him, all of its members of any given rank shall serve under the Principle of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, upon which Republicanism was founded.^[3] Despite Bonifacio's Concern on the Lack of Officials and Representatives from other Provinces, He was obliged to proceed with the Election.^[4]

Election results

Tejeros Revolutionary Government
Pamahalaang Panghimagsikan ng Tejeros
Flag
Overview
Established	March 22, 1897 (1897-03-22)
Dissolved	November 1, 1897 (1897-11-01)
State	Philippines
Leader	President
Main organ	Cabinet
Headquarters	San Francisco de Malabon, Cavite

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.

The results of the election:

Bonifacio, 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.^[5] However, Daniel Tirona objected that the post should not be occupied by a person without a lawyer's diploma. He suggested a lawyer like Jose del Rosario is qualified for the suitable position.^[6] Bonifacio was 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 tried to disarm him.^[6] Bonifacio then voided the convention as Supremo of the Katipunan.^[7]

Some Magdiwang leaders, led by Pio del Pilar and Mariano Llanera, recanted their previous insistence that the result of the convention is null and void, thereby recognizing the validity of the elected leaders, they later occupied the five vacant position upon appointment from Aguinaldo. After the newly appointed officials had taken their oath of office on April 24, 1897, Aguinaldo convened the first session of the cabinet, on the same day, Aguinaldo issued an official circular informing the town presidents in all municipalities that he was duly elected by the convention and assuming his position as President ^[8]

Allegations of fraud

In addition to Bonifacio's statement voiding the outcome the probity of the election held has been questioned, with allegations that many ballots distributed were already filled out and that the voters had not done this themselves.^[9]

In their memoirs, Santiago Álvarez and Gregoria de Jesús both alleged that many ballots were already filled out before being distributed, and Guillermo Masangkay contended there were more ballots prepared than voters present. Álvarez writes that Bonifacio had been warned by a Cavite leader Diego Mojica of the rigged ballots before the votes were canvassed, but he had done nothing.^[3][10]

Aguinaldo

Emilio Aguinaldo was not present at the convention, but was at a military front at Pasong Santol, a barrio of Dasmariñas, Cavite. He was notified of his election to the Presidency the following day, and his elder brother, Crispulo Aguinaldo, persuaded him to travel to take the oath of office. Leaving Crispulo in command, Aguinaldo traveled to Santa Cruz de Malabon (now Tanza, Cavite), where he and the others elected, with the exception of Bonifacio, took their oath of office. Crispulo Aguinaldo was among those killed in the Battle of Pasong Santol between March 7 and 24, 1897, which ended with a Spanish victory.^[7] Aguinaldo surreptitiously took his oath of office as President in a chapel officiated by a Catholic priest Cenon Villafranca who was under the authority of the Roman pope.^[11]:109 According to Gen. Santiago Alvarez, guards were posted outside with strict instructions not to let in any unwanted partisan from the Magdiwang faction while the oath-taking took place.^[12] Artemio Ricarte also took his office "with great reluctance" and made a declaration that he found the Tejeros elections "dirty or shady" and "not been in conformity with the true will of the people."^[13] After assuming the Presidency, Aguinaldo sent a delegation to contact Bonifacio and persuade him to cooperate with the newly constituted government. The delegation was able to contact Bonifacio, but was unable to persuade him to cooperate.^[14]

Bonifacio

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Acta de Tejeros (1897)

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Naic Military Agreement

After leaving the convention, Bonifacio met on March 28 with 45 of his followers. Convinced that the election at the convention had been invalid, they drew up a document titled Acta de Tejeros giving their reasons for having rejected the convention results. They then proceeded to Naik and drew up another document, sometimes referred to as the Naik Military Agreement, resolving to establish a government independent of and separate from that established at Tejeros. When the Naik agreement came to the attention of Aguinaldo, he ordered the arrest of Andres Bonifacio and his brother, Procopio which involves an incident in Indang several complaints notably from Severino de las Alas and Jose Coronel, presented to Emilio Aguinaldo. The brothers were tried on charges of treason by members of the war council on Aguinaldo's government on May 10, 1897 the brothers were executed.^[15][16]

Bibliography

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tejeros Convention.

• The Tejeros Assembly of 1897 MSC Computer Training Center
• Katipunan and the Acto de Tejeros, March 23, 1897, Documents of the Katipunan, Katipunan : Documents and studies
• Agoncillo, Teodoro C. (1990) [1960]. History of the Filipino People (8th ed.). Quezon City: Garotech Publishing. ISBN 971-8711-06-6.
• Alvarez, Santiago V. (1992). Recalling the revolution: memoirs of a Filipino general. University of Wisconsin, Center for Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 978-1-881261-05-6.
• Constantino, Renato (1975). The Philippines: A Past Revisited. Quezon City: Tala Publishing Services. ISBN 971-8958-00-2.
• Guerrero, Milagros; Schumacher, S.J., John (1998). Reform and Revolution. Kasaysayan: The History of the Filipino People. 5. Asia Publishing Company Limited. ISBN 962-258-228-1.