THE young hero Emilio Jacinto, despite showing excellence in his studies, dropped out of law studies at the University of Santo Tomas at the age of 18.
His uncle and benefactor José Dizon, whose masonic name was Montgomery, was inducted to the masonic fraternity under the Grande Oriente Español by Pedro Serrano Laktaw. Dizon eventually founded his own branch, the Logia Taliba No. 165, which was joined by their family friend Andres Bonifacio, whose masonic name was Sinukuan. The two became members of the La Liga Filipina, established by the writer and physician José Rizal on July 3, 1892. But Rizal was arrested only three days later, on July 6, and was exiled to Dapitan afterwards. The next day, July 7, at the house of their friend Deodato Arellano, the nephew of Marcelo H. del Pilar, on Azcarraga Street near Elcano Street, they formally established an organization they had been planning since early that year, wanting to end Spanish colonialism in the Philippines — a secret society, the Kataas-taasang Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (K.K.K.). Aside from Bonifacio, Arellano and Dizon, they were also joined by Ladislao Diwa, Teodoro Plata, Valentin Diaz and Briccio Pantas.
But there was not much growth in membership and activities under the administrations of the Katipunan’s first supreme president, Deodato Arellano, and the one who followed him, Roman Basa. It was at this time that Miling, young as he was, decided to join the fray. According to family stories, it was Miling’s cousin and José Dizon’s daughter, Marina, having just joined the women’s chapter of the Katipunan, who convinced him to join the secret society and despite the natural worries and hesitations of his mother, he left his studies and joined the movement. His Katipunan counter-signature or pen name was “Pingkian,” a Tagalog word meaning flint, tinder or the striking of a stone to create a spark. A metaphor for how one develops one’s knowledge to be able to create light for one’s countrymen.
The historian and biographer José P. Santos claimed that it was only when Jacinto joined the Katipunan that the society was invigorated and underwent much development (nagkaroon ng malaking pagkakaunlad ito). Jacinto, together with Teodoro Plata, Restituto Javier and others, became indispensable in patiently helping Bonifacio. Thus, the bond between Bonifacio and Jacinto was unmatched (hindi matutularan ng iba). Some may even describe it — Jacinto was Robin to Bonifacio’s Batman.
When Bonifacio became supreme president or kataas-taasang pangulo of the Supreme Council in 1895, Jacinto became highest secretary and the young physician Dr. Pio Valenzuela became the highest fiscal. These three highest officials of the Katipunan were also members of the Secret Chamber (Camara Secreta), the body that adjudicated offenses against the Katipunan, or what constituted their judiciary. But although the Supreme Council governed, the big decisions were still made with the Supreme Assembly, which was the Supreme Council convening with the local presidents of the local councils or the Sangguaniang Bayan and Sangguniang Balangay. Despite its revolutionary spirit, they intended to be a democracy.
Moreover, the Katipunan mandated that in all meetings and correspondence, no other languages could be used except Tagalog. Anyone who used Spanish would be fined and this was strictly implemented by Hermogenes Plata. This was to ensure that they create their own identity and become more understandable to reach the ordinary people. But as we pointed out previously, Jacinto grew up using “kastilang tindahan” and was not adept in Tagalog.
It was Andres Bonifacio who taught Miling the Tagalog language. And with this, Jacinto’s creativity flourished. He started to write essays and poetry in Tagalog that eventually he even became a better writer than his mentor. This was demonstrated when Bonifacio asked Jacinto to write a moral code of the Katipunan, a list of things that the Katipunan members would follow to maintain their honor, despite also writing his own. Jacinto wrote the “Kartilya ng Katipunan,” Bonifacio wrote the “Dekalogo.” When Bonifacio read the drafts, he chose Jacinto’s. This was eventually printed and made a primer for those who wanted to know more about the secret society or join the Katipunan. This shows Bonifacio as a mentor, preparing the younger generation for the leadership roles that they would soon fulfill, but also as a servant leader who empowers the followers more likely to become leaders themselves.
With the Kartilya being published, the mind and words of Miling suddenly had power to remind the people that theirs was not a revolution out of sheer hate and wanting to kill just the Spaniards, but conveyed the idea that “before we can fight, we have to have good hearts and love God, our native land and our fellowmen.” That is why people consider him the Brains of the Katipunan and thus of the Philippine Revolution.
Note: As of this writing the Jacinto biopic “Liwanag at Dilim: Heneral Emilio Jacinto” has finished principal photography. It features Gerald Santos in the title role, written and directed by Rommel Ramilo and co-produced with Ramilo, Leroy Santos, Arleen Mendiola Lipana and Ivan/Chona Raymundo. I serve as historical consultant.
Erratum: I mentioned in the last column that Jacinto had dropped out of school in May 1893, which made him 17 years old only. According to most accounts, it might have happened later in 1894.
