MARAGONDON, Cavite – In celebration of Gat Andres Bonifacio’s 121st Death Anniversary, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) on Friday featured “Mga Kapatid ni Maypagasa” at the “Museo ng Pagliliitis ni Andres Bonifacio” (Bonifacio Trial House or BTH) here.
The NHCP museum has referred to ‘Maypagasa’ as Bonfacio’s gnome de guerre based on the historical account of the Katipunan “Supremo.”
BTH curator Melanio Guevara told PNA Friday that the May 10 lecture was organized “to feature also those behind the scenes’ or the supporters in the background whose minute contributions helped in our heroes’ triumphs, in attaining the nation’s freedom.”
The short lecture, managed by NHCP History Researcher Eufemio Agbayani III provides the appreciation of the life and times of Bonifacio siblings, Ciriaco, Procopio, Espiridiona and Troadio, their contributions to history and what has become of them as time passed, Guevara added.
On their roles in Katipunan, Ciriaco served as a soldier, while Procopio is the leader of a Katipunan branch “Tanglaw” which served as conduit to Candido Iban and Francisco Castillo.
Procopio was also responsible in organizing various Katipunan branches in other locations.
The only female member, Espiridiona, is the keeper of materials, guns and bullets while Troadio is the liaison in getting support from overseas.
As history revealed, Procopio died with Andres in that fateful day of May 10 in this town.
Ciriaco died on April 28, 1897 during his brothers’ (Andres and Procopio) arrest.
Espiridiona ,who joined Bonifacio’s widow Gregoria after the revolution, was adopted by Genoveva Distrito and later on married Emiliano, Gregoria’s brother.
She also lived on to impart the stories of the revolution until the day she died on May 26, 1956.
Troadio was said to have won a lottery in Madrid and then traveled to Macao, and possibly France, “and believed to have moved to a foreign country and necer came back home due to fear for his life,” Guevara adds.
Recalling the circumstances leading to his death, Andres first came to Cavite on the invite of Magdiwang Council led by Santiago V. Alvarez in November 1896.
He was later invited to an assembly in Tejeros, the famous Tejeros Convention on March 22, 1897 meant to unify the political leadership – Magdalo and Magdiwang – of the Revolution where General Emilio Aguinaldo (a Magdalo) was installed as President, and Bonifacio (a Magdiwang member) was elected Minister of the Interior where the latter nullified the proceedings and established a separate government in Naic, Cavite.
After Bonifacio with his wife Gregoria de Jesus and brother Procopio were arrested on April 28, 1897, they were subjected to court martial held in this town.
On May 5, 1897, the military court presided by General Mariano Noriel, found the accused guilty of treason and recommended execution. On May 10, 1897, Andres Bonifacio and his brother were executed by soldiers led by Major Lazaro Makapagal in Mt. Nagpatong, Maragondon, Cavite.
Thursday’s lecture also featured a special talk with a descendant of Espiridiona Bonifacio who discussed about their family’s life and different stories handed down to them by their “Lola Nonay” about Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan. (PNA)
