Authenticated in a note to Don Epifanio de los Santos by Jose Turiano Santiago on the reverse. As secretary of the KKK Supreme Council prior to Emilio Jacinto, Turiano Santiago would have been a definitive expert on the writing of Bonifacio and all the signatures of the important members.

Provenance: Provenance : From the collection of eminent scholar, Don Epifanio de los Santos

Literature: Literature : Jim Richardson, Light of Liberty : Documents and Studies on the Katipunan, 1892 - 1897, Ateneo de Manila University Press, Quezon City, 2013, Pages 41 and 42. Adrian E. Cristobal, Tragedy of the Revolution, One Page Reproduced in Full Color, Studio 5 Publishing, Makati, 1997, Page 26.

ABOUT THE WORK

An extraordinary document written by Bonifacio reveals the Katipunan’s clandestine plans to expand to Mindanao. The document is proof not only of the KKK’s visionary ideals but also its intent to become a truly national organization. The exceedingly historically important appointment paper sees the light of day on the occasion of Bonifacio’s 156th birthday on November 30. The document was once in the collection of eminent scholar and former head of the National Library, Don Epifanio de los Santos, after whom Manila’s main artery is named. This is the first time that the general public will be able to read the letter in its entirety. Prior to its inclusion in the auction, only one of the three pages was decyphered in the landmark book The Light of Liberty: Documents and Studies of the Katipunan 1892–1897 by Jim Richardson. The basis of that single page was a single page reproduced in the book The Tragedy of the Revolution by Adrian E. Cristobal. Apart from the founding statements and statutes, this appointment is the earliest Katipunan document yet found. It is certainly the only one to be found in the Philippines and in private hands. The other key foundational documents are in the Spanish Military Archives in Madrid. At the time it was written, just four months after the founding of the KKK, the society’s highest organ was not yet known as the Supreme Council, but simply as the Center (“Ubod”). The three-page document is written in cipher—the secret KKK code—and was penned by Andres Bonifacio. Furthermore, the document bears a purple seal with broken chains, single star and skulls. It also featured a compass, and triangle with A.N.B. in the middle for Anak ng Bayan (Sons of the Country). At this stage in September 1892, the Katipunan’s top body was not yet called the Supreme Council. It was called the Ubod and this was its seal. The same seal would still be used later when the top body was called the Consejo Supremo (Supreme Council.) The document authorizes Restituto Javier (“Mangahas”) to organize Katipunan triangles in Mindanao. Javier has accepted his assignment under oath and signed the paper in his own blood, witnessed by four of the Katipunan’s initial inner circle: Teodoro Plata (“Pangligtas”) as kinatawan or representative; Ladislao Diwa (“Baliti”) as fiscal; Andres Bonifacio (“Maypagasa”) as secretary; and Valentin Diaz (“Walangulat”) as councilor. Plata’s designation as kinatawan, placed directly below the title “Ang Nangungulo” (The President), might indicate that he signed the appointment on behalf of the president, Deodato Arellano, who for some reason was not present. Richardson describes Restituto Javier as the son of Luciano Javier, a Tondo property owner. After studying at the private schools of Pedro Serrano Laktaw and Hipolito Magsalin, Restituto found employment as a personero (or agent) in the Customs House, and subsequently with Fressel & Co., the German- owned cement, brick and tile company where Bonifacio worked as a warehouseman. This would explain Javier’s recruitment to the KKK. It is possible, he noted, that Javier was going to Mindanao in connection with his work, and intended to take any opportunity for proselytizing that arose. Bonifacio wrote the letter in his capacity as secretary of the Katipunan’s highest ruling body, then known as “Ubod” (or Center). In 1892, this predated the better-known Supreme Council which would make Bonifacio president. (Lisa Guerrero Nakpil)