J Carlo Tresiana BAPE 1-1

1. Research and cite the biography of Lazaro Makapagal. Highlight your sources used.

Major Lazaro Makapagal; with his men were the one who pulled the trigger to the gun that
killed Andres Bonifacio.
When the new coop of Andres Bonifacio was discovered by the new government of the
Philippines. With haste the generals of this new government took action, they knew the
capabilities of Andres Bonifacio. That is when Major Lazaro Makapagal is appointed to be the
Secretary of the investigation against Andres Bonifacio. It was Colonel Pantaleon Garcia who
appointed Major Lazaro on the 29th day of April 1897. (Wikipedia, 2021), (Marquez, 2000),
(Richardson, 2020)
Knowing the gravity of the task, Major Makapagal accepted the task send an order was quickly
issued to bring all individuals involved to justice. The very same day, Major Makapagal’s men was
issued with an authorized gun and was ordered to use deadly force if necessary. 1 shotgun; Double
fire, one shotgun; centrefire what’s the main form of arms that Major Makapagal’s men used.
At the very next day on the 30th of April 1897 six of Andres Bonifacio’s men was arrested, as
well as Andres Bonifacio himself and his brother was arrested. They were questioned in their act
of collusion against the newly formed government. By May 6 1897, major Macapagal notifies the
Bonifacio brothers on their death sentence.
Early in the morning general Mariano Noriel ordered major Macapagal to take for riflemen do
carry the Bonifacio brothers the foot of the mount Tala. A sealed envelope to be open at their
arrival to the given location. It was handed to major Makapagal from general Noriel; major
Makapagal resumes that it was instructions on how the Bonfacio brothers will be executed. Major
model then notifies the Bonifacio brothers to the upcoming departure.
After they had walked for an hour or so, the brothers asked to rest for a
while, and the group sat down at the foot of a hill. Andres Bonifacio then
asked Makapagal to open the sealed envelope. Makapagal agreed, and
read the note out loud. Andres and Procopio Bonifacio, it said, were to be
shot to death, as decided by the Council of War. It ordered Makapagal to
carry out the sentence, and warned him he would be court-martialed if he
did not. It was signed by General Mariano Noriel.. (Malacanang)
Procopio Bonifacio was shot first then after was Andres Bonifacio. They were buried in a
shallow grave dug by bayonets.

2. Identity the style of writing Makapagal utilized. Prove your answer. Also, pinpoint his biases
(Give at least two).
Major Lazaro Makapagal’s writing needed to be descriptive end it with a narrative sense in
order to retell the scene accurately and without the risk of misinformation happening.
Referencing:
 Of all the things I read, it seems to me that major Makapagal was just following orders. She
did not really want to be the cause of the demise of Andres Bonifacio. major Makapagal knew
the greatness of what Andres Bonifacio had achieve.
The new government was clearly hastening the prosecution of Andres Bonifacio, with it only
lasting for days in order to reach a sufficient retribution to Andres Bonifacio. It shows the
corruption that conspired against Bonifacio. In my perception, the new Philippine government
knew the power of Andres Bonifacio, the power to move people and fight for what is right. It is
clear that Andress Bonifacio’s execution what’s done out of “tying off the lose ends” and not for
justice. To quickly get to my point, major Lazaro Makapagal knew that the new government was
corrupt and was taking their power to their own advantage. Major Makapagal also knew the
achievements of Andres Bonifacio to what he had done for the Philippines. Yet he still followed
the order and executed Andres Bonifacio. Granted, Major Makapagal was threatened to be
persecuted if he did not comply to the execution. Major Makapagal lacked spine, The liberation
of the Philippines had only been started, a liberation that needed defiance against a government
to realize freedom. Major Makapagal should have still felt a sense of patriotism; yet he still did
not act to what is right. (Lazatin, 1970)

Another biases that struck me is that it took 30 years for Major Makapagal to write a letter
and the retelling of the execution of Andres Bonifacio. 30 years is a fairly long time. Details of
the execution is bound to be forgotten. Its accuracy is in question. so much so, that we cannot
even confirm if Andres Bonifacio was hacked to death or was shot to death.

3. Cite portions of this eyewitness account that get your attention the most. Give three (3) and
explain.

The most notable one is Emilio Aguinaldo’s statement. In a nut shell, Aguinaldo wanted to
change Andres Bonifacio’s sentence from an execution to exile. But Aguinaldo’s word never
reached Major Lazaro Makapagal and his men.
It highlights the corruption of the generals of the new government. At first it was agreed for
Andres Bonifacio to be the first president of the Philippines but he was betrayed and generals
corroborated against Bonifacio. It is a disease that spread and grew from the first President to
todays President. A plane that has already crashed even before it had the chance to flew. (Ocampo
A. R.,2019),

This is not necessarily an eye witness, more like a group of people. It’s clear that the Bonifacio
trial was injustice. Bonifacio’s defense lawyer was almost acting as if he was the prosecutor and
further more is that the jury consisted of mostly Aguinaldo’s men. I just find it incomprehensible
that something so corrupt happened to Andres Bonifacio. It may as well be that Andres Bonifacio
was murdered and not executed. I can’t believe that this was the start of our government. (n.d,
2011)

Another group of people that was unexpected to me was their hateful reaction. The disconnect
of the people of Indang to the Bonifacio brothers. They really did not like that the Bonifacio
brother where in their town. So much so, that they refuse to give them food when ordering to a
 restaurant when the Bonifacio Brothers were resting from the long night of being captured. I find
the hate unexpected; Andres Bonifacio was the Father of the Katipunan; the liberators of our
country, the one who realize freedom for all of us yet they dislike him. What did the Town of
Indang learned or misunderstood among the situation in the capture of the Bonifacio Brothers? I
was genuinely dumb founded. (Marquez, 2000)

4. Makapagal mentioned the place of execution was in Mount Buntis. Nowadays, the official site is
Mount Nagpatong. Research and present citations on the change of the “official” site of
execution.

Base on the articles that I’ve read. The change of the official site of execution was a matter of
specificity. Many articles quote different places for the location of the burial site of the Bonifacio
Brothers. Some was, mount Tala, mount Buntis, and mount Nagpatong. This is probably due to
Major Makapagal not properly following directions. It was stated to the article that I’ve read that
starting from the location of the prison cell of the Bonifacio Brothers they’ve walked for one hour
and then rested. While resting Andres Bonifacio requests to Major Makapagal to open the letter.
Then Major Makapagal learning that the Bonifacio Brothers is to be executed, he did so. It was
said that they’ve been walking for an hour; it’s something that cannot really determine the actual
location of the execution site of the Bonifacio Brothers. Their walking speed might have varied
over time or certain terrain was hard to travel and thus talking more time.
Due to that issue, years after the execution, an American sponsored expedition was enacted in
order to recover the remains of the Bonifacio Brothers. A group consisting of former rebels and
government official found the bones in the sugar field by mount Nagpatong on 17th of march 1918.
And thus, changing the official execution site of the Bonifacio Brothers.

5. Upon reading this account, why do you think our nation commemorates November 30 as
Bonifacio Day instead of his demise? Elaborate your reply.

My sole hypothesis is we wanted to remember Bonifacio as great man. The 30th of November
is the date of his birthday; I guess we wanted to remember Bonifacio without remembering the
corruption and atrocity that was done to him. It does seem morbid to celebrate him on the date
of his death. A death that is down right murder, is what I Wil remember if we celebrate Bonifacio
on the 10th of May. Though, it is arguable that we have to celebrate Bonifacio day on the day of
his death on May 10 to remind the Filipino of today of corruption that started our government.
Still don’t want to remember Bonifacio on May 10; because if we celebrate it in may 10, the
Bonifacio day. It is possible for us to remember Bonifacio only to be the guy who was killed
unjustly by the new government. I want to remember Bonifacio as a whole; the guy who fathered
Katipunan that liberated the Filipino from the Spanish inquisition as well as the guy who was killed
by his own Nation that he saved.
A Tribute to Andres Bonifacio. (n.d.). Hearts Philippines & Then Some. https://philippines-

atbp.jimdofree.com/about-alex-moises-andres-bonifacio-tribute-part-viii/

Transcript of the Trial of Andres Bonifacio | Presidential Museum and Library. (n.d.).

Http://Malacanang.Gov.Ph/. http://malacanang.gov.ph/3330-transcript-of-the-trial-of-

andres-bonifacio/#4

Lazatin, H. (1970, January 1). Historical Letters: Andres Bonifacio’s Executioner Says the

Katipunan Founder Pleaded For His Life. Esquiremag.Ph.

https://www.esquiremag.ph/the-good-life/pursuits/emilio-aguinaldo-lazaro-macapagal-

rare-handwritten-letters-a00184-20190213-lfrm

Wikipedia contributors. (2021, June 17). Lázaro Macapagal. Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A1zaro_Macapagal

Marquez, J. (2000, January). The Killing of Andres Bonifacio. Journals.Upd.Edu.Ph.

https://www.journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/jescl/article/viewFile/2491/2357

Richardson, J. (2020, July 1). Andres Bonifacio: Biographical notes. Part VII: April 15, 1897 -

May 10, 1897. Academia.Edu.

https://www.academia.edu/43490312/Andres_Bonifacio_Biographical_notes_Part_VII_

April_15_1897_May_10_1897?pop_sutd=false

Ocampo, A. R. (2019, February 15). Bonifacio’s death: An eyewitness account. INQUIRER.Net.

https://opinion.inquirer.net/119565/bonifacios-death-an-eyewitness-account