The 1st presidential and vice-presidential elections in Filipino History, but only members of the Katipunan can only vote, not the general public. One of the most important meetings of the armed revolt-group during the later years of the Spanish colonization in the Philippines.
Who are the men present at the Tejeros Convention?
The assembly was held on March 22, 1897, in a friar estate residence called Hacienda Tejeros at San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias), Cavite. All men are present between the Katipunan's 2 groups: Magdiwang (led by Andres Bonifacio) & Magdalo (led by Emilio Aguinaldo) factions.
The purpose was to form a revolutionary government and defend the province of Cavite against the Spaniards. Emilio Aguinaldo was not present at the meeting since he went to defend the town of Pasong Santol (Santol Pass) in Dasmariñas, Cavite, while celebrating his 28th Birthday. Daniel Tirona was sent on his behalf to attend the convention.
Republic or Monarchy?
Before the election started, people were asked what type of government should they create? Andres Bonifacio, the head of the Tejeros Convention, and Supreme Leader of the Katipunan stated that it should be maintained as a republic. Bonifacio asked everyone that the results shall accept and respect whoever is elected into office.
Bonifacio should be the President of the Revolutionary Government as declared by a loyal supporter of Bonifacio. Tirona contradicts that a formal election should be done so the Supreme Leader would be elected in office. As they proceed with the nominations followed by writing their full names on a piece of paper of their chosen candidate and cast their vote to a ballot box.
The Election Results
Emilio Aguinaldo won, in absentia as President of the Revolutionary Government. Bonifacio got the 2nd-highest number of votes for President, and automatically he should be the Vice-President, but no one declared a second motion as the election continued.
Mariano Trias won as Vice-President, followed by Captain-General Artemio Ricarte, Director of War Emiliano Rigo de Dios, and Andres Bonifacio as Director of Interior. He accepted the position as Interior Director but was insulted by Tirona because of his educational attainment.
A certified lawyer and an expert of the law should be fit for the position. Bonifacio wasn't able to finish his studies so he could help his siblings, then studied on his own by reading books. He vents out his anger to Tirona, draws then aims his pistol, and challenges Tirona to a duel.
It was de-escalated by the other officials. Bonifacio as the head of the convention declared the results were null & void, then leaves the assembly.
The Aftermath?
Emilio Aguinaldo, who was not present at the assembly, stayed to defend the town of Pasong Santol in Dasmariñas, Cavite. The following day (March 23, 1897), he was notified as the President of the Revolutionary Government requesting to take his oath of office. He wanted to remain with his troops, but Crispulo (Emilio's brother) volunteered to defend the town.
Emilio went to Hacienda Tejeros, where he and other officials were elected, It was officiated by Padre Cenon Villafranca and pledged their oath as new leaders of the revolution. Captain-General Ricarte found out that the election was dirty or shady.
After leaving the convention, Bonifacio wrote to Emilio Jacinto that the election was rigged, then manipulated. Sounds familiar, isn't it?
On March 28, 1897, Andres Bonifacio met 45 of his followers. Convinced that the election was a fraudulent result, as they wrote a document called Acta de Tejeros (the Tejeros Act) stating their reasons for rejecting the election results.
As Bonifacio plans to resist the revolutionary government, they went to Naic, Cavite and wrote another document called the Naic Military Agreement rejecting the revolutionary government formed in Hacienda Tejeros.
Bonifacio continues to oppose Aguinaldo and his cabinet members, which the Supreme Leader would later cost his life on May 10, 1897, executed with his brother Procopio in the mountains of Maragondon, Cavite.
Was the Tejeros Convention rigged? Or not?
It is said that the elections at the Tejeros Convention were rigged, including the manipulation by the Caviteños, that they should not be led by men from other towns, meaning they should elect Aguinaldo instead of Bonifacio. This is where Regionalism came from its roots in our country.
The Supreme Leader didn't want to declare a recount of votes since the election was ongoing at that moment, and only members of the Katipunan can cast their vote. Until to this day, this tactic is still being used after numerous dirty elections of our country's history.
Dirty Elections
From the rigged ballots of the Tejeros Convention to the malfunctioned PCOS machines by Smartmatic, handled by the Commission of Elections (COMELEC) and the National Citizen's Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL).
Most of us have learned our lesson, others are not because of choosing their candidates who would stay for years, or even decades stayed in their position as diplomats of our country.
Generally, I'm not telling all of them, but there are still a few good people who stayed true to their word why they've been chosen by the people. Most of them are in jail now. Yes, they've tasted their own medicine, but they find other ways to make it out of their hole.
My thoughts?
Now they only have a year left on their term as politicians, let's see if they can remain in their position, as new aspiring candidates for president are now appearing on our local media. It's been years when we were given the right to vote, and are they still worth it to become politicians again?
Don't base it on how they look like, let's use our critical thinking skills with a background check on each potential candidate like what they've done for our country, what were their contributions? Achievements? Milestones? Everything from their career as a politician.
If he/she will be given another chance, then so be it, but let's also give way to the new generation of new leaders of this country. Choose wisely if they're fit for the position.
