by Basilio Ibabawan
Some people are quick at prejudging Aguinaldo without first examining the facts, and yet the hero depicted in the movie "Heneral Luna" disowned the Katipunan and pointed to Rizal as the founder to save himself from the Spanish firing squad. Here's the testimony of Antonio Luna given to the Olive investigating committee that was included among the pieces of testimonial evidence against Dr. Jose Rizal:
"TESTIMONY OF ANTONIO LUNA
"Manila, Nov. 12, 1896
"***I knew nothing of the conspiracy until July, I am not a rebel, nor a Mason, nor a filibuster, on the contrary, I am an accuser of men [who are these things?] and I believe that I have fulfilled my duties a loyal son of Spain.
"On the 18th or 20th of July, I told the following to Dr. Panzano, my old chief in the municipal laboratory, so that he could report it to the Governor-General. "There are groups or secret societies formed of people of the pueblos who are disposed to rise, or what preparations they are making. It is not Masonic. These groups exist in the pueblos about Manila and the assaults made on the Chinese made at San Juan del Monte were carried out by them. There are also groups in the principal pueblos in Luzon. On August 2nd and 3rd, I was summoned by the Governor-General, and then told him what I have said above, insisting that the associations were popular ones, and that rich and well known persons either did not know anything of them, or else did not sympathize with them.
"On the 11th or 13th of August, I told the Governor-General that the men who belonged to the groups of rebels made an incision in the arm and signed the oath of adhesion with the blood therefrom.
"On the 27th of August, before the attack on Santa Mesa, on account of certain confidential investigations, I had made, I denounced the "Liga Filipina" and the "Katipunan" as suspicious associations to Dr. Panzano so that he might report the matter to the Governor-General. I knew of the existence of the "Liga" from Don Moises Salvador; of the vast "Katipunan anac nang bayan" from Dr. Bautista Lim, one or two days before his arrest.
"Some days ago I said to Dr. Panzano: The "Katipunan" is the "Liga Filipina." The word "Liga," association or league, has been translated by "Katipunan," gathering or association. THE FOUNDER IS DON JOSE RIZAL. I was a Mason in Spain from '87 to '91. In the Philippines, as the Filipino Masons can state, I have worked for no lodge, nor do I know any. I have nothing to do with Masonry in the Philippines. In Spain in 1890, I drew up a project for extending Spanish Masonry to the Philippines, but it was never carried out." (lifted from p. 237-238, JRM Taylor, PIR)
On page 240 is a note:
"Note – From signed statements in repudiation of Masonry and pseudo-Masonic societies by condemned revolutionists, published by Spanish authorities. Translated from "Archivo del Bibliofilo Filipino." Other statements of almost similar wording to those of Roxas and Luna are signed by Juan Luna, Ramon Padilla, Luis Villareal, Jose Dizon, Moises Salvador, Faustino Villareal, Antonio Salazar adn Jeronimo Medina. Of these none are living today. All but the Luna Brothers were shot that January, 1897, by the Spaniards..."
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