Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan
The "Katagalugan"
The concept of "Katagalugan for Bonifacio and the Katipunan means that to build a socio-political-culture in general suitable, intended to, and only for those who were born in the archipelago. In establishing the Katipunan, no other things inside the head of Bonifacio and its members but to build and establish their own nation - the Katalugan. He bravely mentioned the great purpose of Katipunan which said "the objective of K.K.K. of the A.N.B.3 is to seize and fix the Tagalog race" (AGMM 1892-1897, Caja 5677, leg.1.36.1).
On the footnore of this document, the meaning of tagalog race for the Katipunan was explained: "in tagalog language all the races born in the archipelago, therefore: Bikol, Iloko and Kapampangan are also tagalog" (AGMM 1892-1897, Caja 5677, leg.1.36.1). It is clear therefore that "Katagalugan" as a generic, refers to all people born in the Philippines. In the awareness of Bonifacio, theirs no doubt that "Katagalugan" is a general particular for them because they covered only the people who was born in the archipelago.
We can see the logic and the basis of this assertion in the strict condition implemented to those who wanted to join the Katipunan "to be accepted in the womb of KKK you must be: Pure tagalog in birth and race" (AGMM 1892-1897, Caja 5677, leg.1.36.4). It cannot be deny that the exclusivity of the movement established by Bonifacio is only for the people who grown and has root in the archipelago.
The concept "grown" and "rooted" in the discussion of Bonifacio is very important because everybody are rotating to it. From this perspective, is it easy to understand why it Filipino with foreing blood were also accepted in the Katipunan: "mixed Chinese from the second race and mixed with Spanish from the fourth race will also be accepted" (AGMM 1892-1897, Caja 5677, leg.1.36.4).
Base on this, what wasimportant for Bonifacio is the "growth" and "root" of a person, even if they have foreign blood running from their roots and ancestors. The emphasis of Bonifacio and the Katipunan in the "growth" and "root" in the archipelago only reflects its desire to build a socio-political-culture which is base on their own experience, culture, and history.
The usage of archipelago by Bonifacio is very important because it shows that the concept of overall that will unite all the ethnic groups in the Philippines. Bonifacio is referring to no other than the "Katagalugan" as an overall suited, intended to, and only for the people grown in the islands of the country.
From this declaration of Bonifacio and the Katipunan, the concept of overall were born. This is an overall nation because it covers the small unit or village where every ethnic group in the Philippines belong. The "Katagalugan", if that is so, is the "whole nation."
There's no doubt in this overall because it exceeds up to the ethno-linguistic, that is why the tagalog race covers not only for tagalog but also to all people who lived in the archipelago: Bikol, Iloko, Kapampangan, Bisaya, and other all all referred as "all nation", all the ethnic groups in the country are all gone to form and be a part of this entity. Here, all the ethnic groups became one race (the tagalog race) of all people who grow in the country. Related to this, that is why becoming a member of this overall is exclusive, a rights and privilege intended only for those who grow in the archipelago.
The usage and description of Katipunan in the word "grow" is strict. From their vision, the meaning of "grow in the archipelago" not only referring to those who were born and grow in the Philippines, but it also mean that his birth must be from the early people of the country before the arrival of the colonizer. An individual should have "grown and rooted" in the archipelago.
It is clear from the start that the desire of Bonifacio and the Katipunan to build a nation for and only for the tagalog race. They separated themselves from the takers as another race with its own root. That is the reason why their basis in choosing people to become part of the "katagalugan" is very strict. In this criteria, the insulares are treated as part of this "overall nation" or "katagalugan because even though they are born in the Philippines, they are not rooted and grow in the archipelago. This was also the reason why the basis when it comes to the birth of the people who wanted to join the Katipunan is very strict. Everyone must be a "pure tagalog in birth and in race" (AGMM 1892-1897, Caja 5677, leg1.36.4).
In relation to this, it is easy to understand why they accepted in this overall the mixed Chinese race and mixed Spanish race. Although they have foreign blood, it could not be deny, like what was mentioned above, that the blood of the people who grew in the archipelago also run to their veins. Therefore, they also have the "root" and "grow" in the Philippines. However, because of their foreign blood and root, the Katipunan had given them strict condition before they are accepted as a member.
