Compared to Jose Rizal’s works, only a few of Andres Bonifacio’s writings have survived. Among
these are the Acta de Tejeros and the Acta de Naic, which were sold in a much-hyped auction in
December 2018.
The Acta de Tejeros questioned the election of Emilio Aguinaldo as the president of the
revolutionary government. The hand-written document was signed by 45 Katipuneros of the
Magdiwang faction.
Dated March 23, 1897 (a day after the election), the Acta de Tejeros cited the reasons for rejecting
Aguinaldo’s election and listed gripes against the Magdalo faction. Dr. Ambeth Ocampo points out
that then, in 1897, as now, nobody loses in a Philippine election; the loser always claims he was
cheated. The Magdalos viewed the document as mere sour-graping by the Magdiwang.
Dr. Ocampo asks what we are to make of the Acta de Tejeros document, stating that “Aguinaldo was
the only Magdalo elected to a government dominated by Magdiwang. Aguinaldo did not need to
attend or cheat in the Tejeros Convention; the presidency was handed to him by the Magdiwang
that betrayed Bonifacio.”