#katipunan

Our present situation remains delicate. If the imperialists sense our weakness, the People shall fall to jeopardy. Our victory must be now built from peaceable legitimacy. Today this struggle shall be both parliamentary and militant: the former shows our power facing the national bourgeoisie; and the latter to build the necessary foundations, both social and economic, for socialist revolution.

Catalina Bernardo, Sa aming manga kaibigang anak nang bayan, 1900

The spirit of the Revolution has finally reached its pivotal moment. Either we seize industry before the capitalists do and give the land entirely to the people, or we sully the blood and sweat we've made in those arduous four years. Either the Republic does it, or we will. And we must.

While revolvers remain prevalent in the isles, it was an automatic pistol that caught the affection of the Filipino shooter. The .38 caliber Colt Model of 1900 and its descendants first arrived at Manila's stores in 1901. The Colt pistol–affectionately called the paltic, a Tagalo word meaning "slingshot", "flick", or "snap"–became prized to both upper and working-class men as a trophy of masculine sophistication. As it is with the latest technologies, guns such as the Colt are often prohibitively expensive. But things such as this are no match for the demands of the foolhardy Filipino. A flurry of imitations by local gunsmiths soon emerged, of wildly varying fit and make. These knockoff paltic were, like the Spanish copies of the Smith and Wesson, significantly simplified to ease manufacture, especially as the copies were often hand-fitted (if not built from cannibalized parts) and often made without the help of machines. It is no surprise to anyone, thus, that handling such a paltic is a danger to both target and the user. During festivities around calle Singalong for the 1903 New Year's Eve, I've been witness to two separate incidents, one a lad of eighteen and another of forty-five, who had blown up their arms after firing poorly-made pistols. A local notable I must note, who is known to possess an automatic Colt pistol (and as far as I'm aware, are of legitimate quality) is the Deputy Secretary of the Interior Emilio Jacinto, who had taken a liking to the firearm. He had even sponsored the national arsenal to produce proper versions of the gun; he, an afficionado, might have also been aware of the perils of the knockoff arms. Alas, given I haven't heard much since hearing that news, this matter appears to have been quietly swept off.

Benildean AU Andres Bonifacio

Andres Bonifacio remains one of the most powerful symbols of courage in Philippine history, not because he was born into influence, but because he proved that an ordinary individual can ignite an extraordinary revolution. He came from hardship, yet he carried a kind of strength that refused to stay silent. Through the Katipunan, he transformed struggle into unity, fear into resistance, and hope into a movement that changed the nation. His legacy continues to inspire today’s generation to speak up, stand firm, and fight for what is right—even when the world feels heavy and uncertain. Bonifacio reminds us that bravery doesn’t always roar; sometimes it begins quietly, in a single decision to rise. He shows us that authenticity is powerful, that resilience is beautiful, and that true change starts with people who refuse to settle for injustice. In a time where many feel lost between expectations and reality, his life whispers the same message: your voice matters, your story matters, and your courage can spark something bigger than you think.

NOTE: This pubmat was created by me.

Dofitas, Kristeanna Jean L.

12-Balsahan

Mr. Glenver Dela Torre

Blog—Andres Bonifacio