Bonifacio Trial House

The Roderico Reyes Ancestral House, more commonly known as the Bonifacio Trial House, is a historic house and museum in Maragondon, Cavite, Philippines. It was built in 1889 and served as a military court, wherein it has been a witness to the trial of Andres Bonifacio in 1897.

History

The plan for a new government was established since the emergence of the Philippine Revolution on August 23, 1896. Its aim was to unite the Katipuneros under a single leadership. The Magdalo faction nominated Emilio Aguinaldo, while the Magdiwang faction retained Bonifacio, who was the "Supremo" of the Katipunan. On March 22, 1897, the revolutionary government was established at the Tejeros Convention. Emilio Aguinaldo was the president of the new government, while Bonifacio was declared as the minister of interior. However, Daniel Tirona of Magdalo questioned Bonifacio's qualifications for the position. Upon his authority as the presiding officer, he declared all the proceedings null and void.

Bonifacio, then, established his own government in Naic, Cavite. He was arrested for refusing the revolutionary government, upon the orders of Emilio Aguinaldo, at Indang, Cavite. His wife, Gregoria de Jesus, and his brother, Procopio, were also arrested. Andres Bonifacio was brought to a military court in Maragondon for a pre-trial hearing. On May 5, 1897, the brothers of Bonifacio were charged by the court with treason and sedition. On May 6, 1897, they were sentenced with the death penalty.

His brothers were brought by Major Lazaro Macapagal to Mount Tala on May 10, 1897. As soon as they reached Hulog, a barrio within the vicinity of Mount Nagpatong, Major Makapagal opened his sealed orders, upon Bonifacio's insistence. The order revealed that severe punishment awaited him if he would fail to execute the two brothers of Andres Bonifacio. The death of the Father of the Revolution, Andres Bonifacio, still remains to be controversial at present.

Present condition

The house has been converted into a museum. The was formally inaugurated on November 28, 2014. Arnel Paciano D. Casanova, president and presiding head officer of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, was the guest speaker of the event. It houses life-size dioramas commemorating the trial scene of Andres Bonifacio.
Five Places that Bear Witness to Philippines Independence
', PropertyAsia PH, 10 June 2016, Retrieved: 27 June 2016.

Historical designation

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has installed two historical markers commemorating the building on its facade. The first marker, in English, was installed in 1948 by NHCP's predecessor, the Philippines Historical Committee (PHC). The second, in Filipino, was installed in 2000 by the later predecessor of the NHCP, the National Historical Institute (NHI). The NHI has designated the building as a National Historical Landmark on June 4, 1997, and this fact is also mentioned on the second marker.

References

External links

* {{Commons category-inline

Official museum web page

Houses completed in 1889
Historic house museums in the Philippines
Buildings and structures in Cavite
Museums established in 2014
2014 establishments in the Philippines