Katipunan in Mindanao - Restituto Javier - "MAPANGAHAS" (1873- 1936)

Restituto Javier shared a kinship with Supremo Andres Bonifacio, both hailing from Tondo, Manila. A close comrade and confidant of the Supremo, their bond predates the inception of the Katipunan. Much like Bonifacio, Javier was employed at the German firm Fressel & Company, where Bonifacio assumed the role of bodeguero, overseeing the warehouse. However, Javier held the position of an agent (personero) for the company. These circumstances likely paved the way for his early involvement in the ranks of the Katipunan. He adopted the nom de guerre "Mapangahas"."

In the wake of Katipunan's attack of Pinaglabanan in 1896, Javier was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of sedition and rebellion, he found himself exiled to the distant Penón de la Gomera, Africa—a Spanish military outpost which also served as detention facility for political prisoners and rebels. On this rocky island, Javier toiled alongside fellow inmates, comprising Cuban and Filipino prisoners, as well as anarchists from Spain. Among his companions were Isabelo de los Reyes and the late Pascual Poblete. An unexpected turn came during a hostage swap between the Spanish captors and the revolutionary factions, resulting in Javier's liberation. This event transpired in 1899, marking two years since his banishment.

From Africa, he embarked directly for Spain, where he befriended notable figures including Dr. Miguel Morayta, Alejandro Lerroux, Vicente Blasco Ybañez and Emilio Junoy. These political figures, all republican members of the Spanish Cortes, provided invaluable assistance in sustaining him and his fellow exiles. Returning to the Philippines on August 19, 1899, Javier promptly joined the revolutionary forces of General Pantaleon Garcia in Tarlac, where he was given the command of a contingent of 300 men-- "fusileros".

After the Philippine-American War, Javier resettled in Manila. A few years later, he moved to Tabacco Albay, where he lived until his death in 1936.

A glimpse into the new Katipunan documents found within Jim Richardson's publication reveals that Restituto Javier, or "Mapangahas," was entrusted with a distinct mission: the establishment of Katipunan in Mindanao. According to a document dated September 2, 1896, which Javier signed with his own blood, his role was defined as follows:

"Naatasan na, sa lupang – Mindanao, siyang maging pinakatawan nitong Mataas na Katipunan at pinahihintulutang mag hasik ng binhing pinakakalat, kung sakaling wala pa, at kung mayroon ay mag tatag naman ng katipunang magiging banga ng balang maani at siya ang sangayon ay Pangulo doon."

~"He has been designated to represent the noble Katipunan in the realm of Mindanao, tasked with disseminating its principles. Whether these principles have yet to find root or already exist, his duty is to forge a katipunan that shall stand as the vessel for the forthcoming harvest, with himself as its head"

Regrettably, due to the inexorable dictates of time and fate, the fervent alliance envisaged between the Katipunan and the people of Mindanao did not fully materialize. Historical records and narratives of the Katipunan lack tangible evidence substantiating whether Restituto Javier reached and fulfilled the Katipunan's mandate in Mindanao. Nonetheless, the aspirations of the sons of the motherland (Anak ng Bayan) remained unequivocal—a collective aspiration to unify and fortify the archipelago into one, propelled by the shared yearning for freedom and a distinctly Filipino identity.

POSCRIPT

Katipunan documents -- September 2, 1896. Defining the mission of Restituto Javier in Mindanao