Katipunan Vignettes: Troadio Bonifacio and the Two Filipino Pearl Divers

 

Who was Troadio Bonifacio?

The Katipunan Supremo, Andres Bonifacio, had three brothers—Ciriaco, Procopio, and Troadio. Both Ciriaco and Procopio were active participants in the Katipunan movement alongside their elder brother. Unfortunately, the two of them, together with Andres, met their tragic end during the power struggle that ensued after the Tejeros Convention. Meanwhile, we know little of Troadio. Who was he? Was he also somehow connected with the movement his elder brother founded?
According to Hermenegildo Cruz, the author of the quasi-biography of Andres Bonifacio titled "Kartilyang Makabayan: Mga Tanong at Sagot Ukol Kay Andrés Bonifacio at sa KKK," Troadio Bonifacio played a crucial role in the acquisition of a printing press for the Katipunan. In Chapter 8, Question 43 of the book, it is noted that Troadio, the youngest Bonifacio brother, returned from Australia accompanied by two fellow Filipinos named Francisco Castillo and Camilo Iban. Checking Teodoro Agoncillo's "Revolt of the Masses," the author put the year when the two Filipinos made contact with the Katipunan in 1895. Agoncillo also named them as Candido Iban and Francisco del Castillo, thus correcting Hermenegildo Cruz's mistake. It turns out that the two were pearl divers in Australia, 19th Century OFWs. These two individuals had won a substantial amount in a lottery. Hermenegildo Cruz then mentioned that upon learning of their windfall, Andres Bonifacio, through his younger brother Troadio, encouraged them to contribute to the Katipunan cause. Subsequently, they donated a significant sum, which was used to purchase a printing press from Antonio Salazar, owner of the "Bazar del Cisne."

"Kartilyang Makabayan: Mga Tanong at Sagot Ukol Kay Andrés Bonifacio at sa KKK" by Hermenegildo Cruz (1880–1943)   




Another version of the story, as narrated by General Guillermo Masangkay, a close confidant of Andres Bonifacio, somewhat varied. According to Masangkay's 1935 newspaper interview, Troadio, being overseas, was assigned the task of securing funds and contacts among Filipinos abroad to support the movement. Troadio encountered the two divers in Australia and successfully convinced them to contribute a portion of their lottery winnings. But he never mentioned that Troadio returned from Australia with the two divers. Masangkay stressed that the two divers went directly to Andres Bonifacio with an address and referrals given by Troadio himself.
Does this action of Troadio in securing funds from the Bisayan divers in Australia shed light on his active participation in the Katipunan movement? While there are some narratives suggesting that Troadio traveled to Spain and France, there is a lack of credible references to substantiate these claims.
Meanwhile -- Francisco del Castillo and Cadido Iban



NHCP historical marker for Francisco del Castillo in Kalibo , Aklan.
NHCP historical marker for Candido Iban in Malinao , Aklan.
After securing a printing machine for the Katipunan, Francisco del Castillo and Candido Iban traveled back to their hometown in Kalibo, Aklan, tasked by the Supremo to spread the doctrines of the Katipunan in their region. Checking "The Katipunan in Aklan," authored by John E. Barrios, Melchor F. Cichon, and Dominador I. Ilio, and first published in 1997, Iban and del Castillo, upon their return to Aklan, began a spirited recruitment of locals to the Katipunan. In early March 1897, Candido Iban, in one of his sorties around Aklan, was arrested by the Guardia Civil in the town of Lezo. A few days later, on March 17, Francisco del Castillo then led the revolt in Aklan. In a battle that ensued, the former pearl diver turned Katipunan general was felled by a bullet and died. In the aftermath of the rebellion, Candido Iban and 18 other revolutionaries of Aklan were executed.
Indeed, an extraordinary story for two extraordinary men. There should be a yearly award for outstanding OFWs of the present—and it should be in honor of Francisco del Castillo and Candido Iban.


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