The Modified Organizational Structure of the Katipunan

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Due to the increase of the members of the Katipunan, its structure were modified to address the changes of its organization. Last July 1892, Bonifacio together with its colleague, establish the KKK of the "sons of the nation." It is clear that this organization is also the organization that were initially outlined January of the same year 1892. We could also say, that during those time, July 1892, after 6 months, the "Kataastaasang Katipunan" were formally named as "Kataastaasang Kagalanggalang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan."

This assertion is not hard to understand. The changes in organization structure including the dynamics within this structure is essential to express the essence of the said assertion. From the initial bureaucracy that were mentioned in my previous post, the organization structure of the Katipunan will be modified and divided into three groups: "Kataastaasang Sanggunian (Supreme Council)," "Sangguniang Bayan (Provincial Council)," and the "Sangguniang Balangay (City Council)." Each council is composed of Head, Secretary, Prosecutor, Treasurer, and consultant.

According to the traditional study of Philippine history, the "Sangguniang Bayan" represented the provinces while "Sanggunian Balangay" for the municipalities and cities. In memory of Isabelo de los Reyes, he mentioned that on every city usually there is a board which is called "Sangguniang Bayan" (City Council), and transformed into municipality according to the common board.

There are district or some sort of head of barangay which are called section or board. Base on this, we can see that the formation of branches is based on the place: the "Sangguniang Bayan" (City Council) is for the provinces, "Sangguniang Balangay" (City Council) is for the city, municipality and barangay.

The formation of branches and council are based on the number of its members. It can be deduced that the changes taken from the initial organization structure of Katipunan were drive by the increase of its members. Due to the increasing numbers of its members, they needed to modidy the structure together with launching of "Kataastaasang Kagalanggalang na Katipuna ng mga Anak ng Bayan" last July 1892.

It is not impossible that during this time, after six months the "Kataastaasang Katipunan" were outlined, Bonifacio and the Katipuneros are on the grasp of the interpretation of the nation. That is why, together with change of structure, they also launched the "Kataastaasang Kagalanggalang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan."

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There is logic in this kind of interpretation because this offers explanation to the true form of Katipunan outlined during that time and the dynamics between its council. As early mentioned, Katipunan is only composed of three councils and on this view, it is highly simple and inadequate because the true structure of Katipunan is intricate.

It is said that the "Kataastaasang Sanggunian" (Supreme Council) is the highest convention and is managing the two branches - the "Sangguniang Bayan" (Provincial Council) and "Sangguniang Balangay" (City Council). As the highest council, the officials are special because in putting the phrase "Kataastasan" (Supreme) in its title or position to be known by its co-officers on the lower convention.

That is why the managers of this council are "executive director," the secretary as "executive secretary," and the prosecutor as "executive prosecutor." In relation to this, every communication, letters, instructions and orders coming from the "Kataastaasang Sangguniang" Supreme Council can easily be identify due to the signatures of the officials which always bears the letter "K" beside their position.

Next to the "Kataastaasang Sanggunian" (Supreme Council) is the "Sangguniang Bayan" (Provincial Council) which given to right to manages the "Sangguniang Balangay" (City Council). This council is the one who supervise the works of the Katipunan in a particular place while the "Sangguniang Balangay" (City Council) manages the operation of the Katipunan in its locale jurisdiction.

As already mentioned, the director of the "Sangguniang Balangay" (City Council), as lower council, is managed by the director of "Sangguniang Bayan" (Provincial Council.) However, like what is already discussed, the formation of a council is based on the number of its members. Because of this, there are "Sangguniang Balangay" (City Council) that are not supervised by the "Sangguniang Bayan" (Provincial Council) because they don't have enough members to form a "Sangguniang Bayan" (Provincial Council) to supervise them, which makes the director of this "Sangguniang Balangay" (City Council) in direct control with the "Kataastaasang Sanggunian" (Supreme Council).

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Source:
Saliksik
By: Angelito S. Nunag