The development of Philippine politics

286 THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHILIPPINE POLITICS

like the plan of building a Philippine nationality with no
mention of independence. (')
Later on, in December of the same year, Paterno
changed the name of his party to Partido Independista,
probably because he believed that the feeling for independence was growing. The program of the party was also
changed, and this time it frankly advocated the independence of the Philippines as the aspiration of the people, to
be secured by political means as an act of justice from the
American people. (2)
Another proposed party whose name immediately suggests to us the origin of the great parties of a later date
was the Nacionalista Party founded by Poblete in 1901.
The ideal of the party was as follows: "The Nacionalista
Party will actively work within the law to secure for the
Filipinos at the earliest possible date a most ample autonomy and in opportune time independence under the protectorate of the United States of. America."
"Of the original signers of this party," said Mr. Allen,
chief of the Constabulary "five have been sentenced to Bilibid, one is there awaiting trial, one is the actual president
of the Katipunan, one is the Minister of War of the same,
and in fact most of the rest are wanted for serious infractions of the law."(3)
In 1902 this party was reformed, for as Mr. Allen
said, some of the original signers were already in jail.
(1) See El Renacimiento for November 7, 1902.
The party was temporarily governed by the following committees:
Executive Committee: Presidente Don Pedro A. Paterno; Vice-Presidente
Aguedo Velarde, and Secretary, Julian Gerona.
Advisory Committee:Hugo Ylagan, Maximo Paterno, Jacinto Limjap, Manuel Sityar and Ceferino de Leon.
(2) See Paterno's letter to Governor Taft of December 24, 1902, inclosing new
platform of the party. Executive Bureau files.
(3) Letter of Henry T. Allen, Chief of Constabulary to William H. Taft, November
22, 1902.
The officers of the party in 1901 were as follows:
Presidentes:-Santiago Alvarez, Pascuali H. Poblete.
Vioe-President:-Andres Villanueva.
Secretaries:-Macario Sakay, Aurelio Tolentino, Modesto Santiago, Cecilio
Apostol, Alejandro Santiago, Cenon Nigt. Aguedo del Rosario, Domingo Moriones, Jose Palma. Lope K. Santos, ii Wbn Torres, Salustiano Crur, Nicolas Rivera, Francisco Carreon, Brieeio Valentino Dlaa, Eurelio Santos,
Valentino Solis.