Deodato Arellano

Deodato Arellano y de la Cruz (July 26, 1844 – October 7, 1899 ) was a Filipino propagandist and the first president of the Katipunan, which was founded at his home in Azcarraga Street (Claro M. Recto Avenue today), Manila. He was first to be given the title Supremo by the Katipunan. After studying bookkeeping in Ateneo de Municipal de Manila (Ateneo de Manila University now), he became an assistant clerk for the Spanish military. He was a member of the Freemasonry in the Philippines and became involved in the Propaganda Movement.

Biography

Early life and career Arellano was born on July 26, 1844, in Maysantol, Bulacan, Bulacan to Juan Arellano and Mamerta de la Cruz. Their family surname was replaced to Arellano conforming to the 1849 order of then Governor-General of the Philippines Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa to standardize conventions on family names. Arellano went to Ateneo Municipal de Manila (now known as Ateneo de Manila University) to study about bookkeeping. He became an assistant clerk at the weaponry division of the artillery corps of the Spanish military, the Maestranza de Artilleria.

Like his brother-in-law, Arellano was an active Freemason, hailing from Logia Lusong No. 185. Buan was his masonic name. He was also part of the short-lived La Propaganda, a movement founded by his brother-in-law del Pilar and Mariano Ponce, which sought reforms in the political landscape of the Philippines. which was founded by José Rizal upon his return to the country. Arellano was elected the league's secretary. A few days after the founding of La Liga Filipina, Rizal was arrested and detained in Fort Santiago and then later deported to Dapitan island in Mindanao. On July 7, 1892, it was Gov. Eulogio Despujol who announced Rizal's immediate deportation to Dapitan. On the same day, the Katipunan was founded at Arellano's home in 72 Azcarraga Street (now Claro M. Recto Avenue), Manila where Andres Bonifacio— a Liga member— assembled Teodoro Plata, Valentin Diaz, Ladislao Diwa, Jose Dizon and Arellano himself to establish the said underground association. Its main goal was to reach Philippine independence from Spain and not just reforms.

During the undisclosed October 1892 meeting of the Katipunan, Arellano was elected the first president of its Supreme Council and the first to be given the title Supremo. becoming its commissary officer. Although in some historians, his life after his arrest is vague but they inclined to believe that Arellano did join his nephew's brigade. Bernard Carritero portrayed Deodato Arellano in Katipunan, a 2013 TV series of GMA Network.