The break of the civic society the La Propaganda had given Rizal
the idea to establish another civic society. During his stay at Hong Kong, he had organized a constitution for that society he was planning to create. The constitution aims to:- To unite the whole archipelago into one compact, vigorous, and homogenous body;
- Mutual protection in every want and necessity;
- Defense against all violence and injustice;
- Encouragement of instruction, agriculture, and commerce; and
- Study and application of reforms.
Upon his return to the Philippines he had decided to form that society and thus came forth on July 3, 1892 the La Liga Filipina. The Liga became a forward step to the reformists because it aimed to directly involve the people to the reform movement. Many members of the society became attracted to the Liga and among them was Andres Bonifacio who became one of the founders of the organization. The members of the organization were free to choose any symbolic name he wants for himself.The elected officers of the Liga were:
- Ambrosio Salvador, President;
- Agustin de la Rosa, Fiscal;
- Bonifacio Arevalo, Treasurer; and
- Deodato Arellano, Secretary.
A governing body with three councils was established so that the aims of the Liga will be properly carried out. These three councils were the Supreme Council, the Judicial Council, and the Popular Council.
Just like any other organization, the Liga also needed funds for it to be able to achieve its aims. To accumulate some funds each member of the society was to pa ten centavos as a monthly due. They had implemented certain rules and limits in using the funds. The funds of the organization were to be used in the following manner:
- The member or his son who, while not having the means shall show application and great capacity, shall be sustained;
- The poor shall be supported in his right against any powerful person;
- The member who shall have suffered any loss shall be aided;
- Capital shall be loaned to the member who shall need it for an industry or agriculture;
- The introduction of machines and industries, new or necessary in the country, shall be favored; and
- Shops, stores, and establishment shall be opened where the members may be accommodated more economically than elsewhere.
The La Liga Filipina was a sort of self-help and mutual aide society. It gives out scholarship funds and lends loans. It had no intention of rising up arms against the Spanish government. As harmless as it may seem, the Spanish authorities still thought of the Liga as a threat to the government. On the night of July 6, 1892, three days after the Liga was established, Rizal was captured. The next day, Governor-General Eulogio Despujol gave out an order to deport Rizal to Dapitan.
Due to Rizal's captivity, the Liga had diminished for a while. It was reorganized, later, by Domingo Franco and Andres Bonifacio. New set of officers were elected and these were:
- Domingo Franco, President;
- Deodato Arellano, Secretary-Treasurer;
- Isidro Francisco, Fiscal;
- Juan Zulueta and Timoteo Paez, members of the Supreme Council.
Later on, Apolinario Mabini became secretary of the organization. He then suggested that the Liga should support the La Solidaridad and all of its reforms. The organization then started rising up funds for the paper and defraying the expenses of deputies advocating reforms for the country before the Spanish Cortes. Every month each member was to contribute a small amount of money and the proceeds will be given to La Solidaridad.
A few months later, the Supreme Council decided to disband 
the Liga. The reformist leaders had found out that the Popular Council of which many members were recruited by Bonifacio was no longer willing to give out funds for La Solidaridad.
La Liga Filipina split into two. The rich members of the organization decided to continue supporting La Solidaridad and formed a new group called Cuerpo de Compromisarios. The others had lost hope that the reforms will still be granted, thus, on July 7, 1892 Bonifacio had created a new secret society aiming for independence and called it
Kataastaasan Kagalanggalang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan or Katipunan for short. Bonifacio had believed that the peaceful means is useless and will never bring you independence so he decided to revolt against the government through the use of arms.
Significance of the Organization
The La Liga Filipina had not been successful in achieving its aims. It lasted only for a few months and after that its members had split into different groups and had different views on how to achieve the independence that they want.
Though the organization was a failure on its own means it was still successful for its death had given birth to the Katipunan which had fought for the Philippines' independence.
Gladys Blanco
BS Computer Science I
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