The Light of Liberty

•

Cover design for a compendium of primary documents from the 1896 Revolution

The Light of Liberty: Documents and Studies on the Katipunan, 1892-1897

Publisher: Ateneo de Manila University Press
Author: Jim Richardson
Book dimensions: 6 × 9 in
Year: 2013

About the book

A landmark collection of Katipunan documents, some previously unpublished, most with translations and annotations. This compilation is a valuable contribution to a deeper understanding of the underground revolutionary resistance, which helped birth the Philippine nation and continues to inspire those who continue to struggle for genuine liberty.

Samples of Katipunan documents from the Archivo General Militar de Madrid. Left: Official record of the third meeting of the Supreme Assembly, held in Bonifacio’s house on 1 January 1896. Written by Emilio Jacinto. Right: Foundational document, 1892, written in code.

The triangle: Structure and motif

The cover is inspired by the letterhead of the Katipunan. The triangular form is a reference to some iterations of the Katipunan flag with triangular design configurations, as well as their triangular recruitment structure. The sparse cover with the field of red is a reference to the flag as well. The cover's body text is italicized to mimic the slanted script of the documents.

Installation views from Secret Lives of Books: Karl Castro, Book Designer, solo exhibition at the Ayala Museum, 2016. Anting-anting (amulets) from the Gallery Deus collection, Katipunan flag illustrations by Kendrick Bautista.

Right: the only extant photo of Andres Bonifacio. He is normally portrayed in a camisa de chino and neckerchief, but in his only photograph, he is wearing a suit. Bonifacio was fluent in Tagalog and Spanish, as well as English. He worked in British and German firms, and like Rizal, was a wide reader.

The spine: Secrets on the shelf

The thick spine breaks the monotony, featuring a flurry of seals, signatures, and document facsimiles, a secret hub of activity just hidden almost out of sight.