Since the start of the revolution, the city of Manila, and specifically its walled center Intramuros, was the primary target of El Supremo Andres Bonifacio and his Katipuneros.

[citation needed] The takeover of Intramuros had been a logical move for any uprising trying to overthrow the Spanish colonial regime in the Philippines.

Forces in Cavite under Emilio Aguinaldo, together with those under General del Rosario, would then attack Intramuros which would be lacking troops for defense.

[1] Before the plan was to be put to action one Katipunan member Teodoro Patiño, known for his talkativeness, revealed the existence of the revolutionary organization to a Spanish priest named Mariano Gil, who then reported it to the local authorities as revenge for grave misunderstandings with fellow Katipunero Apolonio de la Cruz.

On Saturday, August 29, some 2,000 Pasiguenos met at the border of barrios Maybunga and Caniogan, marched towards the plaza, and took over the headquarters of the Guardia Civil and the municipal hall.

This revolt in Manila, though only lasting a week before Bonifacio and his men were reduced to guerilla warfare, led to the arrests and executions of thousands of upper-class Filipinos who were suspected of having Katipunan ties.

[citation needed] Bagumbayan, now known as Luneta, became a killing field, culminating in the execution of José Rizal at the park in December 1896.

Emilio Aguinaldo would use a similar plan when his revolutionary forces surrounded Manila from four fronts in June 1898 during the Spanish–American War.