Apolinario de la Cruz, a Tagalog who leads the 1839-41 Cofradía de San José (Confraternity of St. Joseph) revolt, embodies the religious aspirations and disappointments of the Filipinos.

A pious individual who sought to enter a religious order, he made repeated applications that were turned down by the racially conscious friars, and he was left with no alternative but to become a humble lay brother performing menial tasks at a charitable institution in Manila.

While serving in that capacity, he started the cofradia (confraternity or brotherhood), a society to promote Roman Catholic devotion among Filipinos.

From 1839 to 1840, Brother Apolinario sent representatives to his native Tayabas, south of Laguna de Bay, to recruit members, and the movement rapidly spread as cells were established throughout the southern Tagalog area.

Originally, the cofradia was apparently neither anti-Spanish nor nativist in religious orientation, although native elements were prevalent among its provincial followers.

Yet its emphasis on secrecy, the strong bond of loyalty its members felt for Brother Apolinario, and, above all, the fact that it barred Spanish and mestizos from membership aroused the suspicions of the authorities.

The cofradia was banned by the authorities in 1840.