The fighting father

We all know Andrés Bonifacio. A fighter, a Katipunero, and a hero. But more importantly, he was Filipino. He wasn’t just a Filipino by blood, but because of his character. He was more than that, he was a generous brother and a dutiful son, providing for his family. He was a smart man who drowned himself in books and gladly revered the arts. He was a brave man who stood up for what was right and cried out so loudly for freedom that it woke the whole nation up. But in the end, he was just like everyone else, whose heart cried out for all the suffering Filipinos he considered to be family.

Written by: Maria Althea Tirzah Ferrer

Layout by:  Bernadette Ojo

December 3, 2023 | 9:00 A.M.

Bonifacio could have been any of us. We hear so many stories about Bonifacio, the hero, but rarely hear about the side of him that was similar to us. Andrés Bonifacio was not rich, his family was somewhere in the middle class. He sold paper fans and canes to support his family, which turned out to be a big hit, leading to a successful business. He was a student, but he dropped out and decided to educate himself with books. Namely, books about the French Revolution, Noli me Tángere, and Les Misérables. By all means, he should have been a nobody, he was a commoner who lived a normal life. After all, he was just like every other Filipino back then: a simple boy living a simple life, yet dreaming of a country free from oppression. But apparently, this was the exact formula needed to become the Father of the Philippine Revolution.

People often pit Bonifacio against Rizal: the “bolo-wielding peasant” versus the “pen-wielding elite” yet, what people don’t know is that Bonifacio and Rizal were far from enemies. In fact, Bonifacio was an admirer of Rizal and his work. His political activism didn’t start with the Katipunan; It started with La Liga Filipina—a secret society founded by Rizal that called for political reform in the current Spanish-filled Philippine Government. Following Rizal’s footsteps, Andrés Bonifacio founded the Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan or the KKK.

Though the Katipunan and La Liga Filipina both worked towards change, the Katipunan took on a more radical and violent approach. The Katipuneros were not the first revolters, though, they were the biggest and loudest. This was not a revolution that existed only in one city. This was a nationwide phenomenon that brought together thousands of Filipinos all wanting to gain independence.

The Katipunan was not just about freedom, it was about unity. This was why Bonifacio was an amazing hero because he did not just build a society, he built a brotherhood. And with a rejuvenated spirit, the Filipinos fought hard and brave, knowing that every cut, every wound, and every blood spilled was for their families. 

And so, despite Bonifacio’s death in 1897, the revolution lived on, and his name was engraved into history. Andrés Bonifacio showed us what it means to be a hero. It means you cannot be afraid of standing up, of picking up a sword, and of getting your hands dirty. He showed us that there is no shame in fighting as long as you are fighting for what is right. He taught the Filipinos not to be passive, and he urged everyone to take on a more active role in the pursuit of freedom and independence. But, never once did he shame those like Rizal, who fought with pens instead of swords. He simply gave the Filipinos an opportunity to show their strength and power. He faced the Spanish forces with his head held high and declared that the Philippines would not go down without a fight. With the thousands of Katipuneros by his side, he showed everyone exactly what we Filipinos are capable of.

We are not weak; we are strong, and we are strong because of heroes like Andrés Bonifacio—the father who so bravely fought for us.