Andres Bonifacio: A Hero Never to be Forgotten

Named “The Father of the Philippine Revolution,” Andres Bonifacio is one of the most important figures during the country’s search for independence during the Spanish colonization. On this day dedicated to him, we remember and honor the national hero's life’s work, devoted to serving the country and the Filipino people.  

#BonifacioDay #NationalHero

Written by Aira Lao
Layout by Zamanttha Sahidulla

Posted on November 30, 2021  |  7:20 AM

Bonifacio Day is celebrated every year to honor Andres Bonifacio, the founder of the Kataastaasan Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK), or simply Katipunan. He is a Filipino revolutionary who strove and fought for the freedom of the Philippines from the oppressive Spanish rule. Life gave him many trials, but those trials never stopped him from stepping up for the common folk. Andres Bonifacio is remembered, admired, and honored deeply by his countrymen.

Short Biography of Andres Bonifacio

Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro was born on November 30, 1863 in Tondo, Manila. He grew up facing a lot of struggles and learned a lot through hands-on experiences. He was the eldest of 6 children, and because of the early passing of his parents, he was not able to pursue a proper education. In order to support his five younger siblings, he worked full-time doing a variety of odd jobs, from a street seller to a messenger. At some point, he became an agent of foreign commercial firms in Manila. Additionally, he liked to write poems and even became an actor at a local theatre. As he indulged himself in different kinds of knowledge, he became fascinated with classic rationalism, reading various books such as the works of José Rizal, Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, Eugène Sue's The Wandering Jew, the biographies of the past presidents of the United States, and books about the French Revolution. It is also through these works that Andres learned the dynamics of the sociohistorical process. 

Bonifacio as the Founder and Leader of the Katipunan

In 1892, when Jose Rizal established La Liga Filipina, an organization formed to unite and deepen the nationalist reform movement, Andres was not hesitant to become a member. However, La Liga Filipina started to fade away when Rizal was exiled to Dapitan. As a result, Bonifacio formed the Katipunan or KKK in the same year. KKK stood for “Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan.” The name was an indication of their patriotism and love for the Philippines - as it pinpoints that the people within KKK were not Spaniards, but rather Filipinos who seek to free their fellow men. The organization sparked Filipinos’ longing for freedom, equality, and independence. 

They acted primarily using Bonifacio’s knowledge of the various past books and scriptures he read. Their initiation rites were roughly based on Masonry, while its ideological principles were based on the French Revolution. The Katipunan had high regard for the idea that work was the source of all value. With this ideology, their actions revolved around doing public work while speaking up for the wrong justifications present in society at that time. On Aug. 19, 1896, it was discovered that the Katipunan had 10,000-100,000 members coming from diverse places in the country; the majority of them were peasants or people who couldn’t speak up alone because colonialism had sealed their lips shut. 

On August 23, 1896, Andres Bonifacio called his troops to an area in Quezon City where the now well-known Sigaw ng Pugad Lawin occurred. This was an event where Bonifacio and his comrades tore up their cedulas with a loud cry as if they were freed. A cedula at that time was the identification card Filipinos had. Tearing up the cedula meant that they had had enough of what was transpiring in their society and wanted pure freedom for their country and themselves. 

In the same month, Bonifacio led his troops into a long-planned dispute with the Spanish to which his troops were defeated. With more conflict following, Bonifacio was called back to Montalban by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Bonifacio's supposed ally that also contributed to the resistance. Some papers wrote that many decided that Bonifacio’s plans were divisive and harmful to many people. This led to the decision of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, who was the elected president of the provisional revolutionary government, to order the arrest, trial, and execution of Andres Bonifacio under the grounds of “treason and sedition.” Subsequently, Andres Bonifacio was executed by a firing squad. 

After Bonifacio’s Passing

Despite the report, Bonifacio’s death is still inconclusive. It was stated and even written in various papers that he had died in the battle against the Spaniards, and that his corpse was uncovered at Maragondon. However, upon further investigation, it was given light that Andres Bonifacio did not die at the hands of the colonizers, but at the hands of the Filipino people. It was actually debated if Bonifacio still deserved to be called a National Hero as his death was not in the midst of battle. That was debunked as it was justified that, although he did not die at the hands of the Spaniards, his life’s work and actions were enough proof to earn him a place among our National Heroes. There was also a theory speculating that Emilio Aguinaldo and Andres Bonifacio were rivals in the position for president. A politician had suggested that Emilio Aguinaldo murdered Andres Bonifacio as he was not worthy of the position due to his lack of education and uprising.

During the colonization of the Americans, Andres Bonifacio was planned to be the Philippines’ National Hero but was replaced by Jose Rizal. Though, this does not, in any way, downgrade the struggles and sacrifices that Andres Bonifacio endured. Both Andres Bonifacio and Jose Rizal show the traits of a National Hero. Hence, it is often debated on who is more worthy of the title. 

Andres Bonifacio was a strong and intelligent leader despite his lack of education. His life was a symbol and sign to the common struggling folk of the Philippines that even in the toughest of circumstances, a Filipino can always find a way. He persisted and lived through the struggles. Andres Bonifacio showed that, through perseverance and his love for the Philippines and its people, anything is possible. Therefore, he is highly regarded and honored as a hero and will never be forgotten.