From Magellan's first step in the Cebuan Islands to the last gunshot fired from the war, our country has been exploited and crippled. Colonists created adamantine rules of social classes that trapped Filipinos in a cycle. The wealthy become more affluent, and the poor are left to think about when their next meal will come. Foreigners made themselves elites while sucking our country dry and created laws that prevented Filipinos from retaliating. That was where Andres Bonifacio found himself, oppressed and deprived. But in that crisis, he obtained courage and fought back, earning our country's independence.

Today is Bonifacio Day, where we celebrate the birth of one of our greatest heroes, Andres Bonifacio. He was one of the founders of the Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan, which was one of the keys that led to the Philippines' independence. He started the revolution and steered the Katipuneros to end the Spanish regime. But nowadays, if we look closely, in a way, our country today and Bonifacio's aren't too far apart. We are still heavily influenced by other nations, silenced by the government, poverty still floods the streets, and the COVID-19 Pandemic kills millions of lives. Did we do enough to make Bonifacio's sacrifice worth it?

Bonifacio's Philippines was a nation where few of its natives lived amongst the top, and the rest were left behind. Poverty, corruption, violence, and prejudice still haunt our country. But there is one thing that lived on from Andres Bonifacio's sacrifice, and that is our determination to persevere and fight for what's right. Happy Bonifacio Day!

Layout By: Christine Anica B. Batalla