More Fun Facts

Did you know that the reason we have a holiday today is because it’s Andres Bonifacio’s 154th birthday?

As a co-founder and Supremo of the Katipunan, Bonifacio (1863-1897) is widely recognized as the father of Philippine revolution (and is contestably the first Filipino president and national hero).

Orphaned at the age of 14, Bonifacio quit studying and used his natural knack at craftsmanship to produce canes and paper fans which he then peddled so he can support his five younger siblings. His talent in art also enabled him to make posters for business firms in Manila.

Although he was unable to finish his regular schooling, Bonifacio nurtured his natural intelligence with self-education. He particularly focused on books about the French Revolution, contemporary penal and civil codes, and novels such as Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables and (of course) Dr. Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

In 1892, he became one of the founding members of Rizal’s organization, La Liga Filipina (The Philippine League). The group was formed to serve as a platform for calling reforms in Spain’s colonial government of the country at the time. However, the group disbanded after only one meeting because Rizal was arrested and deported to Mindanao (because of the publication of his novels which were deemed subversive by the then ruling Spanish government).

Right after receiving this news, Bonifacio, together with other like-minded individuals, founded the Katipunan, or in full, Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng Mga Anak ng Bayan (“Highest and Most Respected Society of the Country’s Children”). Unlike La Liga’s advocacy for peaceful reform, the Katipunan sought complete independence from Spain through an armed revolution. Its members, called Katipuneros, are composed of citizens from the middle and lower class.

However, the rapid increase in the number of Katipuneros eventually led to the discovery of the group by Spanish authorities. As a symbolic gesture of their defiance of Spanish rule and the start of their revolt against Spain, Bonifacio led his fellow Katipuneros in a ceremony which would later be known as “the Cry of Pugad Lawin”. In that event, the Katipuneros tore their cedulas (community tax certificates) and took a vow to fight against the Spaniards to the bitter end.

With what practically was a nationwide call for armed revolution, Bonifacio reorganized the Katipunan into a revolutionary government. In addition, they renamed the country and his regime “Haring Bayang Katagalugan” in lieu of “Filipinas”.

Throughout their campaign against the Spaniards, Bonifacio’s forces incurred several defeats but also won some victories. Despite the many reverses that his forces suffered, the Spanish forces were unable to fully defeat Bonifacio.

Unfortunately, a clash between two Katipunan factions in Cavite eventually led to Bonifacio’s demise: the Magdalo, led by Baldomero Aguinaldo (Emilio Aguinaldo’s cousin), and the Magdiwang, headed by Mariano Alvarez (Bonifacio’s uncle-in-law). Both factions clashed over authority and jurisdiction and refused to cooperate with each other on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, Emilio Aguinaldo had won great renown among the Katipunan for his many victories in Cavite. So great was his confidence that he issued a declaration which proclaimed his own provisionary revolutionary government – despite the existence of “Haring Bayang Katagalugan”.

When Bonifacio was invited to Cavite in order to mediate between the two factions, his encounter with Aguinaldo left both angered and bitter toward each other.

The power struggle eventually ended in Aguinaldo’s favor when in 1897, during what later became known as the Tejeros Convention, he was able to garner more votes from other revolutionary leaders. Although he had received the second-highest vote and was eligible to be awarded the vice-presidency, Bonifacio refused to accept the decision and in fact declared that: “I, as chairman of this assembly and as President of the Supreme Council of the Katipunan, as all of you do not deny, declare this assembly dissolved, and I annul all that has been approved and resolved”.

Because of their history of animosity and antagonism, it was not long before Aguinaldo had Bonifacio arrested. He alleged that Bonifacio and his forces ardered to burn down a village after it had refused to give him provisions.

The men that Aguinaldo sent to arrest Bonifacio were received cordially by the Katipunan Supremo, unknowing of their true purpose. Indeed, it wasn’t until the following morning that they attacked Bonifacio’s camp.

In the chaos that ensued, Bonifacio was shot in the arm and stabbed in the neck by Aguinaldo’s men. What’s worse was that his wife, Gregoria, was reportedly sexually assaulted.

Bonifacio, severely wounded and half-starved, with his men were brought to Aguinaldo and underwent trial. Unfortunately the entire jury was composed of Aguinaldo’s men and even the defense lawyer assigned to Bonifacio declared his client’s guilt. Moreover, Bonifacio was not allowed to confront the state witness for the charge of conspiracy to murder on the grounds that the witness was supposedly killed in battle (suspiciously, the man was reportedly seen alive after the trial).

Despite insufficient evidence, Bonifacio was found guilty of sedition and treason against Aguinaldo’s government and was sentenced to death. On May 10, 1897, the Supremo of the Katipunan was executed in the mountains of Maragondon, Cavite.

There are differing account of his manner of execution. It is generally believed that he (and his brother) were shot to death. There is also another account which stated that Bonifacio attempted to escape after his brother was shot, but was also killed while running away.

The most gruesome however, is the report that, while his brother was shot normally, Bonifacio himself was stabbed and hacked to death while he was laying prone in a hammock in which he was carried to the execution site – being too walk.

Despite the circumstances of his death however (or maybe because of it), Bonifacio has been suggested in more than one instance, as a worthier candidate for the title “National Hero”. While Dr. Jose Rizal is the currently recognized holder of that title, some historians suggest that Rizal is a “United States-sponsored hero” who was promoted as the greatest Filipino hero during the American colonial period of the Philippines – after Aguinaldo lost the Philippine–American War.

Nevertheless, both Rizal and Bonifacio are given the implied recognition of being national heroes because they are commemorated annually nationwide – Rizal Day on December 30 and Bonifacio Day on November 30.