Andrés Bonifacio

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Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro
November 30, 1863 – May 10, 1897
Image:Gat Andres Bonifacio.jpg
A late 19th century photo engraving of Andrés Bonifacio.
Place of birth Tondo, Manila
Place of death Maragondon, Cavite
Allegiance Katipunan
Rank Revolution leader
Battles/wars Philippine Revolution
This article is about the person Andrés Bonifacio. For other uses, see Bonifacio (disambiguation).

Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro (November 30, 1863 – May 10, 1897), son of Santiago Bonifacio and Catalina de Castro, was a Filipino revolutionary leader and one of the main rebel leaders of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule in the late 19th century. He is regarded as the "Father of the Philippine Revolution" and one of the most influential national heroes of his country. A freemason, Bonifacio was the founder of the Katipunan organization which aimed to start an independence movement against Spain.

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[edit] Early life

Bonifacio was born to a Tagalog father by the name of Santiago Bonifacio, and a Spanish mestiza mother, Catalina de Castro of Zambales,[1] in Tondo, Manila. His father was a cabeza de barangay (a leading barangay official). His mother died of tuberculosis in 1881 and his father followed suit a year after. According to popular anecdote, he peddled canes and fans to support his family.[citation needed]

Later, he worked as a clerk in a British firm in Manila. He married twice - his first wife was a woman named Monica, who died of leprosy. He read books about the French Revolution, Les Miserables, and the novels of local reformist and future national hero José Rizal, among others.

According to historians,[who?] Bonifacio - though projected by detractors as being illiterate - was in fact very literate because a British firm would not have hired him as a clerk if he was not. He was also highly intellectual to be keeping serious novels and political books, many were not even written in his native tongue. He also authored countless articles and poems in the course of organizing the revolution.

He was a Freemason. He also joined Rizal's La Liga Filipina (Spanish "The Philippine League"), a society that called for reforms in Spanish rule. However, the Liga was disbanded shortly after Rizal was arrested and deported to the town of Dapitan in Mindanao a day after the group's only meeting.[citation needed]

After the La Liga was disbanded, Bonifacio realized the futility of peaceful struggle even for mere reforms. He then founded the underground organization that in the coming years would grow and send shock to the Spanish colonial rule and would drastically change the course of Philippine history and would give pride to every Filipino - the Katipunan. With his wife Gregoria de Jesus and his uncle one day in a humble hut in Manila, Bonifacio resolved to change history with just a single pistol in hand for a start.

[edit] Controversy

Some historians, like Renato Constantino, see him as a champion of the masses who was slighted by ambitious members of the upper class. Others like Gregorio Zaide, favor Aguinaldo and company over him. Glenn Anthony May goes as far as saying that his role as a national hero was largely invented. Also, until now, there is debate whether he should be considered the first Philippine President instead of Aguinaldo and the national hero instead of Rizal.

Some analytical historians like Alejo Villanueva claim that what happened at Tejeros, Cavite was actually a coup de etat to wrest power from Bonifacio by the bourgeois or upper class represented by Aguinaldo. (Aguinaldo and members of his class enjoyed more privilege status even before the revolution. They would not allow a victorious president Bonifacio ordering land and wealth distribution as his first decree.) Hence, the Tejeros Convention was a farce intended to lure Bonifacio to the Caviteño territory. The presidential election wasn't a national election at all. Participation in the election primarily came from Caviteños. The other provinces in revolt, such as Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Laguna, and Batangas, were not participants. Bonifacio, who was too fueled with idealism, was too naive to understand maneuvering politicians. Had Bonifacio been able to get back to Manila he could have charged Aguinaldo and other Caviteño officers with treason and Philippine history would have taken a very different track. Bonifacio was not allowed to get out of Cavite. He was summarily tried then executed promptly at a mountain in Maragondon, Cavite for treason.

[edit] Today

Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City, sculpted by Guillermo Tolentino
Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City, sculpted by Guillermo Tolentino
Andrés Bonifacio (right) on the 10-peso bill
Andrés Bonifacio (right) on the 10-peso bill

Bonifacio's birthday on November 30 is celebrated as Bonifacio Day (Filipino: Araw ni Bonifacio) and is a public holiday in the Philippines.

There are many monuments to Bonifacio across the nation, with the most famous being two sculptures, one by Napoleon Abueva and the other by Guillermo Tolentino, both National Artists.

In current Philippine currency, he is depicted in the 10-peso bill (currently out of production) and 10-peso coin, along with fellow patriot Apolinario Mabini.

[edit] In film

Bonifacio was portrayed by Julio Diaz in Bayani (Hero), a feature film loosely based on his life directed by experimental auteur Raymond Red, and an educational television series also named Bayani.

Gardo Verzosa portrays Bonifacio in the 1998 film José Rizal.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Interesting facts about Zambales, visitzambales.com, <http://www.visitzambales.com/newlayout/index.php?action=people&part=intfacts>. Retrieved on 21 March 2008 

[edit] References


[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links


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