jet12thoftheapril

[jet12thoftheapril]

Acedilla, Jet J. Grade 11-Poseidon

BONIFACIO DAY

Bonifacio Day is celebrated annually on November 30 in the Philippines. It is a national holiday commemorating Andrés Bonifacio, a national hero. Bonifacio was one of the founders of a secret society of revolutionaries commonly known as the Katipunan. Acknowledged as the ‘Father of the Philippine Revolution,’ he initiated the Philippine revolution against the Spanish Empire. Unlike José Rizal, who is remembered on Rizal Day, the date of his death, Andrés Bonifacio is commemorated on his birthday. The reason is that he was executed by his fellow countrymen and not at the hands of foreign colonizers.

In 1892, Bonifacio joined a secret organization called ‘La Liga Filipina,’ founded by José Rizal, a Filipino nationalist. This organization became a threat to Spanish authorities, and Rizal was arrested and deported. After Rizal’s deportation, Bonifacio and other members reorganized La Liga Filipina. Not long after, they founded a new secret organization, the Katipunan. Bonifacio became the Supreme President of Katipunan in 1895. By 1896, under his leadership, its membership increased to around 30,000. In the same year, the Katipunan was revealed. After this discovery, Spanish authorities made several arrests to identify other members. Bonifacio and his fellows decided to start a nationwide revolt, beginning with a mass tearing of community tax certificates to symbolize defying Spanish authorities.

After several failed attempts, rebels led by Emilio Aguinaldo in Cavite succeeded in driving the Spanish out. Later, conflict arose within Katipunan factions, between the Magdalo (Aguinaldo’s) and Magdiwang (Bonifacio’s). The Tejeros Convention was held to unite the two factions and elect officers for the revolutionary government. Bonifacio lost the presidency and was appointed to a lowly position. He rejected this government and formed a rival government against Aguinaldo. Aguinaldo found out about this and ordered the arrest of Bonifacio. Bonifacio was then charged with sedition and treason and sentenced to death in 1897.