Andres Bonifacio was known as the "Father of the Philippine Revolution",the "Father of Philippine Democracy" and the "Great Plebeian" He was born on November 30,1863, in Tondo, Manila He was sent to the school of Guillermo Osmena of Sugbu (Cebu) and later to the Meisic School , where he finished second year . At the age of 14, he was left an orphan with two younger brothers and a sister depending on him for support.Though a minor , he had to do a man's work to support his young siblings. He peddled fans and canes in the streets. He worked as a warehouseman for a tile factory of Preysler family and later, as a clerk for Flemming Co., and then, a salesman of pitch at Fressel Co. He wrote plays and acted on stage. He became an actor of the Palomar Theatrical Company. He also earned money by drawing ads for business firms. He stopped schooling but never stopped educating himself by reading any book he could lay his hands on. He devoted his spare hours in reading books like the Noli and Fili ,including "The French Revolution".Though he was not able to finish high school, he was able to write quite well in Spanish, English and Tagalog .Some of his works are: "What the Filipinos Ought to Know", " Love of Country", "Duties of the Sons of the People", and the Decalogue. He translated "Mi Ultimo Adios" in Tagalog and named it "Pahimakas".
Bonifacio was a member of the La Liga Filipina. On the very night that Rizal was deported to Dapitan on July 7,1892, he and other patriots met at the house of Deodato Arellano at No. 72,Ascarraga Street, Tondo, Manila, and founded the Katipunan_"Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan"(K K K). It marked the beginning of militant revolutionary movement. Bonifacio was the Supremo, Deodato Arellano was elected its first President and Emilio Jacinto as Secretary. Rizal, without his knowledge was elected honorary member and his name was used as the password of the highest knight. The aims of the Katipunan were: (1.) To work for the release of Rizal from Dapitan, (2.)To strengthen Filipino unity,(3.)To fight against tyranny of the Spaniards,(4.)To fight against forced labor and the friars' abuses,(5.)To redistribute the friars' lands, and(6.)To make the Philippines independent. Though the primary object of the Katipunan was to work for the independence of the Archipelago,it had many other teachings. Among them were: 1., There should be equality among all men, 2., The oppressed shall be aided and the oppressor shall be resisted,3., Womanhood shall be respected, 4., A man should conduct himself with dignity and keep his word;he should not oppress anybody nor allow himself to be oppressed. He should work for the freedom of his native land; the greatness of man lies on these things and in no other.
Bonifacio married Gregoria de Jesus. She was the Lakambini of the Katipunan and was known as the "Mother of the Revolution". Bonifacio started the revolt in Pugad-lawin and proceeded to Balintawak on August 26,1896, where they tore their cedulas as a gesture of declaring independence from Spain, and shouted,'Long live the Philippines". The rebellion spread to Southern Luzon, then the Central Luzon and later to Zambales and the Ilocos Region.Several leaders emerged, among them was Emilio Aguinaldo who became the member of the Katipunan in 1894. Factions developed. The Magdiwang group was led by Bonifacio while Aguinaldo formed the Magdalo group. Bonifacio called for an election to unify the movement into a new revolutionary government. Aguinaldo won as president while Bonifacio was elected as Director of the Interior, but Daniel Tirona, a Magdalo, shouted that the position should not be filled by a man without a lawyer's diploma. Bonifacio was insulted and left with Ricarte, Alvarez, Mojica, and 40 others. He was charged of sedition and an arrest order was issued to him. Gen. Noriel arrested the Bonifacio brothers on April 28,1897, on account that "Col. Bonzon tried to convince the Supremo to recognize the Aguinaldo government but Bonifacio ordered his men to fire on them".
The detailed testimony of Bonifacio and his wife was: Col. Bonzon entered Bonifacio's camp and fired on the trenches. Bonifacio went down the house and shouted, "Mga kapatid,"hugging the men he met,"ako'y walang ginagawang kawalanghiyaan".But he was shot and was hit on the shoulder by one of the arresting officers.More shots were fired until Bonifacio fell.One of the officers stabbed him on the throat. Aguinaldo's orders were to take him dead rather than alive . When the gunfire smoke cleared, Ciriaco Bonifacio lay dead and Procopio was being held by the arms,,beaten witless by rifle butts. Col. Bonzon then took all their guns and property.Nothing was spared; not even a small knife for cutting fingernails!
At the "trial", the arresting party repeatedly claimed that the Bonifacio brothers had opened fire first.The Supremo asked that his revolver which had been confiscated during his arrest be presented because it would be found with all its bullets intact, clear proof that he had not fired a single shot. His brothers' guns were likewise asked for , but were never presented as evidence. Gregoria, Bonifacio's wife declared that after the fighting, she was captured by the arresting party and interrogated about the money they claimed she had hidden. Bonzon did not believe her answers. He ordered that she be tied to a tree and flogged. He took Gregoria's wedding ring and 12 pesos,as well as bullets for a revolver. Then he forced her into a vacant house .Later, in Indang, Bonzon tried to rape her again ' but Bonifacio pleaded with Tomas Mascardo , who intervened.
In the courtroom, Bonifacio was weak from his wounds,he was naked, except for a blanket wrapped around his body, and he was being tried for treason. Gregoria was silent in the courtroom,to spare him of added pain.The rape or attempted rape of the then,helpless 19-year-old wife of Bonifacio was an expression of power and frustration.It is possible that the motive was to humiliate Bonifacio further, otherwise,why didn't Aguinaldo order an investigation into the charges against Bonzon? Bonifacio and his brother Procopio were murdered at Mt. Buntis, Maragondong, Cavite on May 10,1897. One of the saddest thing in our history that Bonifacio died not in the hands of the enemies but in those of his fellow Filipinos.What is often left unsaid is the irony that Andres Bonifacio was swallowed up by the very revolution that he started.Textbooks and holidays tend to over simplify history. Holidays blind us to the more important part of any history_the story of an event, why it happened and the corresponding resolution.
"Fear history", the great plebeian used to say, "because in it, none of your deeds can be hidden". History did not protect from the bullets and bolos that killed him, but it continues to disturb Filipinos and will continue to do so until they learn lessons from their past.
References: Sunday Inquirer,Nov.18,1993 , A brief History of the Philippines, The Philippine Journal of Education,Oct. 1964, Philippine Junior Red Cross , National Historical Com.
