30/11/2025
Bonifacio Day: Commemorating the Spirit that Never Died
Every 30th of November, Filipinos across the nation pause to honor one of the most passionate heroes in Philippine history: Andres Bonifacio, otherwise known as the Father of the Philippine Revolution.
Born in Tondo, Manila in 1863 during the Spanish colonial rule, before his titles and nationalistic contributions, Andres Bonifacio was a family breadwinner—a selfless, compassionate, and goal-driven Filipino that worked his way through hardship for the betterment of his family and his nation. At a young age, his parents, Santiago Bonifacio and Catalina de Castro, passed away, leaving 14-year-old Andres to fend for his younger siblings as the eldest child. He took up multiple jobs to put food on the table and make ends meet. He began by selling canes and paper fans made by him and his siblings on the streets of Tondo and Binondo. He then worked at the British Firm Flemming & Company as a messenger covering areas of Binondo, San Nicolas, and Tondo, and later employed as a warehouse keeper at Fressel & Company (Melendez, 2023). His grit and determination in raising his siblings allowed their survival amidst impoverished conditions. This is only the beginning to the testimony of the unwavering, selfless ambition Andres Bonifacio embodied that lies in the heart of placing the needs and aspirations of others above his own.
Unlike other well-known national heroes who’ve received formal and prestigious education, Bonifacio’s knowledge originated from pure perseverance. His formal education under Guillermo Osmeña was put to a halt after the death of his parents, yet that did not stop him from honing his deep love for reading. He immersed himself in books of the French Revolution, international law, and the lives of heroes who fought for liberty. Such novels of his learning included Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo by Jose Rizal and Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. This paved the way for the awakening of Bonifacio’s mind, shaping his vision to free the country. He also taught himself to read and write in Spanish and Tagalog, and speak English during his employment in the British Firm. Unlike Jose Rizal’s goal to reform Spanish authority, Bonifacio realized that persuasion was not enough and it would take a rebellion to achieve a completely independent Philippines from colonial oppression (Britannica, 2025).
In a similar way, Bonifacio’s talents were also honed with little mentorship. He was particularly gifted in artistic skills—the same talent that allowed him to craft the canes and paper fans he and his siblings sold—as well as a beautiful penmanship that allowed him to indulge in poster-making. He also found an interest in literary arts, writing poetry and pursuing a passion for acting in theatre.
Unfortunately, his home in Tondo was burnt down in 1899 due to an arson plot orchestrated by General Antonio Luna during the Philippine-American war to prevent the occupation of the American army, leaving limited burnt remains and very little trace of the life lived by the national hero.
Andres Bonifacio is known for his revolutionary leadership in combating Spanish colonial rule. His skills with a pen allowed him to write influential texts such as the poem “Pag-ibig sa Tinumbang Lupa” that speaks of a profound love for one's country, and the essay “Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog” that seeks to awaken the Filipinos in standing up to autocracy. He led nationalist movements, particularly the famous Kataastaasang Kagalanggalang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (K*K), also known as The Katipunan, founded alongside Teodoro Plata, Deodato Arellano, Valentin Diaz, Ladislao Diwa, and José Dizon on July 7, 1892. The K*K operated as a secret society that permitted membership through blood compacts and used symbols such as a blood-red flag with the horizontal letters “K*K” in white arranged in a triangle, along with a skull and crossed bolos, which reflected the organization’s values, purpose, and solemnity during meetings. With this, Bonifacio authored many impactful texts for the Katipunan’s newspaper entitled “Kalayaan.” Their primary objective was to achieve complete national independence from the Spaniards’ oppression through armed revolt rather than peaceful reforms. By 1896, the Katipunan had an estimated 100,000 members nationwide and functioned on the national, provincial, and municipal levels. They prepared and worked inconspicuously, until August 19, 1896 when it was discovered by Spanish authority due to the betrayal of a K*K member, Teodoro Patiño, after a heated quarrel with his co-worker in a printing shop that consequently revealed documents, blood oaths, plans, and receipts of the organization. This sparked the beginning of the Philippine Revolution, a war of independence, led by the Katipunan.
According to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (2012), during the revolution, a congress called the Tejeros Convention was held on March 22, 1897 by the Filipino officials and politicians to decide what revolutionary government shall be established. This resulted in a dispute between the two opposing councils of Emilio Aguinaldo and Andres Bonifacio. Bonifacio lost the presidency to Aguinaldo and was elected as the Director of the Interior instead. Daniel Tirona, a Filipino politician, unapologetically objected and questioned Bonifacio's qualifications for the position as he claimed that it requires a lawyer’s diploma, insulting Bonifacio to declare the proceedings void and refuse to accept the role. He attempted to form his own government but was seen as a threat to Aguinaldo’s leadership, leading to his apprehension.
Bonifacio was executed on May 10, 1897 at the age of 33 in the mountains of Maragondon, Cavite where he was arrested and tried for treason and sedition, and later found guilty by a military court. Despite the questionable proceedings, Aguinaldo approved his ex*****on and Bonifacio was shot by soldiers under his rival government’s orders.
The authorities kept his death hushed for the fear of chaos. His name was buried, with some of his followers deciding to leave the revolution knowing their leader was killed by the very same countrymen they fought to free.
After the Philippines won freedom against the Spaniards, Andres Bonifacio’s name was slowly rehabilitated and honored as they named him the “Father of the Philippine Revolution” while nationalists defended his legacy as a symbol of courage, justice, and the freedom that Filipino people stand for. Multiple monuments were built in his name with the most famous one being the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan, Metro Manila which depicts his leadership of the K*K revolution. Bonifacio Day was declared a national holiday under Act No. 2946, passed by the Philippine Legislature on February 16, 1921, to be celebrated every November 30th—his birthday—to remember the birth of a hero, rather than dwelling on the tragedy of his death (National Museum of the Philippines, 2021).
This story is living proof that heroism is not born out of privilege, but from living out purpose. Therefore, November 30 is more than just a holiday—it is a timeless commemoration of courage, unity, and the resilient pursuit of freedom for the people amidst an oppressive government. Bonifacio Day is a calling to every Filipino that the first step towards greatness begins with the initiative to act upon injustice, and to love one’s country beyond self-interest. Andres Bonifacio’s legacy continues to thrive not just in the monuments or textbooks, but in the spirit of every Filipino who dares to dream of a freer, unified, and better nation.
Article by Sachi Delos Santos
Pubmat by Luisa Talavera
