30/11/2025
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: ๐๐ฆ๐บ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฏ, ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐๐ฑ๐ช๐ณ๐ช๐ต ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ช๐ง๐ข๐ค๐ช๐ฐ
Every November 30th, the Philippines celebrates Bonifacio Day, commemorating the birth of Andrรฉs Bonifacio y de Castro (1863โ1897). Frequently compared to the reformist Dr. Josรฉ Rizal, Bonifacio, a self-taught individual from the working class, was the Supremo who established the Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK)โthe passionate movement that initiated the Philippine Revolution.
Bonifacio's brilliance lay not in political ideology but in mobilizing the people. Born in poverty in Tondo, he read extensively (including works on the French Revolution and Rizal's novels), yet he believed that only violent uprising, rather than peaceful reform, could achieve genuine liberation.
In 1892, he founded the Katipunan, a covert organization that was genuinely of the common people and committed to total freedom from Spain. He established its framework, ceremonies, and the Pact of Blood (Sandugo) that united its members.
The Revolution formally started in August 1896 with the "Cry of Pugad Lawin" (or Balintawak), during which revolutionaries tore their tax certificates (cedulas) apart. This action marked the conclusive separation from Spanish rule and the beginning of a large-scale anti-colonial conflict.
Bonifacio's uprising was sadly halted prematurely. He faced ex*****on in 1897 due to a power conflict in the revolutionary government, a grim event that underscores the rifts between the revolutionary leaders and the populace he guided.
Bonifacio Day, thus, represents more than merely a birthday; it compels a national contemplation on the unfinished legacy of his principles. His aspiration was for an independent republic where the masa (the general populace) would genuinely possess authority.
His legacy now serves as an ongoing reminder of the battle against poverty and inequality, represented by the Tondo-born leader who opposed the established power structures. He is the timeless symbol of the Filipino who, lacking privilege, sought authentic, grassroots liberation.
The principles of the Katipunanโequality, collective action, and national sovereigntyโremain a call to action for every generation to realize the dignified Republic that Bonifacio paid the ultimate price for.
๐๐๐๐๐ | Harunobu Rosales
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | Alexandra Banawa
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
The Beat Publication is the official student publication of Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Lipa.
