Photo by Jamila Estanislao
Every 30th of November, we celebrate the life, the sacrifices, and the memories of our national hero, Andres Bonifacio. Hailed with esteemed titles such as the Father of the Philippine Revolution and The Great Plebeian, many may ask how a commoner with little formal education became one of the country's most endeared heroes. How may one leave such a legacy like his?
A humble beginning
Andres Bonifacio was born on November 30, 1863 in Tondo, Manila. He is the child of Catalina de Castro, a supervisor at a tobacco company, and Santiago Bonifacio, who worked for the government at the time. He had five siblings and worked to support them when his parents died. He eventually dropped out of school to focus on work so he can take care of his family. During this time, it is essential to note that the Philippines was still under Spanish colonization. Bonifacio advocated for the independence of Filipino people from the Spaniards and not reforming the Spanish rule. In 1892, he built the Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng Mga Anak ng Bayan also known as the KKK.
The truth about Bonifacio
For years, Andres Bonifacio has always been compared to other national heroes, leading to misinformation on his end. An example is when Filipinos believed that Bonifacio was dirt-poor but in fact, scholars Fast and Richardson found records telling that Bonifacio was provided with proper education before his parents died. They even stated that he was first taught by private tutors. Everything eventually changed when his parents passed away, he stopped going to school to support himself and his siblings.
After his parents died, did Bonifacio become dirt-poor? Not really. He sold his handmade cranes and paper fans for a while then started working for foreign companies—Fleming and Company and Fressell and Company. According to historian Michael "Xiao" Chua, Bonifacio's monthly salary then is equivalent to P18,000 today.
Some people even think Bonifacio is illiterate. Just because he is a dropout does not mean he cannot read, write, and understand. Many may think that to be an intellectual, there is a fixed set of characteristics. But there is an array of traits that makes someone an intellectual. Bonifacio was one of the smartest heroes we had. He was a bookworm; some of the titles he read were History of the French Revolution, The Wandering Jew, Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, the Holy Bible, Les Miserables, Ruins of Palmyra, and Lives of the Presidents of the United States. He did not let his inability to go to school stop him from learning. He was self-taught by reading varying newspapers, pamphlets, and books.
The Great Plebeian
Bonifacio was one of the founding members of La Liga Filipina in 1892 but different from the other members, he believed in assertive ways of change. He believed that revolution would free the Philippines from the chains of Spanish colonial rule hence his title as the Father of the Philippine Revolution. Because of his humble beginnings, how he immersed himself in the struggles of the working class, being one with the Filipino people, known for his deep love for our country and his courage, he is also granted the title of The Great Plebeian.
Andres Bonifacio inspired the people of the past and continues to inspire us today. He teaches us that you don’t have to be on the top to create change. You always have the power to create changes, all we need to be is brave. Bravery to challenge the norm, to make mistakes, to fail, and to stand firm in our advocacies. Courage of the mind and heart makes a simple commoner like us into a hero.
