Central Blurb

Philippines Bonifacio Day: November 30, 2009

Andr?s Bonifacio y de Castro (November 30, 1863 – May 10, 1897) was a Filipino nationalist and revolutionary. Bonifacio’s birthday on November 30 is celebrated as Bonifacio Day and is a public holiday in the Philippines. As the founder and leader of the Katipunan movement, his party sought independence from Spanish colonial rule which was in place in the 19th century.He is considered as a national hero of the Philippines. And although he is not recognised officially as such, he is widely regarded to be the Philippines’ first president.

Philippines Bonifacio Day History

Bonifacio was born to Santiago Bonifacio and Catalina de Castro in Tondo, Manila and was the eldest of six children. His father was a tailor who served as a teniente mayor of Tondo while his mother worked in a cigarette factory. However by his late teens, Bonifacio was orphaned; his parents both dying within a couple of years of each other. To support the rest of the family, he dropped out of school after his parents died. Bonifacio worked as a clerk in an English trading firm called Fleming & Company; his job was eventually to become the agent for tar and other commodities.

After that, he decided to start his own business which sold canes and paper fans. Bonifacio has two marriages; his first wife died of leprosy.His second wife was Gregoria de Jesus of Caloocan, with whom he had one son who died in infancy. Although Bonifacio did not finish his time in formal education, he did succeed in educating himself and eventually become a Freemason.

Then in 1892, Bonifacio joined the main party calling for political reform – La Liga Filipina (translated as The Philippine League). Unfortunately within one meeting the party had been disbanded, as their leader Rizal was deported to Mindanao. Undeterred, the party re-formed without Rizal, and Bonifacio set about organising the involvement of locals with the party.

La Liga Filipina contributed moral and financial support to Filipino reformists in Spain. On July 7, 1892, the day after Rizal’s deportation was announced, Bonifacio and others founded the Katipunan, Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang “Highest and Most Respected Society of the Sons of the Country” The secret society sought independence from Spain through armed revolt.

What Happens On Bonifacio Day?

As a mark of rememberence, the 30th November is a national holiday in Philippines. The day is set aside to celebrate the birth of Bonifacio, and his struggle against hardship to rise as one of the country’s most important figures of political revolt. As such, the many monuments to Bonifacio that are scattered around Philippines are decorated with flowers on this day, and many people come to visit the monuments to give their thanks.

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