All About Pilippines Bonifacio Day
Feb 7th, 2010 by beauty writer
Andrés 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. He is most celebrated for his leadership of the Katipunan movement which succeeded in ending the Philippines long rule under the Spanish. His success elevated him to the position as one of the country’s most revered icons.Bonifacio is also considered by some Filipino historians to be the first president of the Philippines, but he is not officially recognized as such.
Philippines Bonifacio Day History
Born to Santiago and Catalina Bonifacio, Andres was the eldest of six children. His father’s involvement in politics may have been a deciding influence – his father was deputy town mayor, whilst his mother worked in a factory. But by his late teens, Bonifacio was orphaned. Both his parents died within two years of each other.Bonifacio was forced to drop out of school and work to support his family. 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.
He also set up a family business of selling canes and paper fans. Bonifacio re-married after his first wife died of leprosy. His second wife, Gregoria de Jesus gave him a son, but he unfortunately died in his infancy. Despite not finishing formal education, Bonifacio was self-educated. Bonifacio was a Freemason and a member of the Gran Oriente Español (Spanish Grand Lodge).
It wasn’t until 1892 that he joined the Philippine League which was a party calling for political reform. However, this involvement was short-lived as the party in question was disbanded; the leader Rizal being deported to another part of the country. 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.
How The Philippines Celebrates Bonifacio Day
The 30th November is always a public holiday in the Philippines. This is to remember him as a model of preseverence and heroism- and ultimately for his fighting spirit during the Spanish-Filipino war. 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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