The Philippines will be celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of one of the most prominent figure in the history of the Philippines, Andres Bonifacio, this coming November 30, 2013. The celebration has a huge historical significance to the Filipino people.
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The President of the Republic, Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III, declared last year that the Andres Bonifacio Day is a Regular Holiday throughout the country based upon Proclamation 459. This year’s celebration falls on Saturday giving employees an extra vacation day.
The 150th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio prompted some netizens on their renewed interest of the life of one of the founder of Katipunan (KKK). A certain group of history enthusiasts openly vouched for the proclamation of Bonifacio as the country’s first president instead of Emilio Aguinaldo. There are some supporters of Bonifacio who also urged the current President to give the hero a state funeral through an online petition.
According to history, the declaration of November 30 as a national holiday celebrating the birth date of Andress Bonifacio started when the Philippine Legislature p(–foul word(s) removed–)ed Act No. 2946 on February 16, 1921, making that day of each year a legal holiday to commemorate Bonifacio’s brith. He was considered as one of the leading protagonist in the struggle of the Philippines against the Spaniards.
Andres Bonifacio established the secret society “Katipunan” together with Ladislaw Diwa, Deodato Arellano, Teodora Plata and a few others. The group decided they should do something to achieve independence because the peaceful campaign for reforms had proven to be ineffective.
Through the secret society Katipunan, Andres Bonifacio launched a nationwide revolution, recruiting members of the group which led to simultaneous raids on various armories and camps of the Spaniards. He became the commander in chief of the revolutionary army with the power of appointing Katipunan military leaders in provinces around the country.
The “Father of the Philippine Revolution,” Andres Bonifacio died not at the hands of the Spaniards but at the hands of his fellow Filipinos after he was executed together with his brother Procopio on May 10, 1897.
