The Manila Peninsula takeover last week reminded me of the Oakwood Mutiny. That day in July, four years ago, 321 soldiers who called themselves “Bagong Katipu-neros” led by Army Capt. Gerardo Gambala and Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV of the Philippine Navy, took over the Oakwood Premiere Hotel, a stone’s throw away from our village in Makati. I was afraid that the revolt of the soldiers will escalate and I was afraid for my family. Now it happened again. The same group, now called the Magdalo Group, and led once again by now Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, with the aid of General Danilo Lim, this time, took over the plush Manila Peninsula Hotel. Of course, the hotel is located further away from our village, but it is still in Makati. I thought to myself, this group loves to stage revolts in five-star hotels.
Instead of plotting against the government, we should all be commemorating Bonifacio Day. We should remember the great things that heroes like him did for our country. It is also for us to relive the past in our present, getting the inspiration to win our own battles, learning and becoming better persons in the process.
Gat Andres Bonifacio was the most militant figure of Philippine nationalism, the patriot who cried in the fields of Balintawak — “Give us freedom or give us death!” — the great plebeian, the father of Philippine democracy.
He was born on the feast of St. Andrews in 1863, hence his name Andres. He lived a very poor and simple life. Being orphaned at a young age, he took the responsibility of caring for his siblings. He voluntarily quit school to support them. He earned a living by peddling walking canes and paper fans; later by working as a messenger and as a salesman of tar and other kinds of goods; and later, by acting as warehouse keeper until the Revolution of 1896. He learned about international law, and the French Revolution. He read books such as those written by Rizal, letters of Luna, del Pilar, Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, The Wandering Jew and the Ruins of Palmyra.
Bonifacio’s existence was imbued with constant struggle and life’s obstacles, always in agitation and a sense of injustice and despair. Thus, he was hardened, restless and without humor, his passion often mistaken to be cruel and impious. But deep within, he was truly devout and religious.
Bonifacio loved Rizal, being a forerunner of the Revolution. He joined La Liga Filipina, a group composed of middleclass Filipinos who believed that Spain would grant reforms if the Philippines were made a province of Spain and the Filipinos became Spanish citizens. La Liga Filipina did not believe in violent actions against the Spaniards. However, the Spanish government thought the group was a threat and thus Rizal was arrested and exiled. This prompted Andres Bonifacio and some others to form Katipunan. Opposite to La Liga Filipina, Katipunan, in Bonifacio’s leadership took arms and revolted against the Spaniards. However, his war against his oppressor did not take long as he, betrayed by false Katipuneros, died nine months later after the Sigaw ng Pugadlawin.
Andres Bonifacio fought fiercely for the freedom of the Filipinos, undaunted by the superiority and force of the Spaniards. He believed that the Filipinos deserve a better life than what they had under their oppressors. He believed that the Filipinos and his country were worth fighting for.
Today, we wage a different war against poverty and illiteracy. If only individuals and families can take after the self-denial, passion, life and heroism of Bonifacio, then any battle is almost won.