Andres Bonifacio Should Have Thought More. He Was Well-Read, And That’s Almost My Hero!

 

I'm a teacher, Civil Service Professional Level, and I want to teach what others have ignored about this other PH National Hero.

30 November 2020. Today is the 157^th birthday of Andres Bonifacio, who was born into a middle-class family, not poor[1] (ANN, globe.com.ph). Also according to ANN, he is variously known as “The Great Plebeian,” “Supremo of the Katipunan,” “Father of the Philippine Revolution,” and “First President of the Philippines.” I believe he deserves all those titles.

I am surprised to learn from ANN that the Bonifacios were not plebeian. His mother Catalina De Castro was a half-Spanish mestiza. He spent his early years in Cebu, where his parents hired a tutor for his arithmetic and Spanish. He had 5 siblings; they were orphaned when he was 14 years old. To support his siblings, he had to work – while doing that, he taught himself English while employed as a clerk-messenger by a British firm[2] (Wikipedia). He read voraciously, such as about the US Presidents, Les Miserables, Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, and history of the French Revolution. With his readings, “he laid down the foundation for the Katipunan – its strict moral codes, means of recruitment and mission-vision[3]” (Alen Gonzales, Inquirer.net).
(books image[4] from Inc.com)

We have been wrong thinking about Bonifacio’s thinking – like, he did consider education as the initial way for the Filipinos to improve their lives, having read Noli, but in the end he still insisted on an armed struggle, consistent with a radical interpretation of the Fili, when Rizal was arrested and deported to Dapitan. To me, through the Fili author Jose Rizal is telling the reader:

Armed struggle will get you nowhere!
(image of Bonifacio thinking[5] from manilatimes.net)

Bonifacio was killed by his passion – as was the rebel leader in Fili.

What I’m learning from all of the above is that Revolution is more persuasive than Reform if you want to change society.

But I prefer a Revolution of the Word rather than a Revolution of the Sword.

My phrase “the Word” has 2 meanings: Intellectual and Spiritual, that is, man’s knowledge gained through Man’s Science and God’s love gained through His Grace.

Sustainable practices in farming, for instance, will deliver us from the evils of man’s own destruction of his world. If Science disobeys the laws of Nature, which are the laws of God, Science and Man will not survive. Violence against the wealth of the world will deprive Man of the riches that God intended for him.

Bonifacio wanted the Philippines free from the abuses and tyranny of the Spanish friars who were the rulers of the country, yes. But not from the abuse and tyranny of government and the ruling class, now Filipino!

Bonifacio was married to his second wife Gregoria De Jesus through a Catholic ceremony in Binondo Church in March 1893 (Wikipedia). The rulers of the Philippines at that time were Roman Catholic clergy – how could the Church save itself?

Rizal was right – only Education will Save the Soul of the Filipino!@517

 

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[1]https://www.globe.com.ph/go/entertainment/article/andres-bonifacio-facts.html#gref

[2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrés_Bonifacio

[3]https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/351927/andres-bonifacio-unconventional-thinker/

[4]https://www.inc.com/christina-desmarais/why-you-should-be-reading-books-every-day-according-to-science.html

[5]https://www.manilatimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/robin-padilla20161130.jpg