Bonifacio On His Birthday

Among our heroes, no one is more tragic than Andres Bonifacio, whose birthday we remember today. He was a man who overcame his working-class roots by educating himself. Inspired by Rizal’s novels, he founded the Katipunan and became its Supremo. But certain ilustrados in the movement, refusing to accept a man beneath their class as their leader, conspired against him. Several unfortunate events followed, leading to Bonifacio’s execution by his own followers one May day in Maragondon, Cavite. His bones have yet to be found.

Even today, Bonifacio’s memory continues to haunt history-conscious Filipinos. Local creative writers and filmmakers are also haunted by his memory, and responded by using him—and the tragedy that is the Philippine Revolution—as material. In poetry, we have Jaime An Lim’s “On the Eve of the Execution” and Ronald Atilano’s unpublished “Ang Awit ni Lazaro Makapagal.” In drama, there’s Rene Villanueva’s Huling Gabi sa Maragondon and the late Carlos dela Paz Jr.’s 1896. In film, we have Raymond Red’s Bayani (in which Julio Diaz delivered a lackluster portrayal of the title character) and, to a much lesser degree, Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s Jose Rizal (in which she and a miscast Gardo Versoza presented the Supremo as a buffoon).

Bonifacio’s valuable role in our history cannot be denied, and the same can be said for the issues that arose from the troubling circumstances surrounding his death. These issues have yet to be resolved, but the chances of that happening are as slim as finding his bones. That says a lot about a country that constantly fails to find final resolution to the issues and problems it faces. Isn’t it any wonder why we’re not moving on properly? Isn’t in any wonder why Bonifacio’s memory is like a phantom, persisting to make its presence felt despite our collective denial?

Then and now, the self-centered interests of a privileged few rule the day.