ANDRES BONIFACIO

Profile
Andres Bonifacio (November 30, 1863- May 10, 1897) was a leader of the Philippine Revolution
and the president of the Tagalog Republic, a short lived government in the Philippines. Through
his work, Bonifacio helped the Philippines break free from Spanish colonial rule.

Bonifacio was born of poor parents in Manila and had little formal education, working as a
messenger and warehouse keeper before becoming involved in revolutionary activity. He was,
however, well-read. Unlike the nationalist poet and novelist José Rizal, who wanted to reform
Spanish rule in the Philippines, Bonifacio advocated complete independence from Spain. Andres
Bonifacio was also the president of the Tagalog Republic. He is often called "The Father of
the Philippine Revolution". He was one of the founders and later Supremo (Supreme Leader) of
the Kataas-taasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan or more commonly
known as the "Katipunan", a movement which sought the independence of
the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule and started the Philippine Revolution. He is considered
a national hero of the Philippines.

Basic Bio
Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro was born on November 30, 1863, in Tondo, Manila. His father
Santiago was a tailor, a local politician, and a boatman who operated a river-ferry; his mother,
Catalina de Castro, was employed in a cigarette-rolling factory. The couple worked extremely
hard to support Andrés and his five siblings, but in 1881 Catalina caught tuberculosis and died.
The following year, Santiago also became ill and passed away. Andres Bonifacio’s siblings were
Procorpio, Espiridiona, Troadio, Maxima and Ciriaco who were younger than him and have
suffered the abuses and assaults of the Spaniards leading his younger brother Ciriaco getting
killed by a Spanish soldier.

Empowering Quotes
1) “Bear always in mind that the love of God is also the love of Country, and this, too, is love of
one's fellow-men”
2) "Engrave in your heart that the true measure of honor and happiness is to die for the freedom
of your country."
3) “Calmness, constancy, reason, and faith in all work and actions crown every good desire with
success.”
4) “Let the acts of each in good government and the performance of his duties be such as to
serve as an example to his neighbor.”
5) “In so far as it is within thy power, share thy means with every indigent or unfortunate
person.”
Community Engagements:
Just like any other Indio of his time, Bonifacio felt the social malaise as a result of oppressive
Spanish colonial administration.   To make fellow Filipinos aware of the real condition of the
country, he sold revolutionary leaflets near the University of Santo Tomas.  He also joined the La
Liga Filipina when it was founded by Jose Rizal on 3 July 1892. Unfortunately, the Liga Filipina
died down after the imprisonment of Rizal in Dapitan.  Bonifacio founded the Katipunan on 7 July
1892 in an aim to gain independence from Spain.  Through the said act, Bonifacio actively
responded to the call of the time to make a change. When the Kalayaan, the official organ of the
Katipunan, essays were written by Bonifacio which are “Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga
Tagalog” and “Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa” were included.  Bonifacio encouraged the use of the
vernacular in the association and opted to write in Tagalog, to show patriotism and love for his
native language.
REFERENCES:
Lu, M. C., & Bragonier, J. R. (2002). Andres Bonifacio. Philippines, History of the. The World Book
Encyclopedia (Vol. 2, pp. 234-235). New York, NY: Macmillan.
Capina, E. B. (2002). The Philippine Heroes. One Country One People (3rd ed., pp. 160-167).
Metro Manila, PH: VIBAL Publishing House.