Andres Bonifacio y de Castro was a nationalist and revolutionary in Philippines (1836-1897), and every year his birthday is celebrated on 30th November. He is most celebrated for his leadership of the Katipunan movement which succeeded in ending the Philippines long rule under the Spanish.He is considered as a national hero of the Philippines.Bonifacio is also considered by some Filipino historians to be the first president of the Philippines, but he is not officially recognized as such.

Hisory of this Philippines holiday

Born to Santiago and Catalina Bonifacio, Andres was the eldest of six children.Although his father was a tailor, he also served as deputy town mayor. His mother worked in a cigarette factory.He was orphaned in his late teens – his mother died of tuberculosis in 1881 and his father followed a year after. To support the rest of the family, he dropped out of school after his parents died.He worked as a clerk/messenger for the English trading firm Fleming and Company, where he rose to become a agent of tar and other goods.

He then started a company of his own which sold fans and canes. Bonifacio has two marriages; his first wife died of leprosy.His second wife was Gregoria de Jesus of Caloocan, with whom he had one son who died in infancy. Despite not finishing formal education, Bonifacio was self-educated. Bonifacio was a Freemason and a member of the Gran Oriente Español (Spanish Grand Lodge).

In 1892 he joined Rizal’s La Liga Filipina (The Philippine League), an organization which called for political reforms in the Spanish government of the Philippines. Unfortunately within one meeting the party had been disbanded, as their leader Rizal was deported to Mindanao. Undeterred, the party re-formed without Rizal, and Bonifacio set about organising the involvement of locals with the party.

La Liga Filipina contributed moral and financial support to Filipino reformists in Spain. On July 7, 1892, the day after Rizal’s deportation was announced, Bonifacio and others founded the Katipunan, Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang “Highest and Most Respected Society of the Sons of the Country” The secret society sought independence from Spain through armed revolt.

What Happens On Bonifacio Day?

November 30 is celebrated as a public holiday in memory of Filipino hero Andres Bonifacio Filipinos to thank him for his heroic attitude for fought for Country’s Independence during the Filipino – Spanish war.As Philippines celebrated Bonifacio Day and it’s a public holiday, all Filipinos in all areas especially who is in the government visit to the monuments of Andres Bonifacio and offer him flowers to thank him for the heroics he did for Philippines.

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