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On 30th November, The Philippines celebrate the birthday of their home-grown nationalist revoutionary, Andres Bonifacio y de Castro. He lived from 1836-1897. As the founder and leader of the Katipunan movement, his party sought independence from Spanish colonial rule which was in place in the 19th century.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.

The history of Bonifacio Day

Born to Santiago and Catalina Bonifacio, Andres was the eldest of six children. His father was a tailor who served as a teniente mayor of Tondo while 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. His job was as a clerk for Fleming & Company – an English firm which traded tar and other commodities.

After that, he decided to start his own business which sold canes and paper fans. Bonifacio re-married after his first wife died of leprosy. His second wife, Gregoria de Jesus gave him a son, but he unfortunately died in his infancy. Although Bonifacio did not finish his time in formal education, he did succeed in educating himself and eventually become a Freemason.

Then in 1892, Bonifacio joined the main party calling for political reform – La Liga Filipina (translated as The Philippine League). However, this involvement was short-lived as the party in question was disbanded; the leader Rizal being deported to another part of the country. Undeterred, the party re-formed without Rizal, and Bonifacio set about organising the involvement of locals with the party.

Financial support was given from Spain, and eventually another party was formed – this time called Katipunan (the highest, most respected society of the sons of the country) – whose goal was to bring about freedom from Spain using arms.

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 such, the many monuments to Bonifacio that are scattered around Philippines are decorated with flowers on this day, and many people come to visit the monuments to give their thanks.

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