Apolinario Mabini

Biography Of Andres Bonifacio

Andres Bonifacio was born on November 30, 1863 to Santiago Bonifacio and Catalina de Castro in Tondo in Manila, Philippines. He was a Filipino revolutionary hero who founded the Katipunan, a secret society devoted to fighting Spanish occupation of the Philippines. He was the first one to lay the groundwork for the Philippine Republic.

Bonifacio’s early education started in the Guillermo Osmena School. But, unfortunately, his parents died when he was 14 years old. This forced him to quit studies and look after his younger brothers and sisters. He earned a living by selling paper fans and wooden canes in the streets.

He worked in Fleming and Company as a clerk and Fressell and Company as an agent. Bonifacio was interested in classic rationalism and read some great works of Victor Hugo, Jose Rizal, and Eugene Sue. He had a deep interest in reading books on French Revolution and acquired a good understanding of the socio-historical process. This encouraged him to join the Liga Filipina. The Liga Filipina was organized in 1892 by Jose Rizal for the purpose of uniting the nationalist movement for reforms.

The arrest and banishment of Rizal made the Liga practically dead as an organization. Bonifacio continued the struggle and formed Katipunan in 1892. The Katipunan derived its ideological principles from the French Revolution and provided a significant platform for freedom, equality and independence.

The society was discovered by the Spaniards on August 19, 1896. On August 23 1896, Bonifacio and his followers assembled at Balintawak and agreed to have an armed struggle against the Spaniards. The first battle took place on August 25, 1896 and this followed a reign of terror. Due to conflict, the rebels were split into two groups, Magdiwang and Magdalo in Cavite, Luzon. When Bonifacio tried to mediate, he attempts were rebuffed. Bonifacio’s acts and plans were termed as harmful for the unity and he was arrested and executed for “treason and sedition”. The execution was ordered by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the elected president of the provisional revolutionary government. Bonifacio was executed on May 10, 1897 in the mountains of Maragondon, Cavite.