Andres Bonifacio

Andres Bonifacio was born on November 30, 1863 to Santiago Bonifacio and Catalina de Castro in
Tondo in Manila, Philippines. His siblings were Ciriaco, Procopio, Troadio, Esperidiona and Maxima. 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.
Bonifacios 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. Bonifacios 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.