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. Many people also hold Andres Bonifacio to be the country’s first president – though officially he is not recognised as such.

Philippines Bonifacio Day History

The eldest of six children, Bonifacio was born into a fairly modest Philippino family. 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.Bonifacio was forced to drop out of school and work to support his family. Bonifacio worked as a clerk in an English trading firm called Fleming & Company; his job was eventually to become the agent for tar and other commodities.

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, Gregoria de Jesus gave him a son, but he unfortunately died in his infancy.Despite these setbacks, and not finishing his formal education, Bonifacio educated himself. He was also a Freemason and was a member of the Gan Oriente Espanol – the 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.However, La Liga Filipina disbanded after one meeting as Rizal was arrested and deported to the town of Dapitan in Mindanao. Despite this, the party managed to reform, and Bonifacio’s role was to organise local chapters to drum up popular support.

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.

How The Philippines Celebrates Bonifacio Day

The 30th November is always a public holiday in the Philippines. This is to remember him as a model of preseverence and heroism- and ultimately for his fighting spirit during the Spanish-Filipino war. There are monuments to Andres Bonifacio, and these are often visited and adorned with flowers on Bonifacio day.

The ultimate calendar for travelling professionals, our international calendar comes with international holiday dates of over 200 countries so you’ll know when businesses and governments will be closed.