Andres Bonifacio The revolutionary hero began the armed struggle for Philippine Independence, he founded in 1892 the KATIPUNAN, a secret society which provided a platform for freedom, equality and independence. It spearheaded the uprising against the Spanish and laid the groundwork for the first Philippine republic (Photo: Andrew Bonifacio, 1984, Bernardo Hermosa/Dannieepolley/Flickr)
Cover Andres Bonifacio The revolutionary hero began the armed struggle for Philippine Independence, he founded in 1892 the KATIPUNAN, a secret society which provided a platform for freedom, equality and independence. It spearheaded the uprising against the Spanish and laid the groundwork for the first Philippine republic (Photo: Andrew Bonifacio, 1984, Bernardo Hermosa/Dannieepolley/Flickr)

Every Filipino history book has dedicated a page to the blood-spattered martyrs who faced the country's biggest perpetrators holding nothing but courage and hope alone. Andres Bonifacio, the 'Father of the Philippine Revolution,' was no different

At a time when everybody trembled, Andres Bonifacio, a proletariat cradled and raised by the poverty-stricken streets of Tondo, yearned for a land free of oppressive systems and foreign dictators. With might, he secretly founded the Katipunan which gathered the working class and peasants who stand by his ideals.

This year, Tatler fondly remembers the unparalleled efforts of Bonifacio and all the Filipinos who bravely led the Philippine revolution against Spain's three centuries-long colonial rule.

See also: National Heroes Day: Ninoy's Assassin, Antonio Luna's Death—5 Contested Histories To Know

Tatler Asia
Andres Bonifacio The revolutionary hero began the armed struggle for Philippine Independence, he founded in 1892 the KATIPUNAN, a secret society which provided a platform for freedom, equality and independence. It spearheaded the uprising against the Spanish and laid the groundwork for the first Philippine republic (Photo: Andrew Bonifacio, 1984, Bernardo Hermosa/Dannieepolley/Flickr)
Above Andres Bonifacio The revolutionary hero began the armed struggle for Philippine Independence, he founded in 1892 the KATIPUNAN, a secret society which provided a platform for freedom, equality and independence. It spearheaded the uprising against the Spanish and laid the groundwork for the first Philippine republic (Photo: Andrew Bonifacio, 1984, Bernardo Hermosa/Dannieepolley/Flickr)

What Makes a Hero

Born in Manila on November 30, 1863, Bonifacio was one of the six children of Spanish mestiza Catalina de Castro and Santiago Bonifacio. Growing up in an impoverished household, the young Bonifacio had little access to formal education. He was, however, well-read.

He had read about the French Revolution, the biographies of the leaders in the United States, the penal and civil codes of the Philippines, and novels including José Rizal's Noli Me Tángere, Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, and Eugène Sue's Le Juif errant.

Unlike Rizal, who wanted to reform Spanish rule in the country, Bonifacio desired to completely break free from Spain; in 1892, he secretly founded the Katipunan or Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Supreme and Venerable Association of the Children of the Nation).

The Katipunan grew slowly at first, but American writer James Le Roy claims that the group was able to gather 100,000 to 400,000 members by the time the society was uncovered. Its branches also spanned beyond Manila, the Katipunan was believed to have reached far-flung places in central Luzon and the islands of Mindoro and Mindanao.

Related: What's on a Hero's Plate? 5 Of Dr Jose Rizal's Favourite Dishes 

The Brave Contrives

Members of the Katipunan were mostly Filipino workers and peasants. Originally, Bonifacio planned to increase the membership of Katipunan by means of sistemang patatsulok or triangle system. His first-ever triangle was with Teodoro Plata and Ladislao Diwa—each of them re-instituted the Katipunan's mission into two new converts; the founder of the triangle knew of the two members but the two did not know each other.

In December 1892 the triangle system was abolished and a new system of initiation, inspired by the Masonic rites was used. Anybody who wished to contrive with the Katipunan underwent the initiation rite three at a time so no member knew more than two members of the group. According to L. W. V. Kennon, author of The Katipunan of the Philippines, the initiation rites would normally go like this:

He [the neophyte] was first questioned in a cabinet, and then introduced into a dimly lighted room, where, upon a table draped in black, were a human skull, a loaded revolver, a bolo, or short native sword, and a paper upon which were written questions which he was required to answer. After this, various other tests were applied, followed by the administering of the oath, which was signed with blood taken from the left forearm of the candidate, who was then declared a member of the lowest degree.

Tatler Asia
A portrait of Andres Bonifacio (Photo: August 1969 issue of Philippine Free Press Magazine)
Above A portrait of Andres Bonifacio (Photo: August 1969 issue of Philippine Free Press Magazine)

The Missing Supremo

In August 1896, Bonifacio led the Katipunan's insurrection in Luzon; however, the Spanish troops defeated his forces. This led him to retreat to Montalban in the north while Emilio Aguinaldo, who used to be one of his lieutenants carried on resistance. 

In March 1897, a convention at Tejeros hailed Aguinaldo, rather than Bonifacio, as the President of the new Philippine republic. Refusing to recognise the ruling, Bonifacio established his own rebel government. In April 1897, Aguinaldo's men seized the Supremo for treason. The latter was executed by a firing squad.

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