FILIPINOS offered wreaths to revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio, as they celebrated his 161st birthday on Saturday, November 30.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin led the wreath-laying ceremony for Bonifacio Day at the Andres Bonifacio National Monument in Caloocan City.
During the ceremony, Bersamin relayed the message of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., urging the Filipino people to reflect on Bonifacio’s sacrifices and emulate his courage in their duty to protect the country’s democracy, freedom, and the Constitution.
“Sa bawat pagkakataon na tumatayo tayo para sa tama, sa bawat laban para sa dignidad, sa bawat sakripisyo para sa bayan, binubuhay natin si Bonifacio,” the President said through Bersamin.
“Siya ang Supremo ng hinaharap dahil ang kanyang rebolusyon ay hindi pa tapos. Ito ay nagpapatuloy sa ating mga puso, sa ating mga layunin, at sa ating pagkilos,” he added.
Known as the “Father of the Philippine Revolution,” Bonifacio was among the young Filipino heroes who sacrificed their lives to attain the country’s independence.
Despite growing up in a poor family, Bonifacio was described as well-read, educating himself with Jose Rizal’s works, like Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, which ignited his passion for freedom and democracy. In May 1897, Bonifacio was executed by a firing squad for treason. He was 33.
Having been told to emulate the revolutionary, republicasia asked several members of Generation Z: do you see Bonifacio in you?
Students answer
While they do not see themselves leading a revolution as Bonifacio did, several young individuals like Neil Christian Ocampo, Ronel Gadon, Lorenzo Padua, and Nico Artadi believe that they share similar traits and values with the revolutionary.
As someone who hails from a lower middle-class family, Ocampo said he could relate to Bonifacio’s struggle growing up in a poor family that faced societal struggles and power imbalance and made critical decisions for the common good.
“From transportation, politics, [and] food, everything lies on our decisions and I believe that us deciding to show up, fight, and face the most difficult aspects of being a Filipino already shows resemblance to Bonifacio’s values,” said the 20-year-old multimedia arts student.
Gadon, a 19-year-old elementary education student, said he and Bonifacio are both “ambitious,” although he acknowledged that they have different approaches to executing their plans.
For Padua, he and Bonifacio both have “resilience, vigor, and grit”—the three traits the nursing student incorporates into his everyday life.
Like the Filipino hero, Artadi described himself as a self-educated person who learns more outside the classroom.
“I care for social causes through volunteer community service or even just advocating for social change by spreading awareness to society using social media sites,” the psychology student said.
He continued, “I take inspiration from him in standing strong against challenges which keeps me going in handling mine and [makes] me become a more contributing member of society.”
However, other Gen Zs said they could not find similarities between them and Bonifacio, stressing that each person is unique in their own way.
Cheezeka May Impron said she would rather be “a figure of [her] own” than compare herself with the Filipino hero.
“People [have] unique characteristics that make them stand out on their own like [how Bonifacio led] the KKK,” the 19-year-old English major said, referring to the revolutionary organization Bonifacio co-founded in 1892.
Justin Hadap echoed this and emphasized that he sees people as “unique individuals.” However, the civil engineering student said he could resonate with Bonifacio’s ideals, such as striving for a better future for all Filipino people.
“That selflessness, unconditional patriotism, and perseverance are the things I see fit within me from him as a Filipino,” he said.
Another civil engineering student, Marianne Abraham, also told republicasia that she could not see Bonifacio in her, emphasizing that his courage and wisdom were “incomparable.” But the 20-year-old student acknowledged that she and the Filipino hero both have an “intense desire” to pursue their purpose in life.
Importance of Bonifacio Day
For these Gen Z students, commemorating Bonifacio Day is still significant today as this “instills nationalism” and allows the youth to reflect on Bonifacio’s sacrifices and contributions to the country.
“It’s important like how we celebrate any other holidays because as a Filipina living in the Philippines, having some sort of semblance to paying respect to the heroes that push forward our freedom is a must,” said Impron.
The students stressed that this commemoration is also a reminder to them about the nation’s past and how they are able to enjoy the freedom their forefathers fought so hard to achieve.
“Commemorating his success in paving off and resisting against the Spanish forces established what we have right now,” Gadon highlighted, adding that this is pivotal in keeping the country’s history “free from distortion.”
Artadi noted that Bonifacio Day reminds him of how the revolutionary sparked “courage” and “unification” among Filipinos and helped to attain freedom.
“I respect, especially, how he risked everything to make sure that our country became free, echoing always a desire for social justice and change in our generation,” he said.
Filipinos today should also take inspiration from heroes like Bonifacio in protecting their independence and building their future, said Ocampo.
Abraham, meanwhile, described Bonifacio’s contributions as “a testimony of how we should stand for our rights, speak our voices for equality and justice, and be brave to stand firmly for what truly belongs to us.”
Bonifacio Day is a regular holiday in the Philippines, which means Filipinos who will report to work on this day should receive double their regular daily wage for the first eight hours.
