1st, 1897 Biac-na-Bato constitution ratified.

14th, 1879 Birth of Gregorio Del Pilar, hero of Tirad Pass and youngest general of the revolutionary army

15th, 1935 Inauguration of the U.S.-sponsored Philippine Commonwealth

30th, 1863 Birth of Andres Bonifacio.

The last day of this month is celebrated as National Heroes Day. The honor centers on Andres Bonifacio, founder of the Katipunan, the revolutionary organization that spear-headed the independence movement from Spain. On the the other end of the month, November 1st, the nation celebrates All Saints day and, on the 2nd, All Souls Day, the departed ones are honored by rites and feasting, not unlike the Mexican Dia de los Muertes.

Although its origins are historically unrelated –the latter is a Church holiday, the other a State holiday — culturally, honoring the dead derives from ancient Philippine traditions where the dead are merely physically separated but instead inhabit another level of existence. Either way, the church and the nationalists have both their saints, the apparent contradiction resolves into a single effect.

Andres Bonifacio is often uttered in the same breath as Jose Rizal, the other if not more prominent hero. Rizal has his own day, on December 30, which he shares with no one. Bonifacio and National Heroes Day is shared with other heroes of his and other generation. Bonifacio sits on top of this pantheon of heroes. A self-schooled warehouse worker, Bonifacio read the works of Dumas and Rizal. The opening of the Suez Canal since 1869, have brought new ideas to the Philippines. Not surprisingly, Bonifacio and his compatriots, under the reality of Spanish colonization, aspired for the ideals of the French Revolution ?liberty, equality, fraternity. The Katipunan he founded started as a secret society sworn to loyalty, love of country, and compassionate brotherhood and sealed by a blood compact. The movement was exposed when a priest heard of the organization through a confession. Arrests were made and the Katipunan was prematurely forced to wage the revolt. Retreating from Manila and regrouping in the provinces, Bonifacio?s Katipunan had few victories. Many joined the revolt as it spread to the the provinces, among them, Emilio Aguinaldo, who later became the first president of the Republic.

Better armed and with more resournces, the Spanish forces quickly recovered to push the rebels into a stalemate. But brewing amongst the rebel ranks was a serious rivalry between the Aguinaldo?s faction and those of Bonifacio?s. In a effort to resolve their differences and to create a unified command structure, Bonifacio?s men and Aguinaldo, convened at Tejeros, Cavite to draft an organizational structure. By a vote of hands, Bonifacio, the founder of the Katipunan was relegated to a minor position as Interior Secretary, while Aguinaldo was named as President. Dissatisfied with the results, Bonifacio departed from Tejeros but was arrested on orders of Aguinaldo on charges of sedition. On the ruse, that Bonifacio was to be escorted out of Cavite, sealed orders, directed the escort to have him executed. On May 10, 1897, Bonifacio was shot and killed in the hills of Mt Buntis.
These circumstances continue to be debated by historians. Aguinaldo denies giving the execution order. It was evident from other narratives, that the revolution was faltering largely for lack of arms, resources, and disunity. Aguinaldo?s action gave way to a single leadership. Bonifacio?s removal consolidated both commands and resources. Historian Rey Ileto, suggests that Aguinaldo?s forces were struggling to sustain their revolt, and Bonifacio?s allies commanded larger supplies of much needed food. In the end, Aguinaldo gained little respite from Bonifacio?s death. Soon after the Biak-na-Bato constitution was proclaimed, declaring the Philippine?s independence from Spain, Aguinaldo agreed to a truce and exile to Hong Kong, signing the first part of the truce, on November 18, 1897. By December, Aguinaldo and his cabinet cooled their heels in Hong Kong ? until the arrival of Commodore Dewey into Manila, in May 1898.
The American presence changed the outlook of the revolution started by Bonifacio. Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines and immediately re-initiated the revolution. By June 12, 1898 independence was formally declared and most the Philippines were under the command of Aguinaldo. Philippine independence and Aguinaldo?s government did not last long for the inevitable hostilities between the US army and the Filipino forces flared up on February, 1899. Thus, began the Philippine-American War. American textbooks mark the war ended in 1902 when Aguinaldo surrendered to American forces, his capture delayed by the sacrifice made by the soldiers of Gregorio del Pilar. The youngest general in Aguinaldo?s army at the age of twenty-three, Del Pilar held the only pass through with American forces could enter Aguinaldo?s stronghold. To the end, Del Pilar, a signatory to the Biac-na-Bato constitution, fought for his general and his country. In reality, serious insurgency continued until 1912, including the eventual pacification of the the Moro rebels in Mindanao.
Declaring the country pacified, the American authorities quickly went into the business of governing a colony. Shifting political winds in the mainland, forced the legislation granting independence to the Philippines by 1945. On November 18, 1935, the Philippines acquired Commonwealth status , the first stage to gaining independence from the United States.

Suggested readings:

Teodoro Agoncillo, Revolt of the Masses. Quezon City, 1956.

H.W. Brands, Bound to Empire: The United States and the Philippines.Oxford University Press, 1992.

Reynaldo C. Ileto, Filipinos and their Revolution. Ateneo University Press, Quezon City, 1998.