Filipinos see their heroes differently.
There are the “intellectual” heroes—thinkers who met in secret and expressed their outrage through their writing. They were learned and used their advantage in protest and change the plight of their suffering compatriots.
And then there are the skillful negotiators and mediators who navigate through the murky waters of politics and human behavior.
There are strategists who led the country in times of conflict. They made sacrifices for their troops and for the country, and even though they did not see the results of their selfless acts, they are remembered nonetheless.
And then there is Andres Bonifacio, whose birth anniversary we commemorate today.
Bonifacio was a prominent figure in the Philippines’ struggle to break free from the clutches of the colonial master. His humble means did not deter him from leading men and women alike in the quest for freedom. We picture him holding his bolo and uttering rallying cries. He reminded his companions that love for country and fellowmen is enough to make them fight on, anyway, despite looming uncertainty and danger.
We remember Bonifacio’s passion today, amid challenging times.
We are nominally free from the clutches of colonizers but we continue to struggle in asserting what is rightfully ours and the rights we are entitled to.
Problems of our own doing and which we have left unaddressed have festered over decades. There remain entrenched cultures of corruption and patronage. The people keep electing those who portray themselves as larger than life instead of those who simply show up to do the work, no fuss.
We see the people who are supposed to be protecting us and we wonder whether they indeed will instead of causing us more harm. We are at a loss in determining who is telling the truth and who are peddling lies.
These are reasons why Bonifacio’s virtues of boldness and bravery continue to be relevant today. We should be bold enough to question and not be deterred by possibilities of harm that can befall us—so long as love of country and fellow Filipinos drives us.
