Three loves of Andres Bonifacio
(Speech of the writer during the celebration of Bonifacio Day last November 30, 2005 at Bonifacio Monument at Tanza, Iloilo City)
Today, we are fondly remembering a great man even after 142 years since his birth. What made Andres Bonifacio a great man?
We remember him because of his three loves - love of knowledge, love of freedom and love of country.
First, Andres Bonifacio was born poor in the poor district of Tondo, Manila. He was a school dropout. He barely made a living after that. That is why he is popularly known as 'The Great Plebeian'.
But he had that very firm determination to acquire knowledge. To compensate for his lack of education, he bought and borrowed books on the philosophies of the French Revolution and democratic trends in the autocratic Europe of his time. He read these books voraciously.
Let us compare young Andres Bonifacio with many a school boy today. While Bonifacio was rapt in reading deep political and philosophical doctrines, our youth of today were absorbed more in unwholesome morbid shows on sex and violence in television shows and movies. This explains his lack of moral values compared to the high moral values of Andres Bonifacio.
Second, born in times of political oppression, Andres Bonifacio learned early in life the priceless value of freedom. From his readings, he deeply imbibed the noble principles of the French Revolution - equality, fraternity and liberty.
This ardent love for freedom led and inspired him to found the Katipunan aimed at breaking the chains of political oppression. He believed that freedom as exercised through man's free will, is the greatest gift of God to man.
For love of freedom Andres Bonifacio was ever willing to risk life and limb in founding the Katipunan under the prying eyes of the Spanish 'guardia civil' and which set in motion the Philippine Revolution.
Let us again compare Andres Bonifacio with the youth of today. While he was zealously fighting for freedom, our youth of today are selling and compromising his precious freedom earned in blood by his forefathers during the Revolution and during World War II. Not only that, the youth of today are trampling over the freedom of others by killing or stealing.
Third, Andres Bonifacio loved our country so much as to take great risk to his life by founding the Katipunan against all odds - fighting against one of the greatest powers on earth at that time. Like little David, he challenged and dared the giant Goliath.
The movement for Philippine independence started by the Katipunan bloomed to its fullest with the declaration of independence on June 18, 1898. Unfortunately, Andres Bonifacio did not live to see this glorious culmination of his 'baby'. He died a young man without seeing the dawn.
More unfortunately, he was the greatest victim of the Philippine Revolution itself true to the observation that a revolution like Saturn devours its own children.
For the third time, let us compare Andres Bonifacio with the youth of today. While Andres Bonifacio was willing to die for his country, how many of our youths of today are prepared to die for our country. How many of them are prepared to march behind the Philippine Flag and defend our country from her enemies? In our schools they even shy away from military training!
In sum, if only many of us - not only youths but also adults as well, have that deep love of knowledge, love of freedom and love of our country like Andres Bonifacio, we would not be living in a Philippines bereft of moral and spiritual values, wallowing in materialism and sadly lacking in patriotism.
This is how relevant Andres Bonifacio is, that great man we are honoring today, in our lives in this modern world where our country clings very dangerously on the steep cliff of political, economic, social and moral problems.
But, my countrymen, all is not yet lost for us. We still have here in our midst many idealistic men and women who are willing to embrace and emulate the three loves of Andres Bonifacio - love of knowledge, love of freedom and love of country.
So, let us not despair... for despair is a sin and satanic. Let us rather hope... for hope is a virtue and is divine.