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Andres Bonifacio and bad imaging
Andres Bonifacio has been a victim of bad Public Relations from the time Filipinos argued as to who would make the better national hero between him and Rizal. Andres Bonifacio has been unfairly labeled as the “de facto national hero of the Philippines”. Bonifacio’s “de facto” heroism loosely translates to “hero in practice but not necessarily obtained by law” (just like PGMA’s first term from Erap’s point of view).
It’s understandable that Filipinos would gravitate towards Dr. Jose Rizal who is more accomplished, multi talented, cultured, well-mannered, fashionable and can woo women in several languages (despite his 4’11 to 5’1 frame). Rizal is media savvy and endowed with diplomatic finesse. Bonifacio on the other hand was always unfairly portrayed as the impulsive revolutionary who wants the systematic hacking of Spaniards and the nationwide bloodshed to commence A.S.A.P. Such savage hot-headedness with the rudimentary qualities of the masa to match made Bonifacio the war freak, cedula-tearing “jologs” he is portrayed to be.
But it is not to say that Bonifacio was not presentable himself. In fact, the only known photo of Andres Bonifacio is one where he dons a coat, decent enough to wear to a prom. Those monuments and drawings of him waving a bolo and clad in an open-chested camisa chino (underwear in modern fashion really) and rolled up pants are quite demeaning and inaccurate as these are lazy ways to establish contrast between Bonifacio and the “hipper” and well bred revolutionaries Rizal, Aguinaldo, Mabini et al.
It may be because many historians fixated on Bonifacio’s humble beginnings as an ambulant vendor from Tondo who sold fans and canes to support 5 siblings orphaned at very young ages. Little did old Filipinos know that just a century later, having “Tondo” and “market vendor” on one’s resume are election essentials that modern day politicians desperately try to establish connections with shanty central if only to rub elbows with the great unwashed.
I think many historians also failed to highlight the fact that Bonifacio was self-educated and could speak and write in Spanish despite completing only four basic education years. Emilio Aguinaldo with his seven school years was barely able to speak Spanish. Bonifacio was a fast learner.
During his spare time Bonifacio read the very same reading list that Rizal fumbled on such as the French revolution, The Presidents of the United States, The Penal Code and Victor Hugo’s ‘Les Miserables’ (highly recommended best seller by Rizal himself, a must-read for aspiring national heroes). Bonifacio’s local reading list of course included great literary works “El Filibusterismo” and “Noli Me Tangere” by Jose Rizal whom he really idolized. Bonifacio never thought Rizal was lame. In fact he had concurred with the great doctor for him to launch his armed revolt against Spain only to be advised to do so using less barbaric methods.
Also by writing about Andres Bonifacio in the context of Rizal’s monumental, global and romantic achievements historians have unintentionally made Bonifacio pale in comparison as a leader and reduced him to a mere maker of bad judgment calls.
History books implied that Bonifacio established his Katipunan movement due to his growing impatience over the “slow boil” reform strategy pushed by his more restrained, pen wielding “kaberks” who relied on diaries to hurt Spain. It was this same stubborn quality of Bonifacio that irked ex-friend and first Philippine President-elect Emilio Aguindaldo whose win Bonifacio contested as courtesy of rigged ballots.
Election history really repeats itself and as early as a century ago, the Philippines was destined to have hotly contested presidencies and election-related violence such as salvaging. If all historical accounts are to be believed, Bonifacio is the first widely publicized summary “executionee” by a powerful political force who didn’t want to be accused of cheating in the polls.
Unlike our other heroes who were really reformists who just wanted Spaniards to treat Filipinos “a little nicer” Bonifacio was ready to wage a revolution whose goal is to intall a new, independent nation. This is perhaps why this radical, non compromising man is endeared to militant groups, left leaning individuals and other contemporary angst-driven propagandists such as coup plotters. All these add (unfortunately) to our rouge hero’s “bad press”.
And one more thing—- Andres Bonifacio seldom took a bolo to war. He had his own pistol which he preferred using because he really knew better.
