IKA-30 Nobyembre 2012. Kaarawan na naman (kahapon) ni Supremo Andres Bonifacio y de Castro, ang tunay na Unang Pangulo ng bayang Pilipinas/Tagalog/Maharlika/Taga-Ilog. Sa susunod na na taon na nga ang malaking paggunita ng ika-150 kapanganakan ng pinakamagiting at pinakamatayog na bayaning lumaban para sa ating kalayaan at pagkabansa. Subalit bakit ba tila napakarami ang hindi tunay na nakakakilala sa kanya, o maling-mali ang kaalaman ukol sa kanyang pagkatao at mga ginawa, at ginawa sa kanya noong huling buwan ng kanyang buhay? Sa panahon niya ay may mga nagkalat ng paninirang propaganda ukol sa Supremo subalit hindi ba dapat na naiwasto na ang mga kasinungalingang iyon sa ngayon? Ang nangyari pa nga ay lumawak pa ang mga paninira na tila ba buhay at kumikilos pa ang mga kagaya ni Daniel Tirona ng Magdalo...
Lampas isang siglo na mula nang kanyang itatag, sampu ng iba pang mga dakilang nagtaguyod, ang samahang naghanda ng paglaban para sa kalayaan at bumuo ng Pamahalaang Himagsikan, ang Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan nang manga Anak nang Bayan o KKK. Matagal nang nalimbag ang mga sulatin ng tatlo sa mga patas at mas mapapagkatiwalaang mga "primary sources" ukol sa Katipunan at sa Supremo--mula kay Hen. Santiago Alvarez, at Gat Apolinario Mabini, at sa limitadong antas, kay Hen. Artemio Ricarte. Nailabas na rin ang mga sulat ni Bonifacio kay Gat Emilio Jacinto na nagbubunyag ng mga sigalot sa pagitan ng sangguniang Magdiwang at Magdalo sa Kabite. Subalit bakit namamayagpag ang mga maling kaalaman ukol sa Supremo sa ating sistemang pangedukasyon at mainstream na media.
Ang mga maling kwentong ito ukol kay Supremo ay nakahalo sa mga iba pang kaalaman ukol sa kanya at madalas pa nga ay mas nangingibabaw dahil mukhang hawak ng mga kontra-Bonifacio ang mga ahensyang pangkaalaman--ang edukasyon at ang media. Ayon sa historyador na si Prop. Michael Charlestone Chua, "mga pwersang panlipunan na ayaw maituro ang mga aral nina Bonifacio at ng Katipunan." Pinakamainam ngang paraan para mabara ang pagpapahalaga sa Katipunan ay siraan ang pangunahing nagtaguyod at nagpalakad nito. Anu-ano ba itong tinutukoy kong pangit na propaganda ukol sa Supremo? Narito ang mga pangunahing maling kaalaman na masasabing nakakapanggigil dahil sa sobrang pagkataliwas o paninira nito sa pagkatao at naging buhay ni Bonifacio.
I. Wala raw pinag-aralan o mahina daw ang ulo ni Supremo.
Mukhang walang sariling mga bait ang naniniwala dito dahil may mangmang bang 1.) nakapagtatag at nakapagpalakas ng tagong samahan sa ilalim ng mapanikil na kolonyal na pamahalaan, at 2.) nakapagbasa ng mga librong nasa ibang wika (Les Miserables at Biography of American Presidents)? Bukod pa sa kanyang magagandang makabayang sulatin tulad ng Pag-Ibig Sa Tinubuang Lupa, Dekalogo, Dapat Mabatid ng Mga Tagalog, atbp. Talas ng isip sa pagplaplano at mga taktika upang ma-utakan o ma "outwit" ang kalaban ang ginamit ni Bonifacio. Sila ngang mga nagsasabi nito baka sa barangay lang nila magtatag ng panghimagsikang samahan ay huli na agad sila.:)
Kailangang banggitin na kung ihambing si Bonifacio kay Hen. Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy ay akala mo 'no read, no write' ang una at nakatapos ang huli. Ang katotohanan ay medyo nakakagulat sa mga nauto ng pwersang dilaw sa kasaysayan at media: self-educated ang Supremo at nakatuntong lamang sa high school itong si Aguinaldo.
Mas marunong pa nga pagdating sa mataas na kaalamang pangpamahalaan itong si Bonifacio kaysa kay Aguinaldo. Kitang-kita ang kamangmangan ni Aguinaldo pagdating sa usapang pamahalaan noong "Republika ng Biak na Bato" na itinatag nito bago tinalikuran ang Himagsikan at tumakbo sa Hong Kong (hanggang makipagusap sa mga Amerikano). Ang Saligang Batas ng Biak na Bato ay halos buong-buong kinuha sa Konstitusyon ng Cuba--99.9% plagiarized, ika nga. Nakakahiya. Ihambing ito sa ginawang pagtutol ni Bonifacio sa Saligang Batas na inihain ni Hen. Edilberto Evangelista sa kanya noong bandang Disyembre 1896. Batay sa sinulat ni Hen. Alvarez, tinanggihan ni Bonifacio na gamitin ang konstitusyon para sa pamahalaang Katipunan dahil nakita niyang malapit ito sa gawa ng Kastilang si Antonio Maura.
Sabi nga ni Mabini, si Bonifacio ay isang "sagacious" na pinuno at "had no less schooling than any of those elected in the aforesaid assembly." Tinutumbok dito ni Mabini ang kontrobersyal na Tejeros Convention kung saan nakaikot ang hindi lang isang malaking kasinungalingan ukol kay Bonifacio.
II. "Natalo" daw ni Aguinaldo si Bonifacio sa Kumbensyong Tejeros.
Maaring natalo sa bilangan ngunit hindi sa tunay na halalan ang Supremo dahil ang Tejeros Convention ang pinakaunang madayang halalan sa kasaysayan ng ating pagkabansa. Ang unang HOCUS-PCOS, unang 'Hello Garci' kumbaga. Nakasulat kina Ricarte, Alvarez, at sa mga sulat ni Bonifacio ang pandarayang naganap sa halalan.
Bago pa man simulan ang halalan sa Tejeros ay nagsumbong kay Bonifacio si Diego Mojica, isang opisyal ng Katipunan, Magdiwang, ukol sa may mga laman nang mga balota, ayon sa memoirs ni Alvarez. Pre-filled ballots, ika nga. Matapos ang halalan ay agad na gumawa ng deklarasyon si Ricarte na nagkaroon ng dayaan at kahit nahalal siya ay ayaw sana niyang magkaroon ng bahagi sa "pamahalaang" iyon. Sinulat din ni Alvarez na patagong sumumpa sa tungkulin sina Aguinaldo, at sa harap pa ng isang Kastila, o turuan-ng-Kastila na pari. Nakasulat din mismo ang pandarayang ito sa mga sulat ni Bonifacio kay Jacinto.
III. Kaya daw nag-walk out si Bonifacio sa halalan sa Tejeros ay dahil hindi nito matanggap ang "pagkatalo" kay Aguinaldo at ito ay lumayo na.
Napakalaking kasinungalingan nito sa dalawang kadahilanan. Una, nagalit si Bonifacio dahil ayaw kilalanin ni Tirona ang kanyang pagkapanalo bilang Kalihim na Pang-loob (Interior Secretary) samantalang iginiit niya bago umpisahan ang halalan na dapat igalang ng lahat ang anumang kakalabasan nito, na sinanggayunan naman ng mga delegado. Ininsulto siya ni Tirona na kesyo hindi bagay maging Kalihim dahil hindi nakatapos o hindi ito abogado (Ngek! Ano naman kaya yung high-school level na si "Pangulong" Aguinaldo?). Ito ay malinaw na nagpapakita ng kawalang paggalang nila Tirona sa boses ng tao--kung ipapalagay na hindi nagkaroon ng dayaan.
Karaniwang punto ng maling propaganda sa panahong kasalukuyan ay kesyo ang pagkagalit ni Bonifacio ay nagpapakita ng pagkainsulto niya, ng kanyang pagkapikon. Subalit kahit naman kanino mangyari ang pangit na taktikang iyon ay maiinsulto. Kailangang isa-alang-alang ang pagkatao nitong si Tirona. May nauna nang kasalanan itong si Tirona na itinuturong nagpakalat ng mga mapanirang poison letters laban kay Supremo noong huling bahagi ng Disyembre 1896, ayon sa mga sinulat ni Alvarez. Dagdag pa, si Tirona ay isang kalahating traydor na sumuko sa mga Kastila dalawang linggo lang makalipas ang Tejeros.
Pangalawa, ang totoo ay ilang pag-uusap at pakikipagtulungan pa ni Bonifacio kay Aguinaldo ang nangyari matapos ang Tejeros. Noong unang linggo ng Abril ay tinanggap pa nga ni Bonifacio sa kanyang opisina sa Naic itong sina Emilio at Baldomero Aguinaldo, ayon pa rin kay Alvarez. Binendisyunan pa nga kamo ni Bonifacio ang pagpapahiram ng Magdiwang, kung saan malapit si Bonifacio, ng mga armas nang hilingin ng Magdalo upang gamitin daw sa pakikipaglaban sa Kastila.
IV. Talunang pinunong militar daw itong si Bonifacio samantalang magaling daw si Aguinaldo.
Hindi totoong walang naipanalo si Bonifacio dahil ang mga naunang labanan ng mga Katipunero ay naipanalo nito. Ngayon, kung bakit hindi naging matagumpay ang Pangkalahatang Pag-aalsa noong Agosto 29/30 ng 1896 ay maisisisi sa ilang mga kadahilanan kabilang ang hindi pagsulpot ng grupo ni Aguinaldo, partikular ang pinamumunuan ni Fernandez. Kung baga, nasira ang plano.
Kasinungalingan ding basta-basta sabihin na mas magaling si Aguinaldo kay Bonifacio bilang heneral. Bakit kanyo? 1.) Manila, na sentro ng kapangyarihang kolonyal, ang hinawakan ni Bonifacio, na ang ibig sabihin ay mas mahigpit ang depensa dito at mas malakas ang pwersa ng kalaban dito. Mahirap talagang ipanalo. Samantala, 2.) si Aguinaldo nga ay nanalo sa labanan sa Imus noong Setyembre 1896 subalit nang ibinaling na ng Kastila sa Kabite ang pwersa nito ay kumaripas ng takbo itong si Aguinaldo papunta sa pagsuko/pakikipagkasundo sa Biak-na-Bato sa huling bahagi ng 1897.
Idagdag din na 3.) maliit na bahagi ng Kabite ang hawak ng Magdalo ni Aguinaldo kung ihahambing sa sakop ng Magdiwang nila Alvarez. Sa unang bagsak ng pagbaling ng Kastila sa Kabite noong Pebrero 1897 ay mas maraming mga bayan ang nalagas sa teritoryo ng Magdalo na umatras pa nga patungo, at nagkanlong, sa mga nasasakupan ng Magdiwang. Sa katunayan, sa panahong isinailalim sa kanggarong korte militar si Bonifacio ay tumatakbo noon ang Magdalo mula sa pagsalakay ng Kastila.
Ang totoo ay 4.) may taal na katalinuhang pulitiko-militar ang Supremo, ayon sa historyador at antropologong si Dok Zeus Salazar. May pangkalahatang plano ng Himagsikan si Bonifacio na binubuo ng apat na kaisipan. Ito ay ang a) mabilisang paghihimagsik na pupugot sa ulo/sentro ng banyagang kapangyarihan; b) pagsasama-sama ng bayan upang mapatupad ang pagsakote sa Maynila; c) sakaling mabigo ang paghihimagsik, ang pag-atras ng mga rebolusyonaryo sa mga 'real' o ilihan, o mga kampong "komunidad na may tanggulan malapit sa bayan"; d) sa maramihan, ang mga ilihan ay pabaitang na lunsaran ng ala-gerilya na pag-atake mula sa kanayuhan patungo sa militar na ulo ng Kastila na epektibong ginamit ng maraming heneral at mismong sumalo kay Aguinaldo sa Real ng Biyak na Bato.
V. Ang Katipunan daw ay samahan lamang, si Aguinaldo raw ang unang Pangulo ng bansa (at hindi daw si Bonifacio).
Ito marahil ang pinakamalaking kalokohang kasinungalingan patungkol sa naging pagkatao, nagawa at tagumpay ni Bonifacio. Ang totoo: bago inilunsad ang Pangkahalatang Pag-aaklas laban sa Kastila ay ginawang Panghimagsikang Pamahalaan ang Katipunan, kabilang ang pagtatatag ng hukbong sandatahan nito, at paghalal ng mga opisyal sa pamumuno ni Pangulong Bonifacio. May watawat pa nga at pambansang awit na inihanda, ang Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan na kinomisyon ng Supremo kay Julio Nakpil y Garcia.
Nakakapagtakang hindi kinikilala sa opisyal na kasaysayan (na tinuturo sa mga paaralan at binabangit ng media) ang halalan sa Katipunan na nagluklok kay Bonifacio bilang pinuno ng bansang naghihimagsik. Ito ay ibinalita sa Kastila-Amerikanong pahayagang "La Ilustración Española y Americana" (1897, Vol. I) kung saan pinakita pa ang larawan ni Bonifacio na may caption na "'Presidente' de la Republica Tagala." Sinulat din ito sa kaparehong taon ng Kastilang historyador na si Jose M. del Castillo. Nilagay nito sa kanyang "El Katipunan" or "El Filibusterismo en Filipinas" ang kinalabasan ng halalan sa Katipunan kung saan napili si Bonifacio bilang Supremo/Pangulo, si Jacinto bilang State Secretary, at iba pa.
Kung tutuusin ay dapat na tingnan bilang malakas na pagbakas sa pagka-Pangulo ni Bonifacio at pagiging pamahalaan (na pang-Himagsik) ng Katipunan ang dalawang Kastilang batis na ito. Kung titingnan mula sa teoryang 'national perspective,' dapat si Aguinaldo na nakipagkasundo sa kanilang pamahalaang (Kastila) ang kilingan nila at hindi si Bonifacio na siyang puno't dulo ng Rebolusyon. Kung bakit itinatatwa ito ng mainstream na kasaysayan ng Pilipinas ay lubhang nakakapagtaka, taliwas sa lohiko.
Sabihin pa, may pagpapatibay din ito mula sa mga lokal na batis. Isinulat ni Alvarez na noong pinipilit nila Baldomero Aguinaldo na magtatag ng (bagong) pang-himagsikan pamahalaan ay sinagot nina Bonifacio na hindi ito kailangan dahil pamahalaan na ang Katipunan. Ipinahiwatig din ni Mabini na ang Katipunan ay pamahalaan sa ilalim ni Bonifacio nang sinulat niya sa kanyang memoirs na kriminal na insubordinasyon ni Aguinaldo ang pag-utos na "asasinasyon" (pagpatay) sa Supremo.
VI. May karapatan daw hatulan ng kampo ni Aguinaldo si Bonifacio na kanila daw isinailalim sa 'hustisya.'
Isang nakakapangilabot na pares ng kasinungalinan. Mula umpisa ay pagligpit na sa Supremo ang pakay ng kampo ni Aguinaldo. Isinulat ni Alvarez na 'dead or alive,' patay o buhay, ang utos na pagdukot kay Bonifacio. Ang mga inutusan ni Aguinaldo--sina Kol. Agapito Bonzon o alyas Intong, Felipe Topacio, at Jose Paua o Instik Pawa (may kasalukuyang historyador ang nagsasabing kasama si Lazaro Makapagal)--ay malugod pa nga ilang tinanggap (bilang mga kapatid sa Katipunan) ni Bonifacio ngunit patraydor na binaril at sinaksak nila ang Supremo sa tinuluyan nito sa Indang, Kabite.
Patraydor na pagdaklot ang ginawang panghuli sa Supremo dahil walang legal na kapangyarihan ang "pamahalaan" kuno ni Aguinaldo. Bakit ko nasabi ito? 1.) Walang bisa ang halalang Tejeros dahil una (a), pinawalang bisa ito ni Bonifacio na presiding officer ng kumbensyon. Pangalawa (b), nagkaroon ng dayaan sa Tejeros batay sa ulat ni Mojica at sa deklarasyon ni Ricarte na nagsabing nagkaroon ng "dirty or shady practices in the manner" ng halalan at napilitan lamang siyang sumumpa sa nakuhang posisyon na Pinuno ng Himagsikang Hukbong Sandatahan dahil tinakot siyang papatayin, ayon na rin sa kanyang deklarasyon. Pangatlo (c), kung kinikilala ng karamihan ang pagka-"panalo" ni Aguinaldo, sana ay hindi ito patagong nanumpa bilang "Pangulo." Pang-apat (d), naglabas din si Bonifacio at apatnapung iba pang Katipunero ng Acta de Tejeros na nagpapawalang bisa sa marumi at ma-anomalyang Kumbensyong Tejeros isang araw matapos ang halalang ito. Maaring may ilang pumirma na bumaligtad at kumampi kay Aguinaldo, katulad ni Hen. Pio del Pilar, subalit hindi nawala ang bisa nito dahil mas marami ang nanatili at nagkapirmahan nga.
2.) Sa yugto ng panghuli at pagkulong, at paglilitis ay walang hustisyang natamo sina Bonifacio. Pagmaltrato ang natamo si Supremo at kapatid na lalaki nitong nabuhay (noong dinaklot sila) na si Procopio. Pinagbawalan ang pagbisita sa makipot at madilim na bartolina, hindi nilapatan ng lunas ang mga sugat, at kung pinakain man ay "pagkaing hindi na dapat sabihin" ang binigay, ayon kay Alvarez. Ma-anomalya rin at patago ang ginawang 'paglilitis' kay Bonifacio. Kangaroo court martial, ika nga. Tumataginting na lutong makaw ang makikita ng kahit sinong may wisyo na makakabasa ng tala ng paglilitis, kahit yung 'opisyal' na bersyon pa at kahit hindi alam ang 'dead or alive' na utos ni Aguinaldo.
Meron ba naman patas na hukom na ang a) presiding officer (Mariano Noriel) ay pinangunahan ang kalalabasan at tinawag na ang intensyon ni Bonifacio ay "evil and treacherous," at ang b) abogadong itinakda nila sa Supremo, defense attorney (Placido Martinez), ay hinusgahan rin ang nasasakdal at sinabi ring "evil" daw ang binalak nito? Idagdag pa na ang auditor ng hukom militar ay si Baldomero Aguinaldo na pinsan ng biktima raw ng planong pagpatay ng Supremo.
VII. Duwag daw sa harap ng kamatayan ang Supremo.
Hindi iilan ang kumakagat o medyo kumakagat sa malaking kalokohang ito kahit na alam ng madla ang katapangan ng bayaning naglakas ng loob na pangunahan ang humawak ng balisong at baril upang wakasan ang pagkaalipin ng bayan at ilunsad ang bagong umaga nito bilang isang bansa. Sukdulang taliwas sa pagiging "El Marat Filipino," ika nga ng El Renacimiento--matapang na manghihimagsik, mapusok na patriotiko--ang pagiging duwag daw ng Supremo nang papaslangin na siya. Talaga nga yatang natatalo rin ang wisyo ng paulit-ulit na pagbigkas o paglimbag ng kasinungalingan.
Walang kredibilidad kung tutuusin ang pinagmulan ng mga pahayag na ito--ang berdugong si Lazaro Makapagal. Walang kredibilidad ang kanyang mga pahayag ukol sa mga huling sandali ng Supremo hindi lang dahil siya ang pinuno ng berdugong inatasan ng kampo ni Aguinaldo kundi dahil 1.) paiba-iba ang pahayag niya sa mga pangyayari; 2.) wala sa mga kapwa berdugo niya ang nagpatotoo sa mga kwento nito; at 3.) taliwas ang ilang mga detalye niya doon mismo sa tala ng kanilang kampo ukol sa paglilitis sa Supremo.
Nagmakaawa raw, umiyak, o sinubukang tumakbo mula sa kanyang kapalaran si Bonifacio nang papatayin na siya. Tatlong magkakasalungat na pahayag na ito ang pinakawalan ni Makapagal ng mga huling taon ng dekada 1920 sa mga naging panayam kay Alvarez (inilabas ng 1927), sa Philippine Free Press (1928), at kay Jose P. Santos (1929). Halimbawa, sa pangalawang bersyon nito ay sinabi niyang nang dinala nila sa bundok ang Supremo ay may isang sugat lamang ito, sa braso--isang litaw na kasinungalingan dahil kahit sa opisyal na tala ay nakalagay na may sugat sa lalamunan si Bonifacio dala ng pagkakasaksak dito noong dinaklot ito.
Kung paano nangyari na ang mga imposibleng pahayag na ito ay binibigyan diin sa mga aklat pangkasaysayan o sa media ay isang malaking katanungan. Ang mas kapani-paniwala siguro ay ang isang kwentong magsasabing sinubukan silang agawan ng armas at patayin ng Supremo dahil sa kanilang paglapastangan sa Katipunan at tunay na katarungan.
Subalit ang katawan ni berdugo Makapagal ay walang sugat, walang tanda ng paglaban ng Supremo. Masasagot ng pagwawasto ng isa pang mito ukol kasaysayan ni Bonifacio ang puntong ito.
VIII. Pinatay daw sa "execution" gamit ang pagbaril si Supremo.
Lubos na nakakapagtaka na ito ang kwentong kumalat at pinalaganap sa loob ng maraming dekada, malamang kasabay ng mga kalokohang pahayag ni Makapagal, samantalang si Mabini, na naging malapit kay Aguinaldo, ay ASASINASYON ang tawag sa ginawa ng kampo ni Aguinaldo kay Bonifacio. Pag sinabing execution, ito ay dapat bukas sa madla dahil bunsod ito ng paglilitis, ng proseso ng bukas na paghahanap ng katarungan. Ang ginawa ay Bonifacio ay hindi execution dahil patago ito, mula pa sa paglilitis kung kailan ipinagbawal ang anumang pagbisita sa kanya at Procopio, hanggang sa dalhin sila sa bundok ng Buntis sa Kabite. Inilayo pa, sinadyang pinaslang ang magkapatid na Bonifacio kung saan walang makakasaksi. Kahit idahilang itinago nila ito mula sa Kastila, gaano ba kahirap magtawag ng magiging tagapanood at madaliang ipatupad ang hatol--sa mismong kuta pa nila para maiwasang mahuli ng mga Kastila?
Hindi execution kundi asasinasyon dahil patraydor ang pagpaslang. Bakit kaya? Dahil takot na maaring magdulot ng pagkakawatak-watak ng mga rebolusyonaryo ang tagpong pagpatay sa Supremo? Kung talagang nanalo sa Tejeros si Aguinaldo at malinis ang paglilitis at may kasalanan ang Supremo, walang dapat kinatakutan. Mayroon pa kayang itinago?
Walang duda na hindi execution kundi asasinasyon. At ang mas nakakahindik pang kasinungalinang na dapat itama ay kung anong armas ang ginamit ng mga berdugo.
"A putol a paa, di dadapa// a putol a tenga, di bibingi..." o malapit dito na naglalaman ng mga linyang nagbabanggit ng mga putol na bahagi ng katawan ng Supremo. Kakatwang kwento ukol kay Bonifacio dahil hindi polisiya ng Katipunero ang sadyang putol-putulin ang katawan ng kalaban; sumikat ilang dekada na ang nakakaraan at may bersyon pa nga nitong matatagpuan mismo sa Maragondon court house. Noong 1918 ay inilabas ang forensics na ulat ng mga doktor mula sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas at nila Hen. Guillermo Masangkay (isa sa mga opisyal ng Katipunang pamahalaan) at Epifanio de los Santos ukol sa natagpuang buto na dineklara nila na kay Bonifacio batay sa best available science ng panahon na iyon. Tumutugma din ang katangian ng mga butong nahukay sa family history ng mga Bonifacio, kabilang ang kakaibang gawi ng Supremo: ang mga ngipin ay "maliit at makinis" na akala mo kinikil--na tugma sa kagawian ni Bonifacio na paghasa sa kanyang mga ngipin sa baba katapat ng incisors, ayon na rin sa pahayag ng kapatid nitong si Esperidiona. Ang nagbunsod kay Masangkay na hanapin ang Supremo ay ang sumbong ng ilan sa mga dating tauhan ni Makapagal na pinatay daw sa pagtataga ang Supremo na nakasakay sa duyan at mahina na. Ang natagpuan nilang buto sa Kabite ay tugma rin sa sumbong sa kanya batay sa tama ng bayoneta at bolo at pagkakaroon ng biyak sa bungo. Huling dekada ng siglo 1900s ay nagsaliksik gamit ang oral history approach si Prop. Daniel Aragon mula sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas ukol sa putol-putol na kwento. Lumalabas sa kanyang pag-aaral na kwentong bayan--batay sa saling-kwento ng mga Kabitenyong nakakita sa berdugo team ni Makapagal o nakasilip sa aktwal na pagpaslang sa magkapatid na--pinahirapan bago pinatay at maaring pinutulan ng ilang bahagi ng katawan si Supremo at inilakbay upang ilipat (malamang nakatali ang paa't kamay sa kawayan mula Bundok Buntis papuntang Nagpatong).
Tumutugma o may mga mahahalagang pagkakatugma ang kwentong putol-putol/pananaga sa sumbong kay Hen. Masangkay ng tauhan ni berdugo Makapagal, sa resulta ng 1918 forensics, at sa oral history mula sa Maragondon ukol sa patagang pagpaslang kay Bonifacio. Samantala, lumalabas na malaking kasinungalingan ang self-serving na mga paiba-iba at nagkokontrahang mga pahayag ni Makapagal, na taliwas rin sa dokumentadong katapangan ni Bonifacio at mismo sa ilang detalye ng opisyal na tala ng kanila court martial.
Hindi sa pagbaril kundi sa PAGTAGA winakasan ng mga berdugo nila Aguinaldo ang buhay ng magkapatid na bayaning Bonifacio. Pinahirapan ang hindi na makalaban-laban na nanghihina nang Supremo (dahil sa hindi nilunasang pagkaka-baril at pananaksak dito sa Indang), pinagtataga hanggang maputol malamang ang ilang bahagi ng katawan, at pinagtakpan ang krimen sa pamamagitan ng paglipat sa ibang bahagi ng kabundukan.
Mas Patas at May Kredibilidad na mga Batis
Ang karamihan ng nalahad dito ay batay kina Hen. Alvarez, Hen. Ricarte, at Gat Mabini. Sina Mabini, Hen. Alvarez, at Hen. Ricarte ay mga pinagkaatiwalaan at dinadakilang mga personalidad na nakadaupang palad mismo ni Pangulong Bonifacio. Kung sa patas ay patas ang tatlong ito dahil sa mga kapwa malalapit din kay Hen. Aguinaldo ang mga ito. Si Mabini, siyempre pa, ay naging Kalihim at tagapayo ni Aguinaldo. Si Alvarez ay naging kaibigan ng kontrobersyal na pinuno at kapwa Kabiteno pa nito. Si Ricarte naman ay tanyag sa prinsipyo nito laban sa imperyalistang Amerikano at sa pagdakila nito kina Rizal at Bonifacio habang naka-exile sa bansang Hapon kahit na may nagsasabing tuluyan daw itong kumampi sa kampo ni Aguinaldo at palihim pang nagpayo na tuluyang iligpit si Bonifacio noong 1897.
Ang tungkol sa mga pahayag ni berdugo Lazaro Makapagal, kapatid na babae ni Supremo, at paghukay sa mga buto ni Bonifacio ay mga nalathala sa pahayagan na kinalap ng mga mananaliksik ng Pambansang Komisyon (Suriang) Pangkasaysayan sa loob ng mahabang panahon (at inilabas na may kinikilingang opinyon ni G. Ambeth Ocampo, naging pinuno nito sa panahon ng administrasyon ni Gloria Macapagal Arroyo). Ang tungkol sa oral history naman ng mga taga-Maragondon, lalawigan ng Kabite ay mula sa pag-aaral ni Prop. Daniel Aragon, isang Kabitenyo. Sa madaling salita, ang mga primary sources ay mga patas at masasabi pa ngang kataka-takang hindi pumapanig sa kampo ni Aguinaldo. Ang mga lathain namang naglalaman ng mga pahayag mula 1920s at ang Kastilang website ay naglimbag lamang ng kanilang mga panayam o sipi (ng imahe ni Bonifacio mula sa lathaing "La Ilustración Española y Americana"). May iba ring pinagkunan, tulad ng mga libro o libro ng historyador na sina Milagros Guerrero at Dok Zeus Salazar, sinasabing 'Ama ng Pantayong Pananaw.'
Pagwawakas
Kung ano raw ang ating kainin, iyon tayo. Kung ano ang pinapakain sa atin o kinakain ng ating mga isip, iyon ang ating kamalayan. Sa terminolohiya ng information systems, GIGO--garbage in, garbage out. Kung tahi-tahi at kathang-propaganda ang pagkakakilala sa mga bayani at kontra-bayani, lalabas na mito ang ating kamalayang pagkabansa.
Masidhi, malakas, at maimpluwensya ang mga nagpapakalat ng kasinungalingang paninira at pagmemenos sa Pangulong Bonifacio at sa Katipunan. Marami sila, hindi iilan, hindi lamang si Hen. Aguinaldo na hindi malayong napaikot din ng mas mapanggamit/mapanlinlang dito dahil wala pa itong edad 30 nang mga panahong inagawan niya ng kapangyarihan at pinapaslang ang Supremo. May mga pwersang panglipunan nga na ayaw maituro ang mga wasto o moral na mga aral ng Katipunan. Dagdagan ko pa na may mga pwersa sa ating lipunan na ayaw maparusahan sa mga kasalanan nila sa Supremo, sa Katipunan at mga turo at prinsipyo nito, at sa bayan.
Kung hindi tayo mag-iingat sa mga pinapayagaan nating pumasok natin sa kaisipan, magiging mga manikang pinapaikot lang tayo ng mga pwersang gahaman, makasarili at kalaban ng katotohanan. Hindi tayo makakarating sa kalagayang maayos kung saan buo ang ating kamalayang Pilipino at namamayani ang kapatiran, katarungan, kalayaang tunay, at kaunlarang nag-iingat sa kalikasan. Kung maiwawasto ang pagkakasulat sa kasaysayan ukol kay Supremo at Katipunan na pangunahing kumilos para sa ating kalayaan at pagkabansa, malamang ay maisunod na ang iba pa at maiwasto na rin sa wakas ang kasalukuyan nating kalahating-mitong historiograpiya. Sa ganoong paraan ay baka mapagkaisa na ang ating lahi sa kabansaang hindi tuta, bukas ngunit katutubo at makakalikasan, at makatarungan sa lahat.
HUWAG Hong Kalimutan, Pagtuntong ng Taon 2013 isang buwan mula ngayon ay BONIFACIO 150 NA! Magkita-kita ho tayong muli. :)
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Mainam din hong basahin ang mga piling iba pa sa Bonifacio Series:
The HACKING of the SUPREMO, Unang Bahagi (Bonifacio Series VII). http://forthephilippines.blogspot.com/2012/05/hacking-of-supremo-unang-bahagi.html
Andres Bonifacio, Unang Pangulo ng 'Pilipinas': Setting the Historiographic Record Straight (Bonifacio Series VI). http://forthephilippines.blogspot.com/2011/12/andres-bonifacio-unang-pangulo-ng.html
Tragedy of the Katipunan (Bonifacio Series IV). http://forthephilippines.blogspot.com/2011/05/tragedy-of-katipunan-assassination-cum.html
Gat Andres Bonifacio: The Anti-Colonial National Hero of the Philippines (Bonifacio Series I). http://forthephilippines.blogspot.com/2008/11/andres-anti-colonial-national-hero-of.html
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Mga Batis:
Alvarez, Santiago. The Katipunan and the Revolution: Memoirs of a General: with the original Tagalog text. Paula Carolina S. Malay. Trans. Ateneo de Manila University Press, 1992. http://books.google.com/books/about/The_katipunan_and_the_revolution.html?id=F3q-krDckHwC
Artemio Ricarte Declaration date 24 March 1897. Filipiniana.net. http://www.filipiniana.net/publication/artemio-ricarte-declaration-dated-24-march-1897/12791881635983
Chua, Michael Charlestone. XIAOTIME, 29 November 2012: UNDRESS BONIFACIO, Ang Supremo Bilang Pinunong Militar. http://xiaochua.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/xiaotime-29-november-2012-undress-bonifacio-ang-supremo-bilang-pinunong-militar/
Guerrero, Milagros, Emmanuel Encarnacion, and Ramon Villegas. Andres Bonifacio and the 1896 Revolution. In Sulyap Kultura. National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 1996. NCCA Site. 16 June 2003. http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?i=5&subcat=13
La Revolución filipina (1896-1898). http://www.museo-oriental.es/ver_didactica.asp?clave=138&loc=0
Ocampo, Ambeth. Bonifacio’s teeth, Rizal’s breath. Inquirer.net. March 9, 2012. http://opinion.inquirer.net/24571/bonifacio’s-teeth-rizal’s-breath
Ocampo, Ambeth. The execution of Bonifacio. Inquirer.net. May 15, 2009. http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20090515-205102/The-execution-of-Bonifacio
Ocampo, Ambeth. Urban Legends. Inquirer.net. March 13, 2012. http://opinion.inquirer.net/24903/urban-legends
Retana, Wenceslao. "El Marat Filipino," El Renacimiento, 26 de Marzo 1908
Salazar, Zeus A. Kasaysayan ng Kapilipinuhan: Bagong Balangkas. Lungsod ng Quezon. 2004 Disyembre. http://www.google.com.ph/url?
________________. Si Bonifacio bilang Pinunong Militar. http://blog-by-taga-ilog-news.blogspot.com/2012/05/si-bonifacio-bilang-pinunong-militar.html
Showing posts with label bonifacio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bonifacio. Show all posts
Friday, November 30, 2012
Saturday, June 12, 2010
The 16 Presidents of the Philippines --a historical satire
Pakibasa rin ho ang: The Hacking of the Supremo, Unang Bahagi (Bonifacio Series VII)
Satirical text version:
1. ANDRES C. BONIFACIO (1896-1897) *
TUNAY na Unang Pangulo. Ayaw kilalanin ng mga elitista.
2. EMILIO F. AGUINALDO (1897/98-1901)
Orihinal na mang-aagaw. Berdugo 2x. Nagpa-onse sa mga Amerikano.
3. MANUEL LUIS M. QUEZON (1935-1944)
Panahon ng Imperyalistang Kano. Pinataob si 'hero-killer' Aguinaldo sa Halalan 1935.
4. JOSE P. LAUREL (1943-1945)
Panahon ng 'Takot ako Hapon.'
5. SERGIO S. OSMENA (1944/45 - 1946)
Hindi suportado ng Amerika ang pagtakbo noong 1946. Hindi nagkampanya kaya tumiklop kay Roxas.
6. MANUEL A. ROXAS (1946 - 1948)
Ginoong "Parity Rights." Aming likas na yaman ay inyo rin, Amerika!
7. ELPIDIO R. QUIRINO (1948 - 1953)
Panahon ng Hukbalahap. Pinatalo daw ng Amerika noong Halalan ng 1953.
8. RAMON F. MAGSAYSAY (1953 - 1957)
Care of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Makataong "Amboy."
9. CARLOS P. GARCIA (1957 - 1961)
"Filipino First" policy. Period.
10. DIOSDADO P. MACAPAGAL (1961 - 1965)
Kalayaan daw ng bansa ay Hunyo 12, 1898.
11. FERDINAND E. MARCOS (1965 - 1986)
Diktator ng Martial Law. Pero medyo inayos ang bayan.
12. CORAZON COJUANGCO AQUINO (1986- 1992)
Santa de Santita. May "Kamag-Anak Inc."
13. FIDEL V. RAMOS - (1992 - 1998)
Nanalo DAW noong Halalan 1992. Salamat sa brownouts.
14. JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA (1998 - 2001)
Mabisyo. Pero may nasyonalismo, patriotismo, at populismo (maka-Masa). Biktima ng mga tampalasan at timang.
15. GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO (2001-2010)
Mangaagaw # 2. "Pangulo" ni Hello Garci at Ampatuan. Ang Pinaka..... grrrrrrrr! Matagal nang hinihintay ni FPJ.
16. BENIGNO SIMEON AQUINO (2010 - ___)
Automated Hello Garci a.k.a. HOCUS PCOS # 1. (?). Aba eh, anong nangyari kay dilawang Gob. Rafael Nantes ?!?
*Andres Bonifacio, Unang Pangulo ng 'Pilipinas' (Setting the Historiographic Record Straight)
http://forthephilippines.blogspot.com/2011/12/andres-bonifacio-unang-pangulo-ng.html
_________
Friday, January 01, 2010
The Devaluation of a Hero & Promotion of a Counter-Hero: Where's Andres Bonifacio in the 5 Peso Coin? Make it P2.00. [Bonifacio series III]
Recommended:
Gat Andres Bonifacio: The Anti-Colonial National Hero of the Philippines (Bonifacio Series I)
The Tragedy of the Katipunan: The Supremo's Assassination-cum-Execution (Bonifacio Series IV)
Gat Andres Bonifacio: The Anti-Colonial National Hero of the Philippines (Bonifacio Series I)
Andres Bonifacio's Tagalog Nation & Predictions of Global Warming (Bonifacio Series II)
Debunking the Outrageous Glenn May Thesis on Supremo Andres Bonifacio
Ang Pagdaklot kina Supremo Bonifacio Debunking the Outrageous Glenn May Thesis on Supremo Andres Bonifacio
The Tragedy of the Katipunan: The Supremo's Assassination-cum-Execution (Bonifacio Series IV)


Gat Andres Bonifacio was the founder of the Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan nang manga Anak nang Bayan (KKK), a secret revolutionary society aimed at liberating the Philippines from the yoke of Spanish colonial rule. Open to prospective members from both the peasantry and middle class, it made use of Masonic rituals to give the society an atmosphere of sacred mystery.
First Philippine President?
The Supremo has also been referred to in history as the Philippine's First (Revolutionary) President. While certain historians have tried to downplay or dispute his formation and leadership of the earliest national government by and of the Filipinos, there have been clear evidence that Andres Bonifacio was Filipinos' truly first President.
After the Katipuneros launched the uprising against the Spaniards, hero set out to transform the secret national organization into an open and de facto revolutionary government. The founder of the Katipunan became the president and formed a cabinet composed of men he trusted, including Emilio Jacinto, Secretary of State; Teodoro Plata, War; Aguado del Rosario, Interior; Briccio Pantas, Justice; and Enrique Pacheco, as Secretary of Finance.
Surviving official letterhead communications dated 1897 point to Bonifacio's various designations that include being the "Supreme President, Government of the Revolution."Perhaps the most telling proofs come from non-partisan sources of his period.
Nineteenth century Spanish historian Jose M. del Castillo, in his 1897 work "El Katipunan" or "El Filibusterismo en Filipinas," describes the first national elections in the Philippines from which Bonifacio emerged as the President, and Plata, Jacinto, del Rosario, Pantas and Pacheco as cabinet officials. This is corroborated by the February 8, 1897 issue of the international publication "La Ilustracion Espanola y Americana" in its article about the Philippine revolution and which featured an engraved portrait of "Andres Bonifacio, Titulado 'Presidente' de la Republica Tagala," clad in a dark suit and white tie.
Noble Courage
At any rate, that Bonifacio is the "Father of Philippine Revolution" is undisputed, and his courage legendary. During World War II, his name even was even used by American propagandists to inspire anti-Japanese resistance. His persona was even adopted as a strong theme in the Hollywood World War II movie, "Back to Bataan," which starred John Wayne and Anthony Quinn.
History of Philippine Notes and Coins
The Philippine peso dates back to the Spanish colonial period with the royal decree confirming the creation of the first public bank, Banco Espanol-Filipino de Isabel II (later the Bank of the Philippine Islands) and giving the same the authority to print paper money. The first Philippine bank notes, collectively termed PF or peso fuertes or "strong pesos," were issued on May 1, 1852.
In the next few decades, PF paper money and, later, coins gradually replaced Mexican coins then in circulation. The original PF bank notes carried the portrait of Spain's Queen Isabella II, after whom the bank was named.

Under the American Occupation, Bank of the Philippine Islands or BPI retained the right to issue bills and coins although no longer on a non-exclusive basis. Pegged to the gold exchange standard, the peso became known as "Philippine Currency" or "Peso Conant."
In World War II, the Japanese colonizers introduced currency known as Southern Development Bank Notes for Philippine use. Banks and local governments also issued their own crudely-made "guerrilla pesos" designed for redemption with silver pesos after the War. The Japanese-sponsored government of President Jose P. Laurel, however, prohibited the issuance and possession of guerilla currency.
In 1944, notes printed with "Victory" on the reverse side were printed at the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing. They were designed to be used upon the expected return of US Gen. MacArthur.
Central Bank of the Philippines
As the Allied Forces triumphed in World War II, the Philippines was granted independence from American colonial rule come 1946. On January 3, 1949, the Central Bank of the Philippines or Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) was created, empowering it with the exclusive authority and power to issue currency.
In 1949, the Central Bank first issued Victory notes, which were overprints of the pre-WW II-liberation notes. Its first official banknotes, though, were issued two years later and called the English series. Filipinization began with the Pilipino Series. Subsequent series replaced the previous: Ang Bagong Lipunan series (ABL); New Design; Flora and Fauna series; New Design series; BSP series.
English series - 1951; coins 1959
Pilipino series - 1967; coins 1967
Ang Bagong Lipunan series - 1973; coins 1975 (Flora & Fauna coins 1983)
New Design series - 1985; Flora & Fauna coins improved version 1992
BSP series - 1998
Andres Bonifacio Devaluation
Philippine banknotes and coins wholly featuring national figures, symbols, sites, and flora and fauna began with the creation of the Central Bank. With regards heroes and heroines, the rule, albeit unwritten, has mostly been that the historic figures appear on the front or obverse side in descending order of importance beginning with the lowest peso denomination. The rationale is that the greater the hero/heroine, the more his/her face should be /propagated in denominations with greater circulation, which are, of course, the lower-valued notes and coins.
This apparent trend began with the Pilipino series where Jose Rizal has for a long time been the face of the P1 bill, and continues up to the present (P1 coin). Thus, Rizal, the acknowledged official national hero, is currently on the obverse of the P1 coin while the largest banknote, the P1,000 bill, carries patriots Chief justice Jose Abad Santos, Gen. Vicente Lim and Josefa Llanes Escoda.
Bonifacio in Philippine Money
A rather recent and glaring deviation from this trend has victimized no less than Gat Andres Bonifacio, Also referred to as the "Great Plebeian," he happens to the Philippine's "other" national hero. According to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts:
Aside from Rizal, the only other hero given an implied recognition as a national hero is Andres Bonifacio whose day of birth on November 30 [Bonifacio Day] has been made a national holiday.
P10 design, BSP series
In the latest P10 bill design, the BSP series (1995), Bonifacio was lumped with Apolinario Mabini. The leftward profile of Mabini is at the far right adjacent to the serial number of the face of the bill while that of Bonifacio is positioned right next to him.
At the back are found a close-up view of the Barasoain Church and a smaller image of the "Blood Compact of Katipuneros" with a dividing spherical broad (brush) stroke in between. The design of the bank note's obverse side is reflected in the cupro-nickel P10 coin with Bonifacio at the forefront and Mabini behind him.
The BSP series issued in 1995 represented a devaluation for Bonifacio because the Supremo was the face of the Philippine five-peso bill for nearly two decades (1967-1985) under the Pilipino and Ang Bagong Lipunan series. He was consistently next in line to Rizal, featured in P1 bill (Pilipino series) and P2 bill (ABL series).

Mabini, also referred to as the "Sublime Paralytic," has consistently been on the P10 bill (and later, coin) beginning with the Pilipino series (1967). He is often considered as the "Brains of the Revolution," possibly for his role as the right-hand man of Aguinaldo and his role in effecting the revolutionary government. While Mabini is undoubtedly an illustrious hero and patriot, he doesn't have the national hero status of Bonifacio.
Bonifacio and Mabini Themes as Separate Historical Animals
Beyond representing a devaluation in terms of money-related "circulation"--so to speak--of the recognition of Bonifacio's heroism, the current BSP design of the P10 banknote/coin is historically incongruent. The themes of Bonifacio and Mabini are unmistakably separate periods of the Philippine Revolution for independence against colonial rule. The clear dividing line is the execution of Bonifacio upon Aguinaldo's order, and highlighted no less by the Philippine-American War which came much later.
Before the BSP series banknotes were first printed in 1998, only Mabini (front) and Barasoain church (back) occupied the P10 bill. The use of the Sublime Paralytic and the Barasoain Church, being one of the prime movers and the proclamation site, respectively, of the Malolos Republic (First Philippine Republic), has been a consistent design of the P10 bill under the Pilipino series, Ang Bagong Lipunan series, and New Design series (in the English series, the theme formed the design of the P1 bill).
It is not to be denied that Bonifacio and Mabini knew each other. Gregoria De Jesus, Bonifacio's widow, even recounted a talk between her late husband and Aguinaldo about Mabini. However, they are not officially associated as Mabini was not a part of Bonifacio's set of Katipunan officers; the "Sublime Paralytic" only became part of the power circle when he was summoned by Aguinaldo, who had by then already eliminated Bonifacio and taken over the leadership of the revolution.
It can be argued, of course, that Katipuneros' blood compact and, thus, the revolutionary movement, served as the foundation of the "Malolos Congress" and the First Philippine Republic. However, such an argument begs the unpalatable question: How did Mabini react and, later, morally justify Aguinaldo's coup against, and elimination of, Bonifacio?
Bonifacio & Jacinto?
If there is a hero that perhaps historically deserves to be joined with Bonifacio, it is Emilio Jacinto, the "Brains of Katipunan." Jacinto was Bonifacio's confidante and author of Katipunan's moral code, the Kartilya. His principled loyalty to Bonifacio extended even after the Supremo was deposed and murdered: he continued to fight the Spanish soldiers while refusing to join Aguinaldo's forces until his death in April 1899.
This theme actually had a precedent--under the English series design of the Philippine peso when Bonifacio and Jacinto were actually together on the face of the P50 (Mabini was in the P1 and Rizal on the P2). Jacinto is undoubtedly a patriotic hero with exemplary revolutionary morality, as reflected in the Kartilya. Bonifacio, the Philippines' other national hero, however, deserves no less a solo place in a bank note or coin right next to Rizal.
Aguinaldo's Symbolism & Appearance in Philippine Money
Gen. Aguinaldo only began his appearance in Philippine currency in the P5 bill under the New Design series during the mid-1980s. His solo profile was on the face of the banknote, while the "Declaration of Independence" in Kawit, Cavite was on the reverse side. The coin equivalent of this denomination also carried his profile. In the current BSP series, the P5 bill was demonetized but the coin continues to bear his profile.
It is perhaps understandable that the theme of Aguinaldo had to finally, if belatedly, make its appearance in Philippine money as it represents the country's assertion of independence from Spain. The image of the proclamation of Independence at Kawit represents a nullification of America's protracted claim that there was no Philippine-American War.
For a long time, the US justified its imperialistic turn-of-the-19th-century annexation of the Southeast Asian archipelago by claiming that the Philippines was no nation and was still a Spanish colony when it was 'ceded 'via the 1898 Treaty of Paris. Aguinaldo's presence in Philippine money can thus well symbolize the post-Bonifacio phase of the Revolution against Spain and the country's assertion of independence and first attempt at self-governance as a liberated nation.
Aguinaldo & Mabini Instead
If Mabini needs to be joined by another figure, it should be no other than the President he served, Gen. Aguinaldo. This is because their roles in Philippines history are actually inseparable.
Aguinaldo can well join Mabini in the face of the P10 bill, along with the images of Kawit's Independence Day side by side with Barasoain Church on the back side should give a faithful recounting of the events of 1898 and early 1899. Compared to today's anomalous P10 Bonifacio-and-Mabini design, such a theme of the continuum of the Declaration of Philippine Independence, and the subsequent Proclamation of the First Philippine Congress/Republic, which took place in Barasoain Church, would be much more historically real.
Bonifacio's Devaluation Came with Aguinaldo's Promotion?
It is worth noting that the apparent devaluation of Bonifacio in Philippine currency took place after the "EDSA I Revolution" and the ouster of Marcos. With all Apo Ferdie's human rights violation, and even having an Aguinaldo descendant as his Prime Minister (Cesar Virata), Bonifacio's place in Philippine money was well secure.
Aguinaldo began appearing in Philippine money at the twilight of Marcos' administration. However, Marcos ensured Bonifacio's promotion closer to Rizal by having the Supremo assume face of the decagonal P2 coin with the 1983 release of the Flora and Fauna coins (apparently under the ABL series).
The point is: does Aguinaldo's promotion need to come at the expense of Bonifacio's demotion? From being the face of the P5 bill and later, the P2 coin, Bonifacio was relegated to splitting the P10 bill/coin with Mabini.
Aguinaldo and his Kawit theme were already accommodated in the P5 even with the seeming effect of relegating Mabini's position in the pantheon of Filipino heroes and patriots. Why should Bonifacio, a national hero, be effectively relegated by Aguinaldo's historical rehabilitation via Philippine money?
Aguinaldo's Rehabilitation
It should be emphasized that Aguinaldo was never on any Philippine money until the New Design series. Despite the fact that he took over the leadership of the Revolution after having Bonifacio killed, bringing it to near success against Spanish forces, he was not deemed worthy enough to grace any bill or coin for over 80 years following the Malolos Republic or 20 years after his death (February 1964). His mid-1980s appearance in Philippine money seemed to signal the start of the rehabilitation of his stained name in Philippine history.
At least three reasons explain Aguinaldo's shady or suspect role in Philippine history.
1. Top of the list is Aguinaldo's execution order on Bonifacio, not infrequently interpreted as murder within a planned coup.
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Two versions of the Killing of the Supremo: Firing Squad & Hacking |
Bonifacio seems to have been tricked by the Magdiwang chapter of Cavite's KKK into joining the Tejeros Convention where he was elected Interior Secretary and Aguinaldo, the President.The Katipunan leader was sport enough to accept his lesser position but was enraged (or deliberately made enraged?) when Caviteno Daniel Tirona humiliated him by questioning his qualifications and even suggesting some lawyer was better fit to handle the position he won.
A shooting incident was avoided and Bonifacio left. When he and his brother were taking breakfast while on their way back, they were captured and later executed by Aguinaldo's men on May 10, 1897 in a mountain in Maragondon, Cavite.
2. Just three months since the start of the Phil-Am War, Aguinaldo had another valiant revolutionary killed, Gen. Antonio Luna.
The assassination of this very effective military strategist on June 1899 appears to confirm the theory that Aguinaldo had Bonifacio eliminated for no other reason than for him and his elitist group to take over the leadership of the Katipunan. According to Juan Nakpil:
"(D)riven by his patriotic fervor, he (General Antonio Luna) did not conceal his desire to be the head of the cabinet with the portfolio of war to prevent the autonomists or pacifists from controlling the government of the republic....
"They slandered him of wishing to wrest the presidency from Emilio Aguinaldo, and for that purpose they invited him to enter the rattrap of Kabanatuan to enable the very ones whom he had disarmed for cowardice in different war actions to deal him the deathblow...
"When General A. Luna was dastardly assassinated on the stairs of the Convent of Kabanatuan and already fallen on the ground, the mother of Emilio Aguinaldo looked out the window and asked: "Ano, humihinga pa ba?" (Is he still breathing?)"
3. Aguinaldo refused to fight his captors to death.
On March 23, 1901, American soldiers posing as prisoners of the traitorous Macabebe scouts were led to the whereabouts of the President then on the run. Instead of choosing heroic death over capture as a way of sustaining the morale of his soldiers still valiantly fighting the new colonizing forces, Aguinaldo became a cooperative US Prisoner of War.
Unsurprisingly, his capture led to a succession of surrender of a number of Filipino guerilla leaders. They include the man responsible for the death of US Gen. Henry Lawton, Gen. Licerio Geronimo (surrendered barely a week right after Aguinaldo's capture).
4. Only nine days after American colonizers got him, Aguinaldo swore fealty to US flag.
His easy capitulation to the American imperialists was supposedly made under plea that his life be spared. His allegiance to Uncle Sam also caused the Anti-Imperialist League to drop him as their 'poster boy' or rallying symbol for their opposition to the annexation of the Philippines. Aguinaldo's swift betrayal of the First Philippine Republic sharply contrasted with Mabini's adamant, repeated refusal to swear allegiance to America, earning the latter the punishment of exiled in captivity in Guam.
Aguinaldo's Possible Regret
In fairness to Gen. Aguinaldo, his controversial support of the Japanese forces during World War II has been interpreted by some as an expression of regret or dissatisfaction over America's annexation of the Philippines (which he, of course, did not fight to the end). Moreover, while on his deathbed, he supposedly expressed regret, if not apology, for what he did to Bonifacio. His dying confession or apology is not officially accepted or hardly mentioned but this piece of information was broached no less by certain history professors from the University of the Philippines.
The General's Less than a Hero
In promoting Aguinaldo via the combined familiarity and symbolism of Philippine money, real or more principled heroes like Bonifacio (and Mabini) have suffered undue demotion before the obtaining national consciousness. While Aguinaldo surely deserves some credit for being a revolutionary leader, his greed-for-power-driven murderous acts, colonial vacillation, and even gullibility that allowed the swift entry of American colonial forces in the islands, definitely makes him no bigger than the Supremo.
Fact is, Aguinaldo is barely considered a hero even today when the reality of the Kawit Independence and the Malolos Republic are a staple in Philippine history textbooks. In his later years, he seemed to have regretted his controversial revolutionary acts, which should merit for him kind understanding from students of history. However, the murders he authorized, if not actually planned, and his swift oath of fealty to the American flag following his capture have forever etched for him a place lower than that of genuine Filipino heroes.
Return Bonifacio to the (revived) P2, or P5 coin
It is historically and logically disconcerting to have the Bonifacio and Mabini themes together in one bill or coin. The incorporation of the disparate themes in the P10 bill/coin must have elicited bewilderment among the more astute students of history, which this author thinks she is one of. When the said banknote first appeared, I was in disbelief, yearning to ask what Mabini could have thought of the execution of Bonifacio in an apparent Aguinaldo coup d e tat mode.

It is even more disconcerting to promote Aguinaldo at the expense of national hero Bonifacio. To honor Aguinaldo more than the Supremo, or even over Mabini (or arguably, even over Jacinto and Gen. Luna) in the field of Philippine currency is to adulate vacillation/capitulation to foreign powers, murder and power grab (no wonder Gloria Arroyo's EDSA II coup d e tat over Joseph Estrada was tolerated?).
If the intention was not to demote Bonifacio while promoting Aguinaldo before the public consciousness, shouldn't the BSP have simply maintained the P2 coin? How difficult or problematic would having a P2 coin be anyhow, given that the almost valueless c5 and c10 coins, along with the P1 Rizal coin, have been kept? Question is, was the P2 demonetized so as to find an excuse to demote the Great Plebian, patriotic Father of the Philippine Revolution, in the consciousness of present-day Filipinos?
It would be a lame excuse for the BSP to claim that Bonifacio's devaluation into sharing the face of the P10 bill/coin was unintended and merely a result of the demonetization of the New Design P2 coins. Why demonetize the denomination in the first place (all previous series were demonetized in 1998)? If the government can continue to mint practically value-less 5 and 10 centavos coins that public utility drivers prefer not to accept, why not the P2 coins with the Supremo's face?
New Series - Hoping for Bonifacio's Restoration

The BSP is said to be preparing a new design series for release this year. The upcoming design is said to constitute a major overhaul of the country's banknotes and coins. Will Bonifacio be restored to his proper place in Philippine currency? I say let the public be consulted in the design process. Vox populi, vox Dei.
__________
References:
156 Years of Banking Leadership. http://info.bpiexpressonline.com/bpiprod/BPIAbout.nsf/150th+Anniversary/Trivia+on+Philippine+Banking?OpenDocument
Andres Bonifacio: 1863-1897. United States Library of Congress. http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/bonifacio.htm
Andres Bonifacio: "Titulado Presidente De La Republica Tagala". http://www.geocities.com/umalahokanstribe/EXHIBIT.html
Arguelles, Randolf. The Image of Emilio Aguinaldo. http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~epf/1997/arguelles.html
Back to Bataan. (2009, December 17). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:46, December 31, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Back_to_Bataan&oldid=332164430
Constantino, Renato. Veneration without Understanding. Third National Rizal Lecture, December 30, 1969. 13 January 2008. PinoyPress Site. http://www.pinoypress.net/2008/01/13/jose-rizal-veneration-without-understanding/7/
Guerrero, Milagros, Emmanuel Encarnacion, and Ramon Villegas. Andres Bonifacio and the 1896 Revolution. In Sulyap Kultura. National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 1996. NCCA Site. 16 June 2003. http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?i=5&subcat=13
Mabini Finds Champions; Anti-Imperialists Demand Release of Filipino Statesman. Messrs. Adams, Schurz, Smith, and Welsh Hold That His Detention at Guam Is Illegal. Special to The New York Times. 24 Dec. 1902, http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9D03E3DC163AE733A25757C2A9649D946397D6CF
Medina, Isagani. "Heroes of the Philippines Revolution." In The Great Lives Series, Andres Bonifacio, Tahanan Books for Young Readers. Bookmark, 1992. Bakbakan Site. http://www.bakbakan.org/heroes.html
Philippine Coins and Banknotes: 2 Peso Coin - Improved Flora and Fauna Series. http://philmoney.blogspot.com/2007/01/2-peso-coin-improved-flora-and-fauna.html
Philippine Currency During World War II. http://www.guerrilla-money.com/JIM/
Philippine peso. Absolute Astronomy. http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Philippine_peso
Republic Period. http://www.bsp.gov.ph/about/history/story7.asp
Revolucion filipina (1896-1898). Museo Oriental de Valladolid Site. http://www.museo-oriental.es/ver_didactica.asp?clave=138&loc=0
The Philippine Republic. http://www.bsp.gov.ph/bspnotes/evolution/page7.asp
Trivia on Philippine Banking. http://info.bpiexpressonline.com/bpiprod/BPIAbout.nsf/150th+Anniversary/Trivia+on+Philippine+Banking?OpenDocument
'Victory' series. http://www.guerrilla-money.com/Victory_series/
Photo Credits:
"Ang Wakas ni Andres Bonifacio" ni Carlos Valino Jr., Nanalo sa 1963 Andres Bonifacio Centennial Art Contest, mula sa Tragedy of the Revolution
http://manilagalleontrade.webs.com/
http://philmoney.blogspot.com/
http://philippine-revolution.110mb.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Luna
http://tetp.wordpress.com/2009/03/
English Series Notes. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. http://www.bsp.gov.ph/bspnotes/evolution/BSPNotes/EnglishSeries.pdf
Pilipino Series Notes. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. http://www.bsp.gov.ph/bspnotes/evolution/BSPNotes/PilipinoSeries.pdf
Ang Bagong Lipunan Series Notes. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. http://www.bsp.gov.ph/bspnotes/evolution/BSPNotes/ABLSeries.pdf
New Design Series Notes. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. http://www.bsp.gov.ph/bspnotes/evolution/BSPNotes/NewDesignSeries.pdf
BSP Series Notes. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. http://www.bsp.gov.ph/bspnotes/evolution/BSPNotes/BSPSeries.pdf
156 Years of Banking Leadership. http://info.bpiexpressonline.com/bpiprod/BPIAbout.nsf/150th+Anniversary/Trivia+on+Philippine+Banking?OpenDocument
Andres Bonifacio: 1863-1897. United States Library of Congress. http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/bonifacio.htm
Andres Bonifacio: "Titulado Presidente De La Republica Tagala". http://www.geocities.com/umalahokanstribe/EXHIBIT.html
Arguelles, Randolf. The Image of Emilio Aguinaldo. http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~epf/1997/arguelles.html
Back to Bataan. (2009, December 17). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:46, December 31, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Back_to_Bataan&oldid=332164430
Constantino, Renato. Veneration without Understanding. Third National Rizal Lecture, December 30, 1969. 13 January 2008. PinoyPress Site. http://www.pinoypress.net/2008/01/13/jose-rizal-veneration-without-understanding/7/
Guerrero, Milagros, Emmanuel Encarnacion, and Ramon Villegas. Andres Bonifacio and the 1896 Revolution. In Sulyap Kultura. National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 1996. NCCA Site. 16 June 2003. http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?i=5&subcat=13
Mabini Finds Champions; Anti-Imperialists Demand Release of Filipino Statesman. Messrs. Adams, Schurz, Smith, and Welsh Hold That His Detention at Guam Is Illegal. Special to The New York Times. 24 Dec. 1902, http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9D03E3DC163AE733A25757C2A9649D946397D6CF
Medina, Isagani. "Heroes of the Philippines Revolution." In The Great Lives Series, Andres Bonifacio, Tahanan Books for Young Readers. Bookmark, 1992. Bakbakan Site. http://www.bakbakan.org/heroes.html
Philippine Coins and Banknotes: 2 Peso Coin - Improved Flora and Fauna Series. http://philmoney.blogspot.com/2007/01/2-peso-coin-improved-flora-and-fauna.html
Philippine Currency During World War II. http://www.guerrilla-money.com/JIM/
Philippine peso. Absolute Astronomy. http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Philippine_peso
Republic Period. http://www.bsp.gov.ph/about/history/story7.asp
Revolucion filipina (1896-1898). Museo Oriental de Valladolid Site. http://www.museo-oriental.es/ver_didactica.asp?clave=138&loc=0
The Philippine Republic. http://www.bsp.gov.ph/bspnotes/evolution/page7.asp
Trivia on Philippine Banking. http://info.bpiexpressonline.com/bpiprod/BPIAbout.nsf/150th+Anniversary/Trivia+on+Philippine+Banking?OpenDocument
'Victory' series. http://www.guerrilla-money.com/Victory_series/
Photo Credits:
"Ang Wakas ni Andres Bonifacio" ni Carlos Valino Jr., Nanalo sa 1963 Andres Bonifacio Centennial Art Contest, mula sa Tragedy of the Revolution
http://manilagalleontrade.webs.com/
http://philmoney.blogspot.com/
http://philippine-revolution.110mb.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Luna
http://tetp.wordpress.com/2009/03/
English Series Notes. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. http://www.bsp.gov.ph/bspnotes/evolution/BSPNotes/EnglishSeries.pdf
Pilipino Series Notes. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. http://www.bsp.gov.ph/bspnotes/evolution/BSPNotes/PilipinoSeries.pdf
Ang Bagong Lipunan Series Notes. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. http://www.bsp.gov.ph/bspnotes/evolution/BSPNotes/ABLSeries.pdf
New Design Series Notes. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. http://www.bsp.gov.ph/bspnotes/evolution/BSPNotes/NewDesignSeries.pdf
BSP Series Notes. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. http://www.bsp.gov.ph/bspnotes/evolution/BSPNotes/BSPSeries.pdf
Labels:
Aguinaldo,
Bangko Sentral,
bonifacio,
currency,
hero,
money,
Philippine-American War,
Philippines
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