Of Heroes and Long Weekends
It was a long weekend in the Philippines. President Gloria decided (again!) to move the celebration of our Bonifacio Day to the 28th of November instead of its usual 30th November. Bonifacio Day is the birthday celebration of Andres Bonifacio. He was the Philippines’ Revolutionary Leader(though it was Jose Rizal who was declared National Hero.)
As far as I can recall, there has always been a debate as to whom one sees more fit to the National Hero title. When the Philippines gained independence from the Spaniards in 1898, (Emilio Aguinaldo was the President) Bonifacio, the Father of the Revolution, fell into the position of “Director of Interior”.
It was the Americans who declared Rizal as the national hero (along with other national symbols). For some reason; Rizal, coming from a prosperous middle class who cried reform; the Americans thought more fit of a national hero title as opposed to a revolutionary peasant like Bonifacio. Which brings us to the argument of who decides ones national hero anyway? But (as far as I can remember) since I was a kid (that would some 30 years ago!), there has always been both Rizal Day (commemoration of Rizals death) and Bonifacio Day (birthday celebration of Bonifacio): both national holidays.
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POSTED IN: Language and History
March 20th, 2006 at 8:46 pm
[…] I briefly mentioned this guy in a post last year. While I truly admire his famous books “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo” (we are forced to read these two books cover to cover back in high school!) , I have question marks floating in my head with regards to his real personality and objectives in all the things that he did during his time, especially his cry for reform with the Spanish government. […]