PH GREAT . More fun in the PHILIPPINES

Today is holiday, I have no class for this day because of the celebration of our national hero but most of the Filipinos, not all are not aware why it is holiday. Unfortunately, more than half the population thank him only because his existence marks the 30th of November as a holiday - no classes and procrastination time.

It’s so sad that only few realize the essence of celebrating the day. Jose Rizal is generally considered the greatest Filipino hero, but Bonifacio has been suggested as a more worthy candidate on the grounds of having started the Philippine Revolution.  Teodoro Agoncillo notes that the Philippine national hero, unlike those of other countries, is not “the leader of its liberation forces”. Renato Constantino writes that Rizal is a “United States-sponsored hero” who was promoted as the greatest Filipino hero during the American colonial period of the Philippines - after Aguinaldo lost the Philippine-American War. The United States promoted Rizal, who was taken to represent peaceful political advocacy, instead of more radical figures whose ideas could inspire resistance against American rule. Specifically, Rizal was selected over Bonifacio who was viewed “too radical” and Apolinario Mabini“unregenerate.”

Having said that, I believe he deserves to be saluted and remembered not because of the first but because of the latter. I hope that in this day, we offer at least a minute or less just to whisper a silent thank you as a sign of respect and gratitude to the heroic deeds he had done. He’s not Herculean or God-like, but his actions showed that even Filipinos, who people consider as ignorant, domestic, slaves, indios shouldn’t be taken for granted; that our race deserves the things that other races have like independence. Ka Andres Bonifacio, Thank you.