BONIFACIO DAY: REMEMBERING NOT THE BLOODY REVOLUTION, BUT THE SPIRIT OF UNITY, RESILIENCE, AND “BAYANIHAN” AMONG FILIPINOS
Bonifacio Day is a significant national holiday celebrated annually on November 30 in the Philippines. It commemorates the birth of one of our heroes, Andres Bonifacio who was born on November 30, 1863. Every year, during this regular holiday, government officials, including the President of the Philippines, lay flowers on his shrine in Caloocan City to commemorate his heroic acts of fighting for the Philippine independence from Spanish rule.
However, it is very saddening that left-leaning groups are celebrating November 30 not to celebrate
the life of Bonifacio but to remember the bloody armed revolt during his time. Said groups use the national holiday not to rest and ponder but to go out in the streets and protest. They even chose that day to launch the Kabataang Makabayan in 1964 and Anakbayan in 1998. As we commemorate the 160th Bonifacio Day on November 30, let us continue to recognize Bonifacio’s courage, determination, and nationalism and use the Bonifacio Day as a testament of the spirit of unity,
resilience, and “bayanihan” among the Filipino people in the face of crises and adversities.
Let it be reminder for us to help each other in our journey towards nation-building. Let us prevent left-leaning groups from changing the true meaning of Bonifacio Day. I enjoin my fellow
nationalistic Cordillerans in celebrating Bonifacio Day. May it be an inspiration to continue to live out the “bayanihan” spirit in promoting our progress and development as a country. Let it be a reminder for us to help each other in our journey towards nation-building. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
No to a bloody and senseless revolution! Yes to unity, resilience, and bayanihan! Linang Banawa Natonin, Mountain Province
