Bonifacio Day
Boy scouts from the National Capital Region paying tribute to Andrés Bonifacio at the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan on Bonifacio Day 2018
Observed byPhilippines
TypeNational
SignificanceCommemoration of the life of Andrés Bonifacio
DateNovember 30
Next timeNovember 30, 2024 (2024-11-30)
Frequencyannual

Bonifacio Day is a national holiday in the Philippines, commemorating Andrés Bonifacio, one of the country's national heroes. He was the founder and eventual Supremo of the Katipunan, a secret society that triggered the Philippine Revolution of 1896 against the Spanish Empire. It is celebrated every November 30, the birth anniversary of Bonifacio. It also coincides with the feast day of Saint Andrew the Apostle, from whom Bonifacio's given name was derived, as he was born on such day.[1][2]

History

Since 1901, Bonifacio's birthday has been celebrated by civic organizations. By 1920, Senator Lope K. Santos filed a bill to declare November 30 a holiday. In 1921, the governor general approved the bill as Act No. 2946.[3] The law did not name Bonifacio and added November 30 to the list of holidays listed at Act No. 2711. In time, it became a holiday to commemorate all Filipino heroes; this persisted even when a separate National Heroes' Day holiday was declared in 1931. In 1942, November 30 was declared as National Heroes' Day. In 1952, by that time, the now-independent Philippines, President Elpidio Quirino separated National Heroes' Day and Bonifacio Day by an executive order.[4] Quirino explained in a speech at the National Teachers College that the "change has become necessary because of the interest from different sectors of our country to celebrate each hero's anniversary in order to perpetuate his name."[5]

Unlike Rizal Day which is held on the death anniversary of José Rizal, Bonifacio Day is celebrated on his birth date. This is because of the controversial events on which Bonifacio was executed by his fellow revolutionaries during the time of the Philippine Revolution.[6]

In 2023, Bonifacio Day was commemorated on November 27, as part of the "holiday economics" strategy that shifts the observance of the holiday to the nearest Monday for a longer weekend by virtue of Proclamation No. 90 under President Bongbong Marcos[7][8] Thus, November 30 was designated as a working day, though traditional celebrations persisted on that day.[9]

Ceremonies

Bonifacio Day ceremonies are usually held at the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan, and is usually led by the incumbent president.[10] It is also held at places with significance to Bonifacio, especially other monuments of him.[11][12][13][14]

Protests

A protest in Manila on Bonifacio Day 2018

Protests calling for government action, often focusing on wage hikes for laborers, are held in the Philippines on Bonifacio Day.[15][16] Activists believe that "Bonifacio would have supported the right to protest for important causes."[17]

Bonifacio Days in history

On November 30, 1941, days before the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, President Manuel L. Quezon warned of the impending war against the Japanese in a speech at the University of the Philippines Manila.[18]

References

  1. ^ "8 things you might not know about Andres Bonifacio". GMA News. November 30, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  2. ^ Quodala, Schatzi (November 29, 2011). "Did you know". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Act No. 2946 (February 16, 1921), An Act Making the Thirtieth of November of Each Year a Legal Holiday, Senate of the Philippines Legislative Digital Resources, retrieved January 1, 2023
  4. ^ "100 YEARS OF BONIFACIO DAY". National Historical Commission of the Philippines. November 29, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  5. ^ Custodio, Arlo (August 30, 2021). "A special day honoring countless anonymous valiant Filipinos". The Manila Times. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  6. ^ Caliwan, Christopher Lloyd (November 30, 2021). "1K cops deployed metro-wide for Bonifacio Day". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  7. ^ Presidential Proclamation No. 90, s. 2022 (November 16, 2022), Amending Proclamation No. 42, S. 2022, declaring the regular holidays and special (non-working) days for the year 2023, Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, retrieved January 1, 2023
  8. ^ Parrocha, Azer (November 16, 2022). "Palace updates list of holidays for 2023 with more long weekends". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  9. ^ Zurbano, Joel (November 30, 2023). "Bonifacio Circle closed to traffic for hero's 160th". Manila Standard. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  10. ^ "Duterte skips Bonifacio Day ceremony". Philstar.com. November 30, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  11. ^ "Ceremonial Wreath-Laying for the 152nd Birth Anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio". Taguig City Government. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  12. ^ Bordey, Hana (November 30, 2021). "Isko leads Manila's remembrance of Andres Bonifacio's 158th birth anniversary". GMA News. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  13. ^ Tan, Ivan Rey (November 30, 2022). "Cebu City celebrates Andres Bonifacio Day; groups hold protest march". Yahoo! News. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  14. ^ "Duterte leads Bonifacio Day rites". CNN Philippines. November 30, 2021. Archived from the original on January 1, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  15. ^ Mendez, Christina (November 30, 2018). "Duterte skips Bonifacio Day rites anew". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  16. ^ "Labor groups demand higher salary, safer working conditions on Bonifacio Day". CNN Philippines. November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ Macasero, Ryan (November 30, 2022). "Filipinos mark Bonifacio Day with calls for higher wages, lower prices". Rappler. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  18. ^ "National Heroes Day". Official Gazette (Philippines). Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
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