Shouldn't Emilio Aguinaldo be shamed for what he did to Andres Bonifacio?- A Bonifacio Day Tribute

Andre Bonifacio
by La Ilustracion Espanola y America
is licensed under Public Domain.

In honor of an underrated national hero, Andres Bonifacio, I will be attacking his known rival, the one whom I think is as guilty as the ones who really killed him, Emilio Aguinaldo, whom I believe is a scheming, sexist, traitorous, cheating, 2-faced politician. Wait? It sounds like I just described the Filipino politicians of the current day. What do you know? There has been no change in Filipino politics.

Emilio Aguinaldo died of coronary thrombosis on February 6, 1964. When a person is on his deathbed, usually he starts counting the number of things that he regrets or would want atonement for. I'm hoping before he let out his final dying breath, he asked Bonifacio (And maybe Luna as well) for the forgiveness of the atrocities he had done to him and to the Filipino people and for being blind (for power) and pig-headed.

Aguinaldo and his men were very pleased with themselves for winning armed struggles against the Spanish in their native province of Cavite while Bonifacio who led battles in Manila suffered a number of defeats. The reason being is that the Spanish forces from Cavite were transferred to Manila to anticipate the attacks of Bonifacio, leaving Cavite with constabulary detachments that made it very easy for the revolutionary forces to win. These victories provided fame and respect for Aguinaldo and apparently, this all went to his head. And I figure, Aguinaldo, who wanted to be the sole leader of the revolutionary forces, devised a way to get rid of Bonifacio. With Bonifacio out of the picture, no one would be able to stop him from going to the top.

It makes me think if Bonifacio wasn't executed and became the country's first President, accused Aguinaldo of treason for negotiating with the Spaniards, and took down the Spaniards as the revolutionary forces' leader, I think the cycle of corrupt, sexist, traitorous, cheating politicians would not exist. Bonifacio was a man of honor; he did not attempt to negotiate peace arrangements with the Spaniards, he had no political compromises (unlike Aguinaldo who was a scheming opportunist- from the Spaniards, Americans, and the Japanese), and he even took a bullet for someone else. He placed high standards for what he wanted for the Philippines and for his countrymen. He foresaw a great future- as symbolized by the name he took as a Katipunero- Maypag-asa.  Unfortunately, men like Aguinaldo have to exist in this world. Maganda na sana ang takbo ng kasaysayan kaso may  Pinoy katulad ni Aguinaldo na ang hangarin ay tila di kasing busilak ng akala ng iba.

The Tejeros Convention- March 22, 1897

The convention that turned Bonifacio's world upside down.

Despite the advice of his men to not attend the convention, Bonifacio with his brothers and wife, went to the Friar Estate house in Tejeros to attend the convention to patch the growing hostility between the Magdalo and Magdiwang groups of the revolution. Aside from this, Bonifacio also wanted that known leadership would be established to create unity among the groups. Unfortunately, it was done at an inopportune time, since representatives from neighboring provinces were not in attendance (even Aguinaldo himself who was busy leading the battle of Perez Dasmariñas), but since it was brought to everyone's attention, they opted for an election then and there to establish leadership.

Emilio Aguinaldo
author unknown is licensed
under Public Domain

The issue of whether the Philippine form of government would be a monarchy or republic was also discussed in this convention. Others in attendance insinuated that the Katipunan was dictatorial and monarchical in form but Bonifacio stated that the form of government of the Katipunan was republic saying "...all members of any rank shall serve under the Principles of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity upon which Republicanism was found." He also pushed that this should be the form of government that would be adopted by the country.

The election took place with Bonifacio and Aguinaldo (in absentia) vying for the presidency. Since most of those present were supporters and men of Aguinaldo, Aguinaldo won the Presidency. Bonifacio was elected as Director of Interior but, this was objected by Tirona (Director of the Exterior) stating that Bonifacio was unfit to govern since he was uneducated. Being clearly insulted, Bonifacio challenged Tirona to a duel when the latter turned his back on him. Tirona was said to have hidden (what a coward).

According to historians, Bonifacio, after the rigged election that made Aguinaldo President, the duel with Tirona, and the Tejeros Convention made camp at Indang Cavite on his way to return to Morong. Aguinaldo, on the other hand, received information that after Bonifacio was denied provisions from the townsfolk, had burned down a village, almost setting fire to a church and stole some carabaos and slaughtered them for meat. Doesn't sound like Bonifacio would do such a thing. (Again, sounds like a plot from the side of Aguinaldo.) Aguinaldo sent men to arrest him without checking if the reports were true ( unless he knew already that the reports were false). And this is where it gets interesting- Bonifacio cordially accepted the men into his camp. Don't you think if Bonifacio and his brothers did all those wrongdoings that they were being accused of, would let Aguinaldo's men inside his camp, knowing Aguinaldo is the main man in Cavite? The men led by Colonel Bonzon and Instik Paua attacked Bonifacio's camp to the surprise of Bonifacio. Bonifacio refused to fight against "fellow Tagalogs" and ordered his men to refrain from firing their weapons. As there is no honor among bandits, Bonzon and Paua and their men, killed Bonifacio's men, his brother Ciriaco, beat Procopio (another Bonifacio brother), and Colonel Bonzon raped Bonifacio's young wife. Bonifacio was shot and stabbed in the neck during this encounter and was brought to Naic by stretcher to face Aguinaldo.

Trial and Error

The trial of Andres and Procopio Bonifacio was a sham. They were charged with sedition and treason against Aguinaldo's government and conspiracy to murder Aguinaldo far from the crimes of arson and theft that they were originally accused and arrested for. On May 10, 1897, Andres Bonifacio, the Great Plebeian, together with his brother Procopio, were executed at the mountains of Maragondon, Cavite by Lazaro Makapagal. While Procopio was shot, Andres Bonifacio was believed to be hacked by a bolo (a large Philippine knife origin similar to a machete) since he was already weak from untreated wounds. Skeletal remains found in the mountains corroborates the story of Bonifacio's death by bolo.

Later, Aguinaldo will write a letter admitting that he ordered the execution of Andres Bonifacio. This is the letter written in 1948, 2 days before his birthday.

Courtesy of Xiao Time

Aguinaldo and his many faults

I would say that if Bonifacio's fault was "giving people the benefit of the doubt" and being trusting, Aguinaldo was a scheming opportunist who sided with who would benefit him the most. Some say he was an astute politician but, I believe he was more concerned about himself. He was said to have sold the Philippines for 800,000 Mexican Pesos. He was branded as the one who ordered the assassination of a brilliant general, General Antonio Luna who was rapidly growing in popularity. He was sneered by an American for being undecided whether to wear a breastplate or use a cane- that is to be a President or a Dictator. Fortunately, his dictatorship only lasted a short time, unlike President Marcos. He sided with the Japanese during WWII and was branded as the first quisling (traitor) appealing to Filipino and American soldiers to withdraw forces. He never investigated on the rape charges brought up by Bonifacio's wife which clearly makes him sexist. You turn a blind eye to a woman who says she was raped makes you a sexist. He ordered the execution of a great hero, one who had the best interest of our country at heart, Andres Bonifacio.

Yes, he is considered the first Filipino President of the First Philippine Republic envisioned by Andres Bonifacio. But, he is shameful. I have never been to Kawit, Cavite where his remains lie in a shrine, but if I do go, I'll go there laughing because I know somewhere, down there, Aguinaldo is being roasted to a crisp.

As for people trying to put the blame on the inner circle of elitists that influenced the thinking of Aguinaldo- a 28-year-old man with a background in politics couldn't decide on his own? He didn't investigate the rape of Bonifacio's wife even if he was asked to- shows that he did have a backbone contrary to popular belief.

-Bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan ay wag magagalit. Ang pikon ay laging talo.

-The Pinoy Inquisitor will search again.

*Credit to Sources:

Young, Tito "History and Politics of President Andres Bonifacio y de Castro", enhanceavillage.org

Tejero, Constantino "A Question of Heroes: Aguinaldo vs. Bonifacio", opinion.inquirer.net