Cabreros, Ma. Christine Irra A.

July 20, 2023

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The Oxymoron that is Rizal Day and Bonifacio Day

Why do we commemorate Rizal’s death anniversary and Bonifacio’s birthday? Why not
commemorate the other way around, or perhaps both events of the two heroes? Perhaps this
can be explained by the circumstances surrounding these two events and their implications over
the course of Philippine history. Rizal’s execution date Bagumbayan in 1896 was proclaimed as
a national holiday, not only because it inspired the revolution against the Spaniards. The holiday
also serves as an enduring reminder of Jose Rizal’s ideals, patriotism, and relevance of his
writings today. In contrast, Andres Bonifacio’s day is observed on his birthday because of his
controversial execution carried out by his fellow countrymen. Bonifacio’s arrest that led to his
undignified death was, to put it lightly, a historical faux pas that is not as valorous as Rizal’s. He
died not in the hands of foreign colonizers because of the unjust charges of sedition and treason
(Ocampo, 2022).
While it can be argued that Rizal is perceived to have contributed more than his
revolutionary counterpart, I think that Bonifacio’s death deserves equal mourning. Even though
the context behind these holidays is widely different, both holidays pay tribute to two equally
defining moments in history and aim to commemorate the life of their namesake. As a Filipino
and an iskolar ng bayan, lest we forget the essence of these national holidays and our
responsibility to develop critical awareness of observing them.

Reference

Ocampo, A. R. (2022, November 30). Tears on Bonifacio Day. INQUIRER.net.

https://opinion.inquirer.net/159171/tears-on-bonifacio-day