Caloocan City Residents Proclaim Andres Bonifacio as Unang Pangulo ng Pilipinas

1 December 2010 9:04am

During yesterday's celebration of Bonifacio Day, residents of Heroes del 96 in Caloocan City together with colleagues in the re-launched Caloocan Historical Society have proclaimed Andres Bonifacio as Unang Pangulo ng Pilipinas in very simple rites at the Bonifacio Monument.

Led by Rolly Ocampo, ordinary citizens of Caloocan City did what probably has never been done before, that is, to march and shout in the streets and to publicly declare Gat Andres Bonifacio, the Great Plebeian and Father of the Filipino Nation, as the First President of the Philippines.

More pictures from the event when I return.

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August 23 - 26, 1896 — Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto and the Katipuneros Set Ablaze the Philippine Revolution, Asia's First National Uprising

THE 113TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 

PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION OF 1896

23 August 2009

The date is disputed, August 23, 24, or 26 and the site where it took place is disputed as well, Balintawak, Pugad Lawin, Pasong Tamo, Bahay Toro. 

What is not disputed is that Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto led their fellow Katipuneros in expressing their desire to be free from Spanish oppression, that they did it with a public proclamation accompanied by the tearing of their cedulas, that it happened between August 23 and August 26 of 1896 and that it took place in an area part of old Caloocan.

Thus, whether we celebrate it on August 23, 2009,  August 24, 2009 or August 26, 2009, what is more important is that we celebrate it in our hearts and safekeep it in our beings.

The birth of freedom in the Philippines took place in Caloocan, third week of August 1896 when men of humble birth but bearing lofty ideals sounded the call for independence by force of arms thus ushering in Asia's first national uprising against European rule.

 

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Will the Filipino Nation Meekly Surrender Its Honor and Dignity at Monumento? Will Our Presidentiables Ignore the Issue of Cultural Preservation?

10 June 2009

While everybody is preoccupied with the Hayden Kho sex video scandal and now the nationwide effort to oppose Con-Ass, I appeal to all fellow Filipinos, wherever you may be to rise as one and defend the honor and dignity  of our nation at the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City, also known simply as the Monumento.  

What is happening at the Monumento is a legacy worse than Con-Ass because while Con-Ass threatens to destroy the political fabric of our nation, the desecration at Monumento will forever tarnish our dignity and honor as a nation. 

This is how the Monumento looked in the 1980s

This is how the Monumento looks today ... 

and like this and much worse is coming ...

unless we wake up and fight for our country's honor

The desecration that is happening  at the Monumento is unprecedented in our history.  Not even the Japanese who occupied the Philippines from 1941 to 1945 dared to  do what is happening now at the Monumento — the imprisoning and desecration of the greatest monument to valor and to love of freedom on earth! 

To make the task of explaining easier, I'll attach at the end of this post an earlier article I posted entitled, May 10, 2009 is the 112th Death Anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio, National Hero of the Philippines — Does the National Historical Institute Care?

The short video clip below which I took yesterday, June 9, will give you an idea of what I'm talking about. It shows the Monumento Circle and the area where the northern edge of the LRT will reportedly connect physically with MRT3.  The video clip shows a huge crane and a heavy digging equipment preparing the hole which will serve as one of the foundations of the physical interconnection.  This is what is known as "closing the LRT-MRT3 loop" project.   

I have posted the much longer video clip below at youtube wherein I made an appeal for national unity in defense of the Monumento (I would like to beg your kind indulgence if there are pauses in this video; this is probably due to the annotations I made earlier, then deleted, but still appears to affect the playing of the video):  

What can each of us do?

For a start, I'll send a copy of this post to the Office of Senator Loren Legarda and Senator Mar Roxas.  Senator Loren Legarda gave emphasis to cultural preservation during her appearance at the 2nd ANC Leadership Forum on June 5 at the UP School of Economics Auditorium.  I'd like to see how Senator Legarda matches her public stand with her firm public pronouncements.

Senator Mar Roxas is the Chairman of the Senate Committtee on Education, Arts and Culture. Much earlier, his office, in response to my appeal, wrote letters to the offices of Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri of Caloocan City, the LRTA and the MMDA.  I am reproducing here a copy of my post dated March 6, 2009 on that issue:

Friday, March 6, 2009

The Office of Sen. Mar Roxas Shows Concern For the Monumento

5 March 2009

This morning, I was pleasantly surprised to notice an email in my inbox whose subject reads: "re: Feedback from Sen. MAR."  The short message reads:

"Hi. Please see attached files.  We would appreciate confirmation of receipt."  

The attached files consist of three (3) letters sent in PDF format.  Clicking on any of the images below produces an enlarged copy:

Letter to LRTA Administrator, Melquiades A. Robles:

Letter to Caloocan City Mayor Enrico "RECOM" Echiverri

Letter to MMDA Gen. Mgr. Roberto Nacianceno

For expressing interest and concern in the ongoing desecration of the Bonifacio Monument, and for sending referral letters to responsible officials of our government encouraging them to promptly respond directly to me, copy furnished his office, thanks to Sen. Mar Roxas!  Thanks as well to Atty. Blas James G. Viterbo, Sen. Roxas' Chief of Staff, who actually signed the three referral letters in behalf of the Senator.

I'd say a good job, so far, from the office of Mr. Palengke.    

This is my start of earlier post dated May 10, 2009:

Sunday, May 10, 2009

May 10, 2009 is the 112th Death Anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio, National Hero of the Philippines — Does the National Historical Institute Care?

10 May 2009

Today, May 10, 2009 is the 112th death anniversary of Andres Bonifacio.  

The National Historical Institute (NHI) is the government agency tasked with protecting our cultural heritage and that includes national monuments such as the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City, also fondly known simply as the Monumento.

This is the link to the full NHI Guidelines on Monuments Honoring National Heroes:

I will quote here excerpts from the NHI's guidelines and show pictures of the Monumento for us to find out whether the NHI follows its own guidelines:

GUIDELINE

Monuments and memorials must, therefore, be treated as sacred3 or hallowed grounds andaccorded with the same full reverence as we have for the Philippine Flag. Any form of desecration against the monument, such as squatting, graffiti andimproper advertising commercialism shall not be allowed. (NHI Guidelines, Section 1, Definitions. Paragraph 4)

REALITY

GUIDELINE

Maintain a simple and unobstructed landscape development. Commercial billboards should not proliferate in a town center where a dominant monument is situated. (NHI Guidelines, Section 2, Definitions. Paragraph 4.2)

REALITY

This is what the National Historical Institute (NHI) website has to say about May 10:

If we zoom in on the relevant portion, this is what the NHI is saying:

That's right!  "10 May ... No Today in History events were found."

After coming out in force against performing artist Martin Nievera for alleged improper rendition of the national anthem before the Manny Pacquiao - Ricky Hatton boxing championship bout in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, what should officials of  the National Historical Institute (NHI) do regarding the Monumento? What is in their hearts and minds right now?  In fairness to Martin Nievera, I don't think anyone can say that he did not give his heart out in singing Lupang Hinirang in the Pacquiao-Hatton bout.

I believe NHI Chairman Ambeth Ocampo and the other Commissioners of the NHI owe all Filipinos an explanation as to why they are allowing the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City to be treated in this manner.

Perhaps the question equally important is: What are we, who call ourselves Filipinos, going to do about this?  Close our eyes and do nothing and be proud about it?!  

This is the end of my earlier post dated May 10, 2009:

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My Notes on the ANC Leadership Forum, May 11, 2009

11 May 2009 9:10 pm

I arrived home from work in time to catch what was left of the ANC Leadership Forum aired live at ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel). The ANC Leadership Forum, held at the Loyola campus of the Ateneo de Manila University, was hosted by Tina Monzon-Palma and Ricky Carandang. 

The presidentiables who attended the forum are Senator Chiz Escudero, Senator Richard Gordon, Governor Ed Panlilio, Senator Mar Roxas and Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.  

I took these notes, obviously incomplete  and probably containing some inaccuracies, which is my fault alone:

Question - Will you form a coalition with Manny Pacquiao's political party?

Gordon: Yes.

Panlilio: Yes, if people with him adopt principles of good governance.

Roxas: He should remain a symbol of unity, an idol of the youth.

Teodoro: Yes, he is very much welcome ... he has good drawing power.

Escudero: Yes, 'wag n'ya lang isama yung pinuntahan n'ya kanina sa Malacañang ...

Question - What was the last book you read or the last movie you've seen?

Panlilio  :  Book: Leadership Secrets of St. Paul

Roxas  :  Book: 1776 about the American Revolution

Teodoro  :  Book: Power and Prosperity, about rewards and incentives; Movie: John Adams, about the second President of the United States

Escudero:  Book:  Dinner with a Perfect Stranger;  Movie: Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo

Gordon   :  Book:  Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama; Movie: We are Marshals

Question:  Will you support an investigation of the Arroyo family for corruption allegations?

Roxas  :  Yes.  NBN-ZTE, fertilizer scam ... etc.

Teodoro  :  Walang makakapara n'yan.  Ngunit kung ito'y haka-haka ... political harassment, tutulungan ko ang aking Pangulo.  Secretary Teodoro is runaway winner of  the Most Loyal to GMA Award.

Escudero :  Yes.  Dapat panagutin s'ya sa mga pagkakamali at paglabag sa batas na ginawa n'ya.

Gordon  :  Kung magpa-file ng kaso, dapat i-file.  Hindi dapat haka-haka, hindi kuro-kuro.

Panlilio  :  We must be a nation of laws ... dapat lang magkaroon ng prosecution dito.  Let the law and justice take its course.  Hindi lang sa gobyerno ... kahit sa private sector at mga simbahan ... may corruption.

Question :  What are the positive contributions of the Arroyo administration?

Teodoro  :  Maraming positive, 7.3 pct GDP growth ... etc.

Escudero :  Isa lang para sa 'kin.  Dahil sa ilang paglabag sa batas ... at hirap na dinaranas ng ating mga kababayan ... Ginalit n'ya ang maraming Pilipino ... para makilahok sa susunod na halalan.  This is the most creative answer of the night. Expect bright answers like this from Senator Chiz no matter what position he eventually runs for in 2010.

Gordon   :  Transaction sa lahat ng mga Congressman.  Kapag naging Presidente, wala na dapat kaibigan ... truth palagi hindi lies.  But she has work ethic ... Kulang sa suheto sa mga nakapaligid.

Panlilio  :  When I first read this question, hindi ako makatulog.  Nag-provide siya ng transition nung mabakante ang presidency.  Sa environment, pinirmahan n'ya agad yung zero waste management law nung 2001 and last year yung R.A. on renewable energy... kung ii-implement n'ya ito is a different matter altogether.  What is often lacking is the political will to implement these programs.

Roxas  :  Ang isang mabuting nagawa ni Pangulong Arroyo ... inappoint n'ya kong DTI Secretary.  Sinuportahan n'ya ko nung nilabanan ko ang pharmaceutical cartel ... sinimulan ko yung IT BPO call center space ... gumawa kami ng strategic plan ... nilabanan ko yung cement cartel. This was the best self-promo campaign of the night.     

Question :  Who do you admire the most, living or dead?

Escudero :  Walang iisa ... piliin yung magagandang qualities sa lahat ng tao

Gordon  :  My father ... an American who became Filipino and raised his children as Filipinos.  This was the most emotional moment of the night as Senator Gordon fought back tears while reminiscing about his late father.

Panlilio  :  Andres Bonifacio, Tarik Soliman, Jose Abad Santos.  He related how then Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos, seeing his son crying, told him:  "Don't cry. Not everyone is given the opportunity to die for his country." (Abad Santos was executed by the Japanese in 1942 for his refusal to render the oath of allegiance to the Japanese Empire.) I rate this the most patriotic answer of the forum especially given the way Among Ed delivered it. Any Filipino who makes positive mention of Andres Bonifacio and reflects proudly on Jose Abad Santos' now-forgotten sacrifice  in the same sentence must have within him beating a patriot's heart. I looked up Tarik Soliman and it turns out he's a Capampangan who fought in the Battle of Bangkusay.   

Roxas  :  among the living, Cory Aquino;  among the dead, his father, Gerry Roxas

Teodoro  :  Rizal, Bonifacio, Marine soldier ...

After this, the would-be candidates gave their one minute closing messages.

My position remains the same, issues are more important than personalities.  It's too early to pick a presidential bet just yet. Let's ask them, from where they are, from whatever public position they occupy, to SPEAK OUT and WORK NOW on the issues that can improve our lives and secure a better future for the Philippines.  

Take the case of Senator Mar Roxas, for example.  I have two posts concerning him regarding tuition fee increases and has actually emailed him on one of them at mar@marroxas.com, without receiving any reply so far.  These posts are:

Let's Encourage Senator Mar Roxas to Make a Clear, Principled Stand on the Issue of Tuition Fee Increases (Lalaban Tayo!)

Let's Urge Sen. Mar Roxas to Act Quickly On Two (2) Tuition Fee-Related Resolutions Filed by Sen. Manny Villar (Ngayon Na, Now Na!)

Now, Senator Mar Roxas has done many things for this country especially in the ongoing investigation of the Legacy scam and I have given him credit whenever he deserves it, for example, in this post:  The Senate Resolution that Won Back Custody Over Jun Lozada, SRN-1049 (Adopted Resolution No. 172), Filed by Senator Mar Roxas.

But he should really work on the issue of tuition fee and state his position clearly if he is to maintain his credibility. Napaka-importante po nito para hindi niya pansinin. This issue belongs to what should be his "core advocacies" because he is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture.  Siya po dapat ang unang pumapadyak sa isyung ito. Hindi ko po siya kukulitin dito kung wala siyang pwede o DAPAT na gawin.  You can email Senator Mar Roxas at mar@marroxas.com and this is the Official Mar Roxas website.

The same principle goes for all of these aspiring presidentiables, not just Mar Roxas.  

I'll appreciate it a lot if you can give me guidance or share with me your thoughts on this matter.  

 

For more on the issues over personality paradigm, here's my post dated March 30, 2009,  2010 Presidential Campaign Issues. 

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May 10, 2009 is the 112th Death Anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio, National Hero of the Philippines — Does the National Historical Institute Care?

10 May 2009

Today, May 10, 2009 is the 112th death anniversary of Andres Bonifacio.  

The National Historical Institute (NHI) is the government agency tasked with protecting our cultural heritage and that includes national monuments such as the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City, also fondly known simply as the Monumento.

This is the link to the full NHI Guidelines on Monuments Honoring National Heroes:

I will quote here excerpts from the NHI's guidelines and show pictures of the Monumento for us to find out whether the NHI follows its own guidelines:

GUIDELINE

Monuments and memorials must, therefore, be treated as sacred or hallowed grounds andaccorded with the same full reverence as we have for the Philippine Flag. Any form of desecration against the monument, such as squatting, graffiti andimproper advertising commercialism shall not be allowed. (NHI Guidelines, Section 1, Definitions. Paragraph 4)

REALITY

GUIDELINE

Maintain a simple and unobstructed landscape development. Commercial billboards should not proliferate in a town center where a dominant monument is situated. (NHI Guidelines, Section 2, Definitions. Paragraph 4.2)

REALITY

This is what the National Historical Institute (NHI) website has to say about May 10:

If we zoom in on the relevant portion, this is what the NHI is saying:

That's right!  "10 May ... No Today in History events were found."

After coming out in force against performing artist Martin Nievera for alleged improper rendition of the national anthem before the Manny Pacquiao - Ricky Hatton boxing championship bout in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, what should officials of  the National Historical Institute (NHI) do regarding the Monumento? What is in their hearts and minds right now?  In fairness to Martin Nievera, I don't think anyone can say that he did not give his heart out in singing Lupang Hinirang in the Pacquiao-Hatton bout.

I believe NHI Chairman Ambeth Ocampo and the other Commissioners of the NHI owe all Filipinos an explanation as to why they are allowing the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City to be treated in this manner.

Perhaps the question equally important is: What are we, who call ourselves Filipinos, going to do about this?  Close our eyes and do nothing and be proud about it?!  

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Andres Bonifacio, Unang Pangulo ng Unang Republika ng Pilipinas

3 February 2009

That's correct!  No misprint in the title - Andres Bonifacio, Unang Pangulo ...  An article posted at no less than the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) website makes this assertion regarding the matter:

"In July 1892, Bonifacio founded the Katipunan which launched the first anticolonial revolution in Asia in August 1896.  He formed the first national government established by Aguinaldo  from 1897 to 1899.

The Katagalugan government carried over the symbols and teachings of the Katipunan, which the people accepted as the revolutionary authority.  This government was democratic in principle, orientation and form.  At its inception, it was formed by representatives from the provinces where the Katipunan had a mass-based membership.   It adopted as its national standard the Katipunan's red flag with a white sun with the Tagalog letter 'ka' in the center and commissioned Julio Nakpil to compose the national anthem, 'Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan.'   

In defining 'Tagalog' as the term for all Filipinos, and 'Katagalugan' as the country's name in lieu of 'Filipinas' which had colonial origins, Bonifacio and the Katipunan sought to define a national identity.

The Katagalugan government commanded the loyalty of a significant portion of the population.  It held territory, where it exercised the functions of a state.  It had armed forces which fought for, and defended its existence.  It had diplomatic component, which attempted to gain international recognition for the new nation.

The governments that succeeded Bonifacio's essentially republican Katagalugan government could only proceed from it.  The 24 August 1896 government certainly had a large mass-based following than the 24 August 1897 entity that deposed it.  But as a result of the power struggle in Cavite, Emilio Aguinaldo, although only one of many revolutionary generals, usurped President Andres Bonifacio's authority.  Aguinaldo reorganized Bonifacio's Republika ng Katagalugan and renamed it Republica Filipina.

The first Filipino national government was established on 24 August 1896.  Filipinos should observe the date as National Day, if the 1896 Revolution and the Katipunan are to have any worth at all.  And Filipinos should recognize Andres Bonifacio not only the founder of the Katipunan and leader of the Revolution of 1896, but as the first Filipino president: the father of the nation and the founder of our democracy."

 

Here is the entire article about Andres Bonifacio being our first President:  http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?i=5&subcat=13

The NCCA is DEFINITELY not some fly-by-night organization.  As stated earlier, it is the National Commission for Culture and the Arts created by Republic Act 7356.  Among its mandates are to develop and promote Filipino national culture and arts and to preserve Filipino cultural heritage. 

I'm off to UP Manila.

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