Bonifacio Day

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. 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. 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."

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.

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 Thus, November 30 was designated as a working day, though traditional celebrations persisted on that day.

Ceremonies

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

Protests

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

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 what is now University of the Philippines Manila.

References

References

1. (November 30, 2020). "8 things you might not know about Andres Bonifacio". [[GMA Integrated News.
2. Quodala, Schatzi. (November 29, 2011). "Did you know". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
3. (February 16, 1921). "An Act Making the Thirtieth of November of Each Year a Legal Holiday". Senate of the Philippines Legislative Digital Resources.
4. (2021-11-29). "100 YEARS OF BONIFACIO DAY".
5. Custodio, Arlo. (2021-08-30). "A special day honoring countless anonymous valiant Filipinos".
6. Caliwan, Christopher Lloyd. (November 30, 2021). "1K cops deployed metro-wide for Bonifacio Day". Philippine News Agency.
7. (November 16, 2022). "Amending Proclamation No. 42, S. 2022, declaring the regular holidays and special (non-working) days for the year 2023". [[Official Gazette (Philippines).
8. Parrocha, Azer. (November 16, 2022). "Palace updates list of holidays for 2023 with more long weekends". [[Philippine News Agency]].
9. Zurbano, Joel. (November 30, 2023). "Bonifacio Circle closed to traffic for hero's 160th". [[Manila Standard]].
10. (2018-11-30). "Duterte skips Bonifacio Day ceremony".
11. "Ceremonial Wreath-Laying for the 152nd Birth Anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio".
12. Bordey, Hana. (November 30, 2021). "Isko leads Manila's remembrance of Andres Bonifacio's 158th birth anniversary". GMA News.
13. Tan, Ivan Rey. (November 30, 2022). "Cebu City celebrates Andres Bonifacio Day; groups hold protest march".
14. (November 30, 2021). "Duterte leads Bonifacio Day rites". [[CNN Philippines]].
15. Mendez, Christina. (November 30, 2018). "Duterte skips Bonifacio Day rites anew". The Philippine Star.
16. (November 27, 2023). "Labor groups demand higher salary, safer working conditions on Bonifacio Day". CNN Philippines.
17. Macasero, Ryan. (November 30, 2022). "Filipinos mark Bonifacio Day with calls for higher wages, lower prices". Rappler.
18. "National Heroes Day".