The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) participated in the national celebration of the 158th birth anniversary of hero Andres Bonifacio on Tuesday, November 30.
Lt. Gen. Andres Centino, AFP Chief of Staff, accompanied President Duterte in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Spirit of Pinaglabanan Monument in Pinaglabanan Shrine, San Juan City to commemorate the Bonifacio Day.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines joins the Filipino people in celebrating Andres Bonifacio Day as we pay tribute to the Father of the Philippine Revolution, whose patriotism and heroism left a legacy of liberty, dignity and sovereignty for our country and people,” Centino said.
This year’s celebration carried the theme "Bonifacio 2021: Pagbubuklod para sa Kaligtasan at Kalusugan ng Bayan" (Uniting for the Safety and Wellness of the Nation’).
“Today, 158 years after his birth, Gat Andres Bonifacio’s nationalistic spirit, which inspired the Katipunan and spurred our ancestors to unite and fight to establish our republic, still lives on among us," Centino said.
"His love of country, bravery, and sacrifices serve as enduring ideals that every freedom-loving citizen strives to emulate and pursue,” he added.
Meanwhile, Duterte confered posthumously the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the Rank of Magalong to Gat Andres Bonifacio. The great granddaughter of the hero, Buena Grace Distrito Casanova, received the award.
Also present in the ceremony were Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles, San Juan City Mayor Francisco Javier Zamora, and National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairperson Dr. Rene Escalante.
In his message to the troops, the AFP Chief expressed hope that the heroism of Bonifacio will continue to inspire them to serve the country and the Filipino people.
“To the men and women of the Armed Forces, may the patriotism and heroism of Gat Andres Bonifacio empower us to remain faithful and steadfast in our mandate of protecting the people and securing the state, which shall similarly inspire us into becoming more competent and dependable public servants that the Filipino people can truly rely on,” Centino said.
Bonifacio, known as the Father of the Philippine Revolution, was born on Nov. 30, 1863 in Manila. He was one of the founders of the “Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan” or KKK, a secret revolutionary movement that sought to free the Philippines from the colonization of Spain in the 1890s.
He became the organization’s “Supremo” or supreme leader and went on to inspire many ordinary Filipinos who joined the revolution against the oppressive rule of the Spaniards.
On May 10, 1897, he was executed in Cavite after being accused of treason by soldiers loyal to President Emilio Aguinaldo.