President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to draw strength and guidance from the legacy of Andres Bonifacio, urging the nation to uphold honor, courage, and collective responsibility as the country marked the hero’s 162nd birth anniversary on November 30.
In his message, Marcos described Bonifacio as a revolutionary who awakened the Filipino spirit and emboldened an oppressed people to fight for their dignity. He said Bonifacio’s life — marked by struggle, conviction, and unwavering belief in equality — continues to offer valuable lessons for a nation still striving for true freedom.
Marcos noted that Bonifacio’s founding of the Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan in 1892 became a guiding force in the quest for sovereignty. More than a century later, he said, the Katipunan leader’s ideals remain deeply relevant.
He asked Filipinos to emulate Bonifacio’s discipline and integrity, adding that the hero’s “pure desire and pure love for the country” should serve as a model for public service and nation-building. “May the lessons passed down by Maypagasa continue to guide us as we pursue a peaceful, free, and prosperous New Philippines,” Marcos said.
But as the nation honored Bonifacio, contemporary frustrations also surfaced. Various groups are set to stage anti-corruption protests this Sunday, calling for accountability amid unresolved questions over alleged misuse of funds in national infrastructure and flood-control projects.
Among the major mobilizations is the Trillion Peso March at the People Power Monument in Quezon City, alongside the Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot’s Baha sa Luneta 2.0 gathering at Luneta Park. Organizers say these actions aim to demand transparency and reforms as the government confronts a widening budget controversy.
The protests, timed with Bonifacio’s birth anniversary, highlight how many Filipinos see the revolutionary hero’s fight against injustice as a continuing struggle — one they believe remains unfinished.
