Rizal sowed the idea; Bonifacio brought it to fruition
By Floro Quibuyen (30 Dec 2013)
Rizal and Bonifacio are the founding fathers of the Filipino nation. Rizal sowed the idea and provided the vision for the Filipino nation. Bonifacio, whose sesquicentennial we are celebrating this year, brought it to fruition.
In his June 27, 1888 letter to Mariano Ponce, Jose Rizal wrote:
The principal thing that should be demanded from a Filipino of our generation is…to be a good man, a good citizen, who would help his country to progress with his head, his heart, and if need be, with his arms. With the head and the heart we ought to work always; with the arms when the time comes. (Rizal, 1963, p.173)
The time came in 1892 when the Spanish authorities arrested and deported Rizal to Dapitan.
It then fell upon a kindred soul—Andres Bonifacio—to organize and mobilize the people through the Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng? mg?á Anak ng? Bayan, The Highest, Most Honorable Children of the Nation. The Katipunan, guided by the light of Rizal’s vision, spearheaded the Revolution against Spain that would usher in the birth of the Filipino nation.
In Dapitan, Rizal had opportunities to escape, but when confronted, in 1896, with the choice between martyrdom and taking up arms, he chose martyrdom. Following his injunction that “pure and spotless must the victim be in order for the sacrifice to be acceptable” Rizal, aged 35, serenely gave his life on 30 Dec 1896, happy at the thought that his country would be redeemed.
Inspired by Rizal’s conscious and voluntary sacrifice, the people likewise offered their lives in the struggle against Spain—which was won in 1898.
The first ever official tribute to Rizal came from Bonifacio, the Supreme leader of the Katipunan and the first Filipino to translate into Tagalog Rizal’s farewell poem. So that they will not lose faith during their darkest, most trying moments, Bonifacio enjoined his fellow Filipinos, “Let us not forget our most beloved compatriot, the great Jose Rizal.”
As we face today’s challenges, we Filipinos would do well to heed Bonifacio’s advice–LET US NOT FORGET OUR MOST BELOVED COMPATRIOT, JOSE RIZAL!