Andres Bonifacio

Andres Bonifacio (1863-1897) founded and led the nationalist Katipunan organization, which led the August 1896 revolution against the Spanish. Now along with Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini... he is regarded as one of the most important historical figures in Philippines.

Before becoming involved in revolutionary activity, Bonifacio had little formal education and worked as a messenger and warehouse keeper. Nonetheless, he was an avid reader. Unlike José Rizal, who fought to reform Spanish rule in the Philippines, Bonifacio advocated for complete independence. In 1892, he founded the Katipunan in Manila, modeled after the Masonic order's organization and ceremony.

In August 1896, Bonifacio led the long-planned insurgency in Luzon, but his men were defeated by Spanish troops, forcing him to flee to Montalban in the north, where one of his lieutenants, Emilio Aguinaldo, continued the fight.

As the Spanish crushed the insurgency, it became clear that Bonifacio was an inept military commander. Aguinaldo, not Bonifacio, was named president of a new Philippine republic at a conference in Tejeros in March 1897. After refusing to accept the decision, Bonifacio attempted to form his own rebel government. Andres Bonifacio was executed Philippines.quad after being apprehended and tried for treason by Aguinaldo in April 1897.