Andres Bonifacio The Rightful And Lawful First President Of The Republic Of The Philippines?

by: Paul Cuaresma Basea

San Juan City, Philippines – Andres Bonifacio is one of the most promising heroes in Philippine history. His hard work and dedication for independence is inimitable. He is recognized by our country for his contribution to the revolution but some scholars see him underappreciated. Proof here is the resolution passed by Manila City council thru, Manila councilor John Marvin "Yul Servo" Nieto last 29 November 2013 urging President Benigno Aquino III and the Congress to recognize Andres Bonifacio as the first president in the Philippines. Nieto stressed in his resolution that Bonifacio founded the first national government of the Philippines and served as president from August 24, 1896 "until his tragic death on May 10, 1897." (Fernandez and Tan, 2013, PNoy, Congress urged to declare Andres Bonifacio as 1st PHL president retrieved from gmanews.com).  

The resolution authored by Nieto cited original documents and had been attested by some historians, a parcel content of document is “For instance, in the February 8, 1897 issue of the La Ilusraction Española y America, an article on the Philippine Revolution appeared, accompanied by a portrait of Bonifacio in a black suit and white tie, with the caption 'Andres Bonifacio/Titulado (Presidente) de la Republica Tagala,” (Fernandez, 2013 retrieved from gmanews.com). Edgardo Bonifacio grandson of Andres Bonifacio said in an interview "Maituwid po ang kasaysayan na marahil na nawaglit sa isipan ng ating mga iskolar ng bayan, iskolar ng historya at maituwid muli ang sa palagay namin ay nararapat para kay Andres Bonifacio," (Bonifacio 2013, interview from GMA newstv – Balitanghali). 

Perchance the eagerness of some supporters of Andres Bonifacio to recognize him as the first president of the Republic of the Philippines is when he assumed position from 1896 to 1897 as Supremo of the Katipunan revolutionary government.  Xian Chua a noted historian said; “From that point on, the Katipunan ceased to be a mere revolutionary organization into a revolutionary government. Ang unang pambansang pamahalaan sa Pilipinas” (Lapena, C. 2013, September, The case for Bonifacio as first Philippine president,. Splash Philippines, London Edition, 10-10). If consider this statement, a form of government was established long before Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo who was the recognized first Philippine president assumed as president. "The Katipunan was more than a secret revolutionary society; it was, withal, a Government. It was the intention of Bonifacio to have the Katipunan govern the whole Philippines after the overthrow of Spanish rule," Gregorio F. Zaide, who wrote a history of the Katipunan, was quoted in an article by historians Milagros C. Guerrero, Emmanuel N. Encarnacion, and Ramon N. Villegas. (LAPEÑA, C. 2013, August 25. The case for Andres Bonifacio as the first Philippine president.)