Andrés Bonifacio (November 30, 1863 – May 10, 1897) was a Filipino revolutionary leader and the

president of the Tagalog Republic. He is often called "The Father of the Philippine Revolution". He
was one of the founders and later Supremo (Supreme Leader) of the Kataas-taasan,
Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan or simply and more popularly
called Katipunan, a movement which sought the independence of the Philippines from Spanish
colonial rule and started the Philippine Revolution.[2][3] He is considered a de facto national hero of
the Philippines,[4] and is also considered by some Filipino historians to be the first President of the
Philippines (through the revolutionary government he established), but officially he is not recognized
as such.

Bonifacio as national hero[edit]

See also: National hero of the Philippines

Andrés Bonifacio Monument In Caloocan

José Rizal is generally considered the national hero, but Bonifacio has been suggested as a more
worthy candidate on the grounds of having started the Philippine Revolution.[76] Teodoro
Agoncillo notes that the Philippine national hero, unlike those of other countries, is not "the leader of
its liberation forces".[97] Renato Constantino writes that Rizal is a "United States-sponsored hero" who
was promoted as the greatest Filipino hero during the American colonial period of the Philippines –
after Aguinaldo lost the Philippine–American War. The United States promoted Rizal, who was taken
to represent peaceful political advocacy, instead of more radical figures whose ideas could inspire
resistance against American rule.[98] Specifically, Rizal was selected over Bonifacio who was viewed
as "too radical" and Apolinario Mabini who was "unregenerate."[99]
Historian Ambeth Ocampo gives the opinion that arguing for Bonifacio as the "better" hero on the
grounds that he, not Rizal, began the Philippine Revolution, is moot since Rizal inspired Bonifacio,
the Katipunan, and the Revolution. Even prior to Rizal's banishment to Dapitan, he was already
regarded by the Filipino people as a national hero, having been elected as honorary president by
the Katipunan.[76] León María Guerrero notes that while Rizal did not give his blessing to the
Katipunan because he believed the time was premature, he did not condemn the aim of
independence per se.[100] Teodoro Agoncillo gives the opinion that Bonifacio should not replace Rizal
as national hero, but they should be honored "side by side".[97]
Despite popular recognition of Rizal as "the Philippine national hero", the title itself has no explicit
legal definition in present Philippine law. Rizal and Bonifacio, however, are given the implied
recognition of being national heroes because they are commemorated annually nationwide – Rizal
Day on December 30 and Bonifacio Day on November 30.[101]According to the website of the
National Center for Culture and the Arts:
Despite the lack of any official declaration explicitly proclaiming them as national heroes, [Rizal and
Bonifacio] remain admired and revered for their roles in Philippine history. Heroes, according to
historians, should not be legislated.
Their appreciation should be better left to academics. Acclamation for heroes, they felt, would be
recognition enough.

Tandang saor

Melchora Aquino de Ramos (January 6, 1812 – March 2, 1919) was a Filipina revolutionary who
became known as "Tandang Sora" ("Elder Sora") because of her age.
She is also known as the "Grand Woman of the Revolution" and the "Mother of Balintawak" for her
contributions.
In her native town, Tandang Sora operated a store,[4] which became a refuge for the sick and
wounded revolutionaries.[2] She fed,[2]gave medical attention to and encouraged the revolutionaries
with motherly advice and prayers. Secret meetings of the Katipuneros(revolutionaries) were also
held at her house. Thus she earned the names "Woman of Revolution", "Mother of Balintawak",
"Mother of the Philippine Revolution", and Tandang Sora (Tandang is derived from
the Tagalog word matandâ, which means old). She and her son, Juan Ramon, were present in
the Cry of Balintawak and were witnesses to the tearing up of the cedulas.[2] When
the Spaniards learned about her activities and her knowledge to the whereabouts of the
Katipuneros, she was interrogated but she refused to divulge any information. She was then
arrested by the guardia civil and was deported to Guam, Marianas Islands,[2] where she and a
woman named Segunda Puentes were placed under house arrest in the residence of a Don Justo
Dungca.[5][6]
After the United States took control of the Philippines in 1898, Tandang Sora, like other exiles,
returned to Philippines until her death on March 2, 1919, at the age of 107.[2] Her remains were then
transferred to her own backyard (now known as Himlayang Pilipino Memorial Park, Quezon City).
As a token of gratitude, a Quezon City district and a road were named after Aquino. Her profile was
also placed in the Philippines' five-centavo coin from 1967 until 1992. She is also the first Filipina
who appears on a Philippine peso banknote, in this case, a 100-peso bill from the English Series
(1951–1966). Tandang Sora Street in the city of San Francisco, California, United States, is named
in her honor.
In 2012, on the celebration of her 200th birthday, the City Government of Quezon City decided to
transfer Aquino's remains from Himlayang Pilipino Memorial Park to the Tandang Sora National
Shrine in Banlat, Quezon City. The city government also declared 2012 to be Tandang Sora Year.[7][8]
Her descendants carry different surnames, with almost all living in Novaliches and Tandang Sora
districts in Quezon City as well as in Guam (USA) such as Figueroa, Ramos (her husband’s
surname), Geronimo, Eugenio, Cleofas and Apo