Would Bonifacio have agreed?

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

It may not have entered their minds when they decided to stage the walk-out from the court and the subsequent stand-off at the Peninsula Hotel in Makati, but many people suspected that the members of the Magdalo group in the Philippine military could have been inspired to do their thing on the eve of the day of the Philippine hero, from whom the name of their group was derived.

Today is the natal day of Andres Bonifacio, one of the authentic heroes of this country, who was also known for his hot-headedness, but whose love and loyalty to his country could never be faulted. Born to a poor family who could not afford to send him to the best schools in the country, like his fellow patriots, some of whom could even study in universities abroad, Andres Bonifacio developed his mind by self-study and voracious reading.

His impatience with the deliberativeness of his contemporaries, and even of his superiors, which he could not help but display, earned him the ire and even the suspicion of such people, who could not abide his impulsiveness. That is why, until now, mystery continues to shroud the real cause of his death.

We do not want to draw a parallel between Andres Bonifacio and the men who staged the caper in Makati yesterday as each belonged to a different time under different circumstances. Perhaps they have kindred feelings as far as wanting changes in their beloved country is concerned – Bonifacio in his intense desire to free his people from oppressive Spanish control, and the Magdalo men their perception of a government going astray and a leader they have convinced themselves has no legitimacy.

Their belief is admittedly shared by others, but they obviously do not know their countrymen very well. A better reading of the minds of the ordinary Pinoy would have shown them that their people have grown tired of conflict and, sad as it may be, would now rather wait things out, complacently.

Andres Bonifacio would perhaps not agree with this, but there it is.*