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RHAZINET KARL PANTOJAN
BEED
Watch the historical films that depict the period of the Philippine Revolution, e.g., El Presidente
(https://yeshd.net/el-presidente-2012) and Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo
(https://yeshd.net/bonifacio-ang-unang-pangulo-2014). Compare and contrast how the
revolutionary characters of Aguinaldo, Bonifacio, or Rizal were depicted in these films.
● Emilio Aguinaldo and Andres Bonifacio have both similarities and differences, which
I will enumerate. The main difference though is personality. Bonifacio belonged to an
elitist circle (La Liga Filipina) while Aguinaldo belonged to a home grown political
mindset. Bonifacio was highly influenced by European idealism, his two favorite
books being Les Miserables and Lives of the Presidents of the United States.
Bonifacio has an artistic and highly opinionated personality, being an actor (theaters
were as hot as today’s netflix then, crafted canes for Manila High Society and
created commercial posters for big companies. Emilio Aguinaldo was not much of a
reader or writer or poet. Aguinaldo was an influential town mayor and a cunning
politician, save for his mistake with the Americans. In the Tejeros Convention, the
difference in their personalities surfaced.
So what are the similarities and differences between Bonifacio and Aguinaldo?
1. Both Bonifacio and Aguinaldo were raised middle class, almost some sort
of minor nobility in the them post medieval monarchical Filipino society.
Andres Bonifacio was the son of an influential Cabeza de Barangay. Emilio
Aguinaldo began as Cabeza de Barangay then became Capitan Municipal
(Town Mayor, formerly known as Gobernadorcillo).
2. Both of them failed to finish school. Bonifacio dropped out from elementary
school due to early orphanage. Bonifacio engaged in artisan cane and fan
manufacturing for high society (canes and fans were then as hot as today’s
Ferragamo or Gucci). Bonifacio also had an advertising business that
created commercial posters and banners for companies (then a highly
priced service as they were still hand painted or sketched). Aguinaldo
dropped out due to a pandemic lockdown (Cholera) and never got to return.
Aguinaldo engaged in “kalakal” or as a merchant. He owned a small
merchant ship engaging in buy-sell business. In a nut both of them started
life early and failed to earn a diploma, a basic must have in Filipino society.
3. Both of them were members of Freemasonry, back then was illegal and
punishable by banishment, excommunication or even death. Katipunan had
a very masonic character.
4. Both could speak fluent Spanish, but Bonifacio had a near native Iberian
accent, being widely read and having an insulares circle (He was a close
assistant of an insulares business owner as bodeguero or warehouse
supervisor). According to an interview with this owner, Bonifacio had a
penchant to ask her how Iberian pronounced words from the book he was
reading. She said Bonufacio was always glued to his book, even during
lunch break and even while eating. Aguonaldo delivered his speeches
frequently in Spanish. During American rule, he would refuse to reply in
English and replied instead in Spanish. But Aguinaldo had a “politician
accent”, that is it had a chavacano sound.
DIfference:
1. Bonifacio belonged to an elitist circle. Aguinaldo belonged to makamasa

being a politician. Bonifacio is like Benigno Aquino III. Aguinaldo is like
Duterte. In fact, the Aguinaldos are still active in politics, mostly under the
surname Abaya. Bonifacio’s legacy remains with Manila High Society under
the surname Nakpil. Bonufacio’s widow married into the Nakpils.
2. Bonifacio had an opinionated, artistic and poetic mindset. Aguinaldo had a

practical mind.
3. Because of his artistic personality, Bonifacio was often overly passionate

and hot headed, bordering despotic. Katipuneros described him as algo
despotica or “rather despotic”. Ahuinaldo is a politician. He is manipulative
and knows when to open his mouth to his advantage. Bonifacio did not
have a break on his mouth being an artist. Bonifacii was rather expressive
compared to Aguinaldo who was rather quiet and reserved being a
politician.
4. Bonifacio was a skilled organizer like Rizal. He could rally important people
and the masses alike from scratch. His main weapon is the media, founding
the secret newspaper Kalayaan. Aguinaldo is skilled in manipulating being a
politician. Jis main skill is connections and influence. In 1896, he used his
connections with the Spanish Navy in Cavite to secure military intelligence
for the uprising. And he did this by tricking them. The short story is he
requested marines from the commander to reinforce Cavite Viejo from
rebels. The commander revealed that they were short of manpower and had
none to send.This gave Aguinaldo valuable intel that the Cavite Arsenal was
poorly defended. He attacked it and secured mauser rifles, cannons and
machine guns.

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RHAZINET KARL PANTOJAN

1. Bonifacio belonged to an elitist circle. Aguinaldo belonged to makamasa

2. Bonifacio had an opinionated, artistic and poetic mindset. Aguinaldo had a

3. Because of his artistic personality, Bonifacio was often overly passionate

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