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Andres Bonifacio
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Andres Bonifacio
Filipino political leader
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Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: May 9, 2024 • Article History
Born:
Nov. 30, 1863, Manila
Died:
May 10, 1897, Mt. Buntis, Phil. (aged 33)
Founder:
Katipunan
Role In:
Philippine Revolution
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Andres Bonifacio (born Nov. 30, 1863, Manila—died May 10, 1897, Mt. Buntis, Phil.)
was a Philippine patriot, founder and leader of the nationalist Katipunan society,
who instigated the revolt of August 1896 against the Spanish.
Bonifacio was born of poor parents in Manila and had little formal education, working
as a messenger and warehouse keeper before becoming involved in revolutionary
activity. He was, however, well-read. Unlike the nationalist poet and novelist José Rizal,
who wanted to reform Spanish rule in the Philippines, Bonifacio advocated complete
independence from Spain. In 1892 he founded the Katipunan in Manila, modelling its
organization and ceremony on that of the Masonic order. The Katipunan at first grew
slowly, but by 1896 it had an estimated 100,000 members and branches not only in
Manila but also in central Luzon and on the islands of Panay, Mindoro, and Mindanao.
Its members were mostly workers and peasants; the urban middle class supported
reform rather than revolution.
In August 1896 Bonifacio led the long-planned insurrection on Luzon; but his forces
were defeated by Spanish troops, and he was forced to retreat to Montalban in the
north, while Emilio Aguinaldo, one of his lieutenants, carried on resistance. As the
Spanish systematically routed the insurrectos, it became increasingly clear that
Bonifacio was an ineffective military leader. In March 1897 a convention at Tejeros
named Aguinaldo, rather than Bonifacio, president of a new Philippine republic.
Refusing to recognize the convention, Bonifacio tried to establish his own rebel
government. In April 1897 Aguinaldo had Bonifacio arrested and tried for treason; he
was executed by a firing squad.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
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Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Article History
Philippine-American War: insurgents
See all media
Date:
August 1896 - 1898
Location:
Philippines
Key People:
Emilio Aguinaldo
Andres Bonifacio
Apolinario Mabini
See all related content →
Philippine Revolution, (1896–98), Filipino independence struggle that, after more

than 300 years of Spanish colonial rule, exposed the weakness of Spanish
administration but failed to evict Spaniards from the islands. The Spanish-American
War brought Spain’s rule in the Philippines to a close in 1898 but precipitated
the Philippine-American War, a bloody war between Filipino revolutionaries and the
U.S. Army.
José Burgos
José Burgos, portrait on a Philippine postage stamp.
Numerous quasi-religious uprisings had punctuated the long era of

Spanish sovereignty over the Philippines, but none possessed sufficient coordination to
oust the Europeans. During the 19th century, however, an educated Filipino middle
class emerged and with it a desire for Philippine independence. Opposition before 1872
was primarily confined to the Filipino clergy, who resented the Spanish monopoly of
power within the Roman Catholic Church in the islands. In that year the abortive Cavite
Mutiny, a brief uprising against the Spanish, served as an excuse for renewed Spanish
repression. The martyrdom of three Filipino priests—José Burgos, Mariano Gómez, and
Jacinto Zamora—for allegedly conspiring with the rebels at Cavite sparked a wave of
anti-Spanish sentiment.
More From Britannica
Philippines: The Philippine Revolution
José Rizal
Reform-minded Filipinos took refuge in Europe, where they carried on a literary

campaign known as the Propaganda Movement. Dr. José Rizal quickly emerged as the
leading Propagandist. His novel Noli me tángere (1886; The Social Cancer, 1912)
exposed the corruption of Manila Spanish society and stimulated the movement for
independence.
By 1892 it became obvious that Spain was unwilling to reform its colonial
government. Andres Bonifacio, a self-educated warehouse clerk, organized a secret
revolutionary society, the Katipunan, in Manila. Membership grew to an estimated
100,000 by August 1896, when the Spaniards discovered its existence. Bonifacio
immediately issued a call for armed rebellion. The Spanish then arrested Rizal, who had
advocated reform but never condoned the revolution. Rizal’s public execution, on
December 30, 1896, so enraged and united Filipinos as to make permanent retention of
power by Spain clearly impossible.
Emilio Aguinaldo
In March 1897 leadership of the revolution passed to a young general, Emilio Aguinaldo,
who had Bonifacio shot for alleged sedition. Aguinaldo proved incapable of militarily
defeating the Spanish troops, who were augmented by Filipino mercenaries. In the later
months of 1897, Aguinaldo’s revolutionary army was pushed into the mountains
southeast of Manila.
On December 15, 1897, the pact of Biak-na-Bato was proclaimed. Though its precise
terms have been a matter of impassioned debate ever since, the pact brought a
temporary end to the Philippine Revolution. Aguinaldo and other revolutionary leaders
accepted exile in Hong Kong and 400,000 pesos, plus Spanish promises of substantial
governmental reforms, in return for laying down their arms. Neither side executed the
terms of the pact in good faith. Aguinaldo used the money to purchase arms in Hong
Kong, and the Spanish reneged on the promised reforms.
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After the U.S. Navy commodore George Dewey annihilated the Spanish fleet in Manila
Bay on May 1, 1898, Aguinaldo immediately returned to the Philippines. He began the
revolution anew, this time against the United States, which had assumed title to the
Philippines as a result of the Spanish defeat. Aguinaldo was captured in 1901 and
subsequently appealed to Filipinos to cease fighting and accept U.S. sovereignty.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Michael
Ray.

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IntroductionReferences & Edit HistoryQuick Facts & Related Topics

 What is the difference between a nation and a state?

 What is a nationalist movement?

 When did nationalist movements first arise?

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All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained

Why Do Some People Call Football “Soccer”?

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Lifestyles & Social IssuesSocial Movements & Trends

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: May 9, 2024 • Article History

Nov. 30, 1863, Manila

May 10, 1897, Mt. Buntis, Phil. (aged 33)

See all related content →

IntroductionReferences & Edit HistoryQuick Facts & Related Topics

8 Deadliest Wars of the 21st Century

9 of the World’s Deadliest Spiders

Presidential Debate Bingo

All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained

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World HistoryWars, Battles & Armed Conflicts

Philippine-American War: insurgents

See all media

August 1896 - 1898

Philippine Revolution, (1896–98), Filipino independence struggle that, after more

Numerous quasi-religious uprisings had punctuated the long era of

Philippines: The Philippine Revolution

Reform-minded Filipinos took refuge in Europe, where they carried on a literary

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