ANDRES BONIFACIO: ANG UNANG PANGULO

By: Pamatian, Rayver

The movie “Andres Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo” directed by Jerrold Tarog; is an
inspiring historical drama that captivated the heart and minds of all Filipino people. This film
stands as a tribute to the one of the national heroes of the Philippines, Andres Bonifacio, also
known as the “Father of Philippine Revolution.” The film revolves around the life and struggles
of Andres Bonifacio, on how he builds a secret revolutionary movement against the Spanish
colonial rule in the late 19 th century. The film also showed the determination and strength of
Andres Bonifacio to achieve his desired of freeing their beloved land.

At the beginning of the movie, a young Andres Bonifacio was shown in the crowd while
witnessing the garrote deaths of the three-martyr priest, Father Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora
which also referred as “GOMBURZA.” On that day, Andres Bonifacio witnessed how cruel and
merciless the Spaniards was, and that incident stuck in Bonifacio’s mind. The movie skips to
July 3, 1892, where it was shown the presence of Dr, Jose P. Rizal during his speech on forming
the “La Liga Filipina,” an organization that aims for the unity and freedom of their beloved
country from the hands of the Spanish regime without the use of violence. It didn’t take long
enough for the Spaniards to find out the existence of the known organization. The Spaniards
decided to capture and later execute Dr. Jose P. Rizal because he was accused forming a
movement against the Spanish colonial.

Due to that incident the organization formed by Dr. Jose P. Rizal didn’t work accordingly
to the plan. However, the determination of Andres Bonifacio has driven him to build another
organization that was known as the “KKK,” which stands for “Kataastaasan,
Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan,” He then called himself “Supremo” as
the leader of the Katipunan. After that, the movie skips to where Andres Bonifacio met Gregoria
de Jesus (Oryang) which later became Andres Bonifacio’s wife after a hard trial during the time
of Andres’ courtship.
As the movie shows Oryang ready to lay her life for the country, which later she became the
founder and vice captain of the women’s chapter of the Katipunan. Later that, Emilio Aguinaldo
formed an alliance with Andres Bonifacio.

As the film progresses, Bonifacio held a large meeting with his fellow KKK
(Kataastasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan) members accompanied by
Emilio Jacinto, also known as “The Brain of the Katipunan.” The organization become more
organized and strategically plan their rebellion. However, conflict arise within the organization.
Due to the betrayal of one of their comrades at the same time as the death of Andres Bonifacio’s
son, Andres became more eager to act on their planned revolution. Later that evening, Andres
Bonifacio together with his fellow Katipunan members, launch an attack on the enemy fortress to
overthrow the ruling Spaniards who are oppressing the Filipino people. Amidst the power
struggle, they didn’t bulge whatever power the Spanish had, despite the lack of men and
weapons they continue to push forward until they achieved the freedom that they have always
want. Their invasion was successful, and it caused the Philippines to have its own government.
The climax of the movie depicts the significant events leading to Tejeros Convention, where
Bonifacio’s authority is challenged, Andres Bonifacio did not accept how they are able to treat
him so bad even after he freed them from the Spanish colonization. Due to that incident, Emilio
Aguinaldo ordered his men to capture and later execute Andres Bonifacio for the accusation that
Andres Bonifacio was about to make a movement against their government. This tragic ending
portrays the martyrdom of the true first president of the Philippines.

The film highlights Bonifacio’s unwavering love for his country and his relentless
dedication to liberating the Philippines from Spanish rule. It emphasized the importance of
nationalism and the sacrifices required for the greater good. The struggles within the
revolutionary movement are depicted, showing challenges of leadership and need for unity to
achieve their common goal. Bonifacio’s leadership style is contrasted with other key figures,
emphasizing different approaches and ideologies. The film also provides a historically accurate
portrayal of the events and characters surrounding Bonifacio’s life. It attempts to shed light on
Bonifacio’s role as the “First President” of the Philippines despite his execution before officially
assuming such a position.

The actors’ portrayals, particularly that of Robin Padilla as Andres Bonifacio, deliver
strong performances that capture the intensity and passion the characters they depict. As for the
visual and production, the film showcases impressive production design, recreating historical
settings and costume that transport viewers to the revolutionary period. Authenticity is
emphasized to create a sense of realism and immerse the audience in the historical context.
Therefore, I concluded that the movie “Andres Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo” serves as
an educational and visually immersive experience, shedding light on the life and struggles of
Andres Bonifacio. The film provides the additional information and depth to the story of what
truly happens during the time of the revolution. It aims to portrays how brave and determined our
Philippine heroes for the sake of our freedom. The film delivers an inspiring message of
patriotism, leadership, and the importance of fighting for independence.
As far as I can tell, there are so many things that have happened in the past that are still
happening in this current generation. As we reflect upon the struggles of the past and observe
their presence in the present, it becomes evident that certain issues remain deeply in the
Philippine society. One of the enduring issues that the Philippines still experiencing is inequality.
Despite the economic growth and various development, we can’t still deny the fact that our
population continues to face poverty, lack of access to education due to obvious reasons, and the
limited opportunities for upward mobility. It is sad to say that the wealth gap put our fellow
Filipino into disadvantage. Other issues that have been a consistent presence in Philippine
governance is the corruption. From the Spanish colonial era to the present day, instances of
bribery, embezzlement and other forms of graft continue to undermine social and economic
progress. As I observed our society, the most enduring issues that the Philippines grapple with is
the struggle for social justice and human rights. From colonial oppression to current generation
and beyond, countless individuals fought for equality, freedom of expression, and the
preservation of basic rights. Unfortunately, violations and human rights abuses continue to occur
today, highlighting the need for vigilant advocacy, stronger institutions, and a society that values
the dignity of all its members.
As we consider the issues that persist in today’s generation in the Philippines, it is crucial
to acknowledge the historical underpinnings of these challenges. Recognizing the root causes
enable us to develop comprehensive strategies to address them. By fostering a society that
prioritizes equality, transparency, democratic governance, and respects for human rights. Let us
all stand not only for our own but also for the sake of every Filipino that in need of guidance and
attention, by this we can pave the way for our future where the mistakes of the past remain truly
behind us. Let us learn from history and collectively strive for a more inclusive and just society.