HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The Poem was published on March 1896, months before the Philippine Revolution Started in
August of the same year. The Philippine revolution began when Spanish Authorities discovered the
Katipunan (KKK). The KKK (Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galangan, Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan) was
an anti-colonial secret organization whose goal was to be free from Spain’s 333 year control over the
country. The group was led by Andres Bonifacio and the group began influencing much of the Philippines
to stand up for their freedom.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andres Bonifacio y de Castro (Andres Bonifacio) was born in Tondo, Manila on November 30,
1863. He grew up as a poor boy which gave him a firsthand experience of the class struggle in the society.
He worked as a craftsman after dropping his primary school and soon he worked as a clerk-messenger and
then an agent of foreign films in Manila. He learned these through the works of Jose Rizal , Victor Hugo’s
“Les Miserables” and Eugene Sue’s “ The Wandering Jew”. He later formed the Katipunan, a society which
spearheaded the uprising against the Spanish Colonization. He is considered as the “Father of the Philippine
Revolution.
ABOUT THE TEXT
Bonifacio’s poem was part of the Katipunan’s newspaper called “Kalayaan” in March 1896. He
published this under the initials “A.I.B.” which stood for “Agapito Bagumbayan”. The pseudonym’s
meaning are along the lines the lines of “ The new Nation is here and Ready,”
No printed copy of Kalayaan has been found and perhaps none have survived. Jose P. Santos
published the text that is familiar to us right now in 1935. It is believed that he transcribed it not from and
actual copy, but from a handwritten draft.
It is about Bonifacio’s dedication and willingness to die for the Philippines and his countrymen. It
show that his love for the country and the people, his desire to free the nation from the Spanish reign.
CONTENT
1.
“Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya sa pagkadalisay at pagkadakila gaya ng pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa?
Aling pag-ibig pa? Wala na nga, wala”
2.
Pagpupuring lubos ang palaging hangad sa bayan ng taong may dangal na ingat. umawit, tumula,
kumatha’t sumulat, kalakhan din niya’y isinisiwalat.”
This shows Bonifacio’s love for the country. His love for his country is unquestionably true and
great. There’s nothing valuable to the person but to love his own country even if life itself ends or crumbles.
He speaks that there is no other love that is greater than the love for one’s country.
17
“Di gaano kaya ang paghihinagpis ng pusong tagalog sa puring na lait? at alin kalooban na
lalong tahimik ang di pupukawin sa panghihimagsik”
 18
“Saan magbubuhat ang paghihinay sa paghihiganti’t gumugol ng buhay kung wala ring ibang
kasasadlakan kundi ang lugami sa kaalipinan?”
In these two stanzas, Bonifacio asks if the Philippines is being abused, controlled and taken
over by a foreign country. Will there be no anger? Will the filipinos even feel grief? Will we even do
something about it?
22
“Nasaan ang dangal ng mga Tagalog, nasaan ang dugong dapat na ibuhos? bayan ay inaapi,
bakit di kumikilos? at natitilihang ito’y mapanuod.”
This is the stanza where Bonifacio truly questions the filipinos. He questions their honor, their
loyalty, their willingness to fight for our land. Are the filipinos just going to watch their country burn and
be controlled by outsiders? He shows great concern for this.
28
“Ipahandog-handog ang buong pag-ibig at hanggang may dugo’y ubusing itigis, kung sa pagtatanggol,
buhay ay mapatid, ito’y kapalaranat tunay na langit”
In the last stanza of his poem. He encourages and tell his fellow countrymen to fight for their country, to
fight for their rights, their freedom. He encourages filipinos to not give up and to continue fighting until
every ounce of blood has been shed.
RELEVANCE
The relevance of this poem in terms of the past and the present is clear. If there is word to describe
this poem, it is PATRIOTISM. What is patriotism? Patriotism simply means love for one’s country. Do we
love our country? Do we treasure its richness and Culture? Are we willing to fight for it when it is needed?
Andres Bonifacio asks the same questions in his poem. He dedicated his poem to his fellow countrymen.
It was at that time where it has been more than 300 years since the Spaniards have taken over the
Philippines to the point that, Filipinos are merely just adjusting and accepting the fact that we are controlled
by the Spaniards. Bonifacio asks us why are we not fighting for our country? Are we not proud to be
Filipinos? Are just going to let these Outsiders take over us forever? The Kalayaan and Bonifacio’s poem
served as an eyeopener for Filipinos to stand up for their country and fight for their freedom.
This relates to the present, where us Filipinos have this thing called “Colonial Mentality”, where
we praise and love products from other counties such as, Korea, Japan, America, Etc. but be belittle and
frown upon products that were made locally here in the Philippines. In addition, our Government is making
very questionable decisions under this administration and some of us don’t want to be a part of it and others
even praise their actions. One example is the fight for the West Philippine Sea, are we not going to fight
for our land? Will we just let our territory be captured by another country? These are the situations we face
today that questions our Patriotism. Let us show our love for our country by fighting for what is right and
by respecting our culture. Little things help, whether be Standing/Stopping while the National Anthem is
being played, or Reciting the Panatang Makabayan with Pride, or even obeying and applying the laws that
the Government has given us. Let us show that we truly love our country and that we are proud Filipinos