Bonifacio's Day (Philippines)

Bonifacio's Day (Philippines)

November 30 of every year is a public holiday in the East Asian nation of the Philippines, which consists of a large collection of islands with a population of approximately 83 million. The capital is Manila, with 1.5 million people, and the largest city is Quezon City, with more than 2 million. The Philippines were part of the Spanish empire for centuries, but beginning in the late 19th century such revolutionaries as Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, and others began to organize a serious struggle for Philippine independence. Bonifacio, born on November 30, 1863, in Manila, was important in this movement because he founded the Katipunan, a secret revolutionary brotherhood. He was executed by his fellow revolutionaries on May 10, 1897, during a power struggle. After the Philippines achieved independence in the 20th century, Bonifacio's birthday of November 30 became the occasion to honor his service to the nation.