Much has been written about why Andres Bonifacio should be regarded as the first president of our nation. Indeed, it is plain common sense to believe it considering the events that transpired during the Revolution and various documentary evidences.
For example, in one document designating Emilio Jacinto as commander of Katipunan forces for the northern parts of Manila, complete with Bonifacio’s letterhead and signature, Bonifacio was designated as Ang Pangulo ng Haring Bayan, which is self-explanatory. The date of the document is April 15, 1897, which was just after the Tejeros Convention, implying that Bonifacio was asserting his presidency even at that time.
Bonifacio’s detractors say that the Supremo only headed an organization. But it is a fact that the Katipunan formed the very first Filipino national government headed by him as President on August 24, 1896, complete with a cabinet (Emilio Jacinto as Secretary of State, Enrique Pacheco as Secretary of Finance, among others) and sanguniang bayan chapters for localities, which saw to the public administration at that level. If that was not a national government, what was it?
But come to think of it, history may have been kinder to Bonifacio not being generally regarded as our first president.
While the distinction correctly applies to him, Bonifacio does not really need to be recognized as president because he is a hero first and foremost. A hero is immortal; a president dies everyday in the hearts of the people. A hero is sublime, a president disintegrates in time; A hero is forever, a president is a one-termer.
For what it is to be president but to be suspected as an opportunist, manipulator, despot, or thief. To be president is to be mired in the mud of politics and controversy. This is truer in this country where the word president has become synonymous with plunder, incompetence, nepotism, indolence, tyranny, and all other words that are anti-people. Through the years, perpetual political dynasties have monopolized opportunities for the job of chief executive, and the position has become as lowly as the next street gutter.
For being regarded as a president of this nation is a pittance compared to being acclaimed as a hero. For what has remained of the office but a fractured image, a bruised ideal undeserved and unfulfilled by most of its occupants.
So while Bonifacio being declared as the first president is historically accurate and something which we should clamor for, it would never really add any more honor or prestige to his already exalted standing. For the people, Bonifacio is way above any political position. Remember, he is the source and originator of the Philippine Revolution, that one glorious event in our history that liberated us from oppression. He sits in a pantheon only a few are qualified to occupy, and he remains spotless, unblemished. For the Filipino people, Bonifacio, president or not, will remain a true-blue hero - their one and only Supremo.
Mr. Tiamson is an educator and writer.
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