Robredo lauds Andres Bonifacio's genuine, compassionate strength

Vice President Leni Robredo has called for courage of compassion as exemplified by revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio. 

Robredo, in her message on the 157th birth anniversary of Bonifacio on Monday, noted that being strong goes beyond brute strength.

“Maraming bagay si Bonifacio—Batang Tondo, Dakilang Maralita, minsang bodegero at mensahero, Supremo ng Katipunan, Ama ng Himagsikang Pilipino. Hindi pakitang-tao ang tapang na ito. Ito ang tapang na hindi basta-basta tumitiklop dahil mahirap ang landas na hinaharap,” Robredo said.

“Nakaugat ito sa pagmamahal sa kapwa Pilipino; sa paninindigan na wala dapat naaapi o napapabayaan sa lipunan; sa paniniwalang lahat tayo, may karapatang mangarap at kakayahang magpanday ng mas magandang buhay sa bayang mas patas, mas malaya, at mas makatao. What Bonifacio exemplifies is not the cosmetic courage of bluster, or power, or brute strength; it is the courage of compassion,” Robredo added.

Robredo then said that no contribution is too small in nation building, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent flooding due to typhoons that displaced hundreds of thousands of families.

“Sa araw na ito, tinatawag tayong isadiwa ang tapang ni Bonifacio sa anumang paraan, sa bawat pagkakataon, sa maliit o malaki mang bagay—sa paghahatid man ng tulong sa kababayang nasalanta, sa pagsunod sa mga patakaran para mapanatiling ligtas ang kapwa ngayong may pandemya, o sa paninindigan laban sa anumang kapabayaan o pang-aapi,” Robredo said.

“Sa pagsalubong natin sa mga hamon ng ating panahon at sa pagsulong natin sa hinaharap, patuloy sanang maging gabay at huwaran ang buhay at tapang ni Andres Bonifacio,” Robredo added.

The nation celebrates Bonifacio Day on Monday as a regular holiday.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno laid a wreath at the Kartilya ng Katipunan shrine near the Manila City Hall on Monday morning.

Bonifacio is regarded as the father of the Philippine Revolution against colonial Spain.

He was one of the founders of the Kataas-taasang Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK) which led the revolt against the Spaniards.

Bonifacio was born in Tondo, Manila on Nov. 30, 1863.

He died on May 10, 1897. —KG, GMA News