SKILL POWER INSTITUTE

ANTIPOLO CITY CAMPUS

Name:_____________________ Course: __________

Subject: ___________________ Prof: Gilbert G. Joyosa

Critique Paper # ___:

Title: Andres Bonifacio Bayaning Proletaryo ng Pilipinas at Indonesia

Introduction
Andres Bonifacio: Proletarian Hero of the Philippines and Indonesia” by Professor Ramon
Guillermo of the Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature, University of the Philippines
Diliman, was published last September 2017 in the journal, Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, Volume
18, Issue Number 3. It shows how Tan Malaka considered Bonifacio “as a hero of
Indonesia….and as a hero of the proletariat in Asia and on a global level”.
Summary
To one of the founding fathers of Indonesia, Tan Malaka (1897 to 1949), an Indonesian national
hero and socialist, Rizal was more than a Philippine hero—he was the universal hero of a
liberated Asia.

A proponent of the fusion of revolutionary Marxism and an anti-colonialist Islam, Malaka

praised Rizal, alongside Andres Bonifacio, as among the ‘founding icons’ of a united Indonesia,
the political unification of what is considered to be  the former Malay world. Malaka shared the
same ideals of Apolinario Mabini who, decades earlier, viewed the Philippine Revolution as the
catalyst for future uprisings within the larger Malaya, which was then ruled under the bootstraps
of the colonial powers such as France, England and the Netherlands.

While many later generations see Rizal as a pacifist, because such an image is a product of
American propaganda, as opined by historian Renato Constantino, Malaka viewed Rizal as a
radical—one who was open to examination of an old identity as an alternative to European
ideals.  To quote the scholar Ramon Guillermo in his study of Rizal and Bonifacio, "Tan Malaka
considered Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio as "pure Indonesians" because the Philippines is
included in what he calls "Indonesia Raya" (Greater Indonesia)."

Malaka went on to describe him and Bonifacio as "native Indonesians," in the broader sense of
the word as he believed that Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines were once a single nation
before the colonizers arrived, as per Guillermo.
Malaka was not the only one to profess admiration for Rizal as a liberator. At the height of the
Second World War, when the Empire of Japan realized it was losing its hold over the Indonesian
archipelago, the Japanese began to pour their energies into promoting Indonesian nationalism by
guaranteeing a Japanese withdrawal in exchange for siding with them in the name of a united
Asia. As part of their efforts to sway public opinion to the side of the Empire of Japan, they
churned out pro-Malay and (ironic) anti-colonial propaganda. Among one of those pieces chosen
for distribution was Rizal’s “Mi ultimo adios”, a staple literary piece every Filipino learns.

Critical evaluation
The influence of Rizal is so vast that it’s even a relatively common name for males in Malaysia,
Indonesia, and even Brunei Darussalam. This fanfare and adoration for Rizal in neighboring
countries is a testament to the reach of the Philippine revolution and its memory abroad. While
most don’t remember the revolution in their day to day lives, save for holidays of
commemoration, it’s essential for us to break the conception that the Philippines revolution was
only for Philippine freedom. As Rizal has proven, his continued relevance and calls for
independence are a cornerstone to the free Asia we see today.
His words marked the destinies of these nations in Southeast Asia, who see that the Asian hero
Rizal is still a shining beacon and a guide to the continuing challenges ahead of us.

Conclusion

Both Rizal and Bonifacio are at the "summit" because “they still have a significant role to play in
raising the Indonesian people from the inferiority complex caused by European colonialism.”

Also of note is how Tan Malaka considers both Rizal and Bonifacio as Indonesians, and the
Philippines as part of “Indonesia Raya” (Greater Indonesia). The inclusivity, according to
Professor Guillermo, reflects Tan Malaka’s belief that “Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines
actually formed a single nation before European colonialism tore them apart.” 

Reference list
Include all resources cited in your critique. Pls use the APA format 6th Edition.