Republic of the Philippines

Department of the Interior and Local Government

Philippine Public Safety College
PHILIPPINE PUBLIC SAFETY ACADEMY
Camp Vicente Lim, Calamba City, Laguna
Email Address: philippinepublicsafetyacademy@gmail.com

EVERYTHING IS FOR THE PEOPLE

REFLECTION PAPER ABOUT
BONIFACIO’S “ANG DAPAT MABATID NG MGA TAGALOG” c. MARCH 1896

Submitted to
Dr. Bernard Karganilla
FJP 102 – Philippine History

Submitted by
Cdt. 4C Ganibe, Esperdion Jr E
Section- COURAGE

SEPTEMBER 2022
 EVERYTHING IS FOR THE COUNTRY

In a brief story, Katipunan's founder Bonifacio is direct in piercing the patriotic heart and
instructing the ignorant. The former prepares the reader for the latter's overwhelming
prolificity, where Bonifacio talks to the mind in a simpler flow, as Bonifacio introduces the
tragedy of our nation. In this essay, Andres Bonifacio demonstrates his three-part
interpretation of Philippine history (Liwanag, Dilim, and Liwanag) and urges the Filipino
people to fight for their country's freedom. Bonifacio lifts up the flag of hope, pleading with
the populace that we do not require a messiah, much less a group of saviors, to save us
from our suffering. We can only hold on to ourselves and the hope hidden inside of us in
order to save our own lives.

Before the Spanish colonizer arrived in our country, Bonifacio wrote about the real state
of the Filipino people. He finds it says that it was the Liwanag era. The relationship
between the Philippines and our neighbor, particularly Japan, was one of prosperity,
wealth, and flourishing trade. But the Spaniards arrived and offered the natives a path to
education as well as companionship. He continued by saying that although the
"Katagalugan" was originally controlled by the Filipinos, the Spaniards today enjoy the
benefits of the area.

The blood covenant between Sikatuna and Legazpi sealed the deal, but the Spaniards
broke their word. According to Bonifacio, this was the "Dilim" era, during which the
Filipinos were subjected to Spanish tyranny, enslavement, and starvation. According to
him, the Spaniards are full of lies and because of them many youths have died and many
people have been estranged from their Families. They also taught Filipinos about false
beliefs.

According to Bonifacio, it was time for "Liwanag" to enter a new era or for the light of truth
to shine. He urges the populace to use reason, see the real status of the nation, and band
together to fight the evil that exists there. We must take back what was rightfully ours,
according to the Katipunan, because doing so is a much better cause than doing nothing
at all, and dying would be a more respectable alternative.

Lack of affection is the root cause of inequality. Because they only have a blind trust, as
made possible by a terrible reality, the people. In a sense, Bonifacio does not entirely
place the responsibility for the nation's decline on the executive branch. The locals are
the ones who are indolent, who take false oaths, and who frequently praise wretchedness
while seeming to adore someone. He reiterates Christ's teachings that no one is superior
to another, but crowned heads of kingdoms are full of the illusion that they are.

The ideologies of Bonifacio are based on a simple, almost self-explanatory logic.

Katipunan's overall concept can be summed up as a humanistic cause that is already
deeply established in our society but is not yet recognized. Similar to how a human being
is easily a victim of a predator's filthy deeds, its simplicity makes it easy to take it for
granted in place of twisted logic. Simple common sense is all Bonifacio is screaming for,
but the challenged person is prone to forget it. Writings and statements made by them
act as essential building blocks for the larger plan. Such works serve as the prelude to a
much-anticipated uprising, acting as the calm before the storm hits and destroys, and
they help to agitate the limited or diverse audience that the Katipunan possesses.