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November 30 marks Filipino Calendar as Bonifacio Day. But, how well do you know Bonifacio?

Do we really know Andres Bonifacio?

Leaving few letters, documents or eve pictures of himself, the Father of the Philippine revolution is still shrouded in mystery, the basic facts of his life still debated.

But one thing is certain: Bonifacio inspires a depth of nationalistic fervor unrivaled by any Filipino except for Jose Rizal.

To accompany him on a search for the hidden Bonifacio, Howie Severino locates lawyer Gary Bonifacio, a great-great grand nephew of Gat Andres and the Bonifacio family’s first lawyer. Howie learns that the execution of the Katipunan’s Supremo had a devastating effect on the clan that is felt even today, several generations later. Some Bonifacios changed their names and fled Manila for fear of persecution.

As they navigate the world of Gat Andres’ youth, Howie learns that the so-called Great Plebeian spoke Spanish and had a mestiza mother, a worked for multinational companies and never when around barefoot as is commonly portrayed in popular art.

The biggest revelation unfolds after Howie reads rare documents and speaks to historians: Was Bonifacio – and not Emilio Aguinaldo – actually the country’s first president?

And were the country’s first officially recognized elections that elevated Aguinaldo to the Presidency marred by fraud that few textbooks dare mention?

Last night, at I-Witness continued its tradition of ground-breaking documentaries via Bonifacio: The First President?

I-Witness is a television documentary program of GMA television network, recently took home the Best Documentary Program and Program Hosts awards at the 2007 PMPC Star Awards.

Source: PhilStar Newspaper