| Bonifacio Day | |
|---|---|
 Boy scouts from theNational Capital Region paying tribute toAndrés Bonifacio at theBonifacio Monument inCaloocan on Bonifacio Day 2018 | |
| Observed by | Philippines |
| Type | National |
| Significance | Commemoration of the life ofAndrés Bonifacio |
| Date | November 30 |
| Next time | November 30, 2025 (2025-11-30) |
| Frequency | annual |
Bonifacio Day is anational holiday in thePhilippines, commemoratingAndrés Bonifacio, one of the country'snational heroes. He was the founder and eventualSupremo of theKatipunan, a secret society that triggered thePhilippine Revolution of 1896 against theSpanish Empire. It is celebrated every November 30, the birth anniversary of Bonifacio. It also coincides with thefeast day of SaintAndrew the Apostle, from whom Bonifacio's given name was derived, as he was born on such day.[1][2]
Since 1901, Bonifacio's birthday has been celebrated by civic organizations. By 1920, SenatorLope K. Santos filed a bill to declare November 30 a holiday. In 1921, the governor general approved the bill as Act No. 2946.[3] The law did not name Bonifacio and added November 30 to the list of holidays listed at Act No. 2711. In time, it became a holiday to commemorate all Filipino heroes; this persisted even when a separate National Heroes' Day holiday was declared in 1931. In 1942, November 30 was declared asNational Heroes' Day. In 1952, by that time, the now-independent Philippines, PresidentElpidio Quirino separated National Heroes' Day and Bonifacio Day by an executive order.[4] Quirino explained in a speech at theNational Teachers College that the "change has become necessary because of the interest from different sectors of our country to celebrate each hero's anniversary in order to perpetuate his name."[5]
UnlikeRizal Day which is held on the death anniversary ofJosé Rizal, Bonifacio Day is celebrated on his birth date. This is because of the controversial events on which Bonifacio was executed by his fellow revolutionaries during the time of thePhilippine Revolution.[6]
In 2023, Bonifacio Day was commemorated on November 27, as part of the "holiday economics" strategy that shifts the observance of the holiday to the nearest Monday for a longer weekend by virtue of Proclamation No. 90 under PresidentBongbong Marcos[7][8] Thus, November 30 was designated as a working day, though traditional celebrations persisted on that day.[9]
Bonifacio Day ceremonies are usually held at theBonifacio Monument inCaloocan, and is usually led by the incumbent president.[10] It is also held at places with significance to Bonifacio, especially other monuments of him.[11][12][13][14]
Protests calling for government action, often focusing on wage hikes for laborers, are held in the Philippines on Bonifacio Day.[15][16] Activists believe that "Bonifacio would have supported the right to protest for important causes."[17]
On November 30, 1941, days before theJapanese invasion of the Philippines, PresidentManuel L. Quezon warned of the impending war against the Japanese in a speech at theUniversity of the Philippines Manila.[18]
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