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Supremo: The Story of Andrés Bonifacio
Winner, Gintong Aklat Award, Children’s and Young Reader’s Literature, 2002
Unlike Rizal, who left behind volumes of correspondence, Bonifacio wrote little and lost most of his possessions in a fire. Even the whereabouts of his remains are unknown. Through exhaustive research, Sylvia Méndez Ventura has pieced together the largely undocumented life of Bonifacio—from his humble roots to his tragic execution at the hands of his own Katipunero brothers.
Unlike Rizal, who left behind volumes of correspondence, Bonifacio wrote little and lost most of his possessions in a fire. Even the whereabouts of his remains are unknown. Through exhaustive research, Sylvia Méndez Ventura has pieced together the largely undocumented life of Bonifacio—from his humble roots to his tragic execution at the hands of his own Katipunero brothers.
- GenresHistory
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
15 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
About the author
Sylvia Mendez Ventura
16 books3 followersSylvia Mendez Ventura graduated with degrees in English from Barnard College and Columbia University.
In addition to dozens of book reviews and articles, she has written fables and children's stories. Her story, "The Tangerine Gumamela" won second prize in the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature in 1984.
Ms. Ventura was Professor Emeritus of English and comparative literature at the University of the Philippines. She was the former director of the University of the Philippines Press. She passed away in 2016.
In addition to dozens of book reviews and articles, she has written fables and children's stories. Her story, "The Tangerine Gumamela" won second prize in the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature in 1984.
Ms. Ventura was Professor Emeritus of English and comparative literature at the University of the Philippines. She was the former director of the University of the Philippines Press. She passed away in 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 7, 2021
Supremo: The Story of Andres Bonifacio by Sylvia Mendez Ventrua (with illustrations by Egai Fernandez)
Tahanan Books, 2001 (hb, 1st edition, 175 pages)
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Agoncillo described Rizal as a "conscious hero", who carefully curated his voluminous writings for posterity. Bonifacio is the flipside of the same coin. No less a hero but he is "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma." Besides a handful of poems and a manifesto, most of what we know about him come from interviews and memoirs of other people. Cristobal wrote that Bonifacio was destitute in life in more than one sense.
Collating dozens of sources (from as old as 1906 to as current as 2000), this book therefore is such a treat for Bonifscio fans. A Supremo in more ways than one, the publication is exceptionally generous for its P500 price tag, featuring laminated hardcover, dusk jacket, and a dynamic duo of critically acclaimed writer and award-winning illustrator.
Although extensively researched and presented multiple sides of events, the story doesn't read like a stodgy history book. On the contrary, using simple but effective narrative, it comes off like a YA novel featuring a young cast (Andres was 33, Propcopio 18, and Aguinaldo was 28), lots of suspense (there's an eavesdropping that thwarted an assassination), and a healthy dose of violent action (the execution of the Bonifacio brothers channeled the death scene of the Santoro brothers in Casino).
In her Epilogue, Ventura wrote that "Bonifacio -the Great Plebian- is recognized as the first successful Asian revolutionary leader. He who had no children of his own has been called the Father of the Revolution.'
Tahanan Books, 2001 (hb, 1st edition, 175 pages)
-----------------
Agoncillo described Rizal as a "conscious hero", who carefully curated his voluminous writings for posterity. Bonifacio is the flipside of the same coin. No less a hero but he is "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma." Besides a handful of poems and a manifesto, most of what we know about him come from interviews and memoirs of other people. Cristobal wrote that Bonifacio was destitute in life in more than one sense.
Collating dozens of sources (from as old as 1906 to as current as 2000), this book therefore is such a treat for Bonifscio fans. A Supremo in more ways than one, the publication is exceptionally generous for its P500 price tag, featuring laminated hardcover, dusk jacket, and a dynamic duo of critically acclaimed writer and award-winning illustrator.
Although extensively researched and presented multiple sides of events, the story doesn't read like a stodgy history book. On the contrary, using simple but effective narrative, it comes off like a YA novel featuring a young cast (Andres was 33, Propcopio 18, and Aguinaldo was 28), lots of suspense (there's an eavesdropping that thwarted an assassination), and a healthy dose of violent action (the execution of the Bonifacio brothers channeled the death scene of the Santoro brothers in Casino).
In her Epilogue, Ventura wrote that "Bonifacio -the Great Plebian- is recognized as the first successful Asian revolutionary leader. He who had no children of his own has been called the Father of the Revolution.'
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2026
A gift from my cousin
“However, the light of history will certainly set things right, so that those who formerly failed to perceive the truth will be able to see things in their proper perspective.”
“However, the light of history will certainly set things right, so that those who formerly failed to perceive the truth will be able to see things in their proper perspective.”
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews