Bones of Contention: The Andres Bonifacio Lectures

by Ambeth R. Ocampo

"Ocampo effectively uses...the art of storytelling to school his audience about scrutinizing public memory as a responsibility of informed citizenship...Ocampo cites a wide range of primary sources to show his readers how to interrogate the past and to familiarize them with the problems of periodization, interpretation, and use of different types of texts and artifacts."
--Sayuri Shimizu
in The Journal of American History

"Extraordinarily popular and influential, widely read and appreciated, Ocampo has done more than any single author in recent years to inspire interest in and enthusiasm for Philippine history among a broad Filipino audience...Ocampo frequently calls attention to the political uses to which Philippine History has been subjected, even as he chips away at the fossilizing effects of an official nationalism that has domesticated the memory of its National Heroes."
Eva Lotta-Hedman and John T. Sidel
in Philippine Politics and Society in the Twentieth Century: Colonial Legacies, Post Colonial Trajectories

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Historical, Essays

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Lamberto R. Ocampo better known as Ambeth R. Ocampo (b. 1961) is Filipino historian, academic, journalist, cultural administrator and author best known for his writings about Philippines' national hero José Rizal, and for his bi-weekly editorial page column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, "Looking Back." He became the Chairman of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in 2002 until 2010, and was appointed as Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in 2005 until 2007.

Reviews

[K.D. Absolutely · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you consider yourself as a historian and a Filipino, please read this book.

Today, the 30th November 2012 is the 149th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio, the Father of the Katipunan. He is one of the three national heroes of the country. He led the uprising of the masses during the Spanish regime in 1896. This uprising resulted to many small revolts all around the country that helped in pressuring the Spanish government to grant independence to our country on June 12, 1898. The declaration was formally done in Kawit, Cavite by a member of the Katipunan, General Emilio Aguinaldo who eventually became the First President of the Philippines. Gen. Aguinaldo was the one who ordered the execution of Andres Bonifacio. The said execution happened in Maragondon, Cavite on the 10th of May 1897. Gen. Aguinaldo and Andres Bonifacio did not agree on how to manage the revolution against Spain so Gen. Aguinaldo had to eliminate Bonifacio.

Unlike Dr. Jose Rizal, there are very few records written about Andres Bonifacio. Filipinos are also not required to study the life and writings of Bonifacio. So, this book by Ambeth Ocampo, Bones of Contention: The Bonifacio Lectures taught me a number of facts that I did not know prior to reading this book. To name a few:

1) Bonifacio was a not really a poor man. Yes, he and his 4 siblings were orphaned early but he finished Grade IV in the elementary school. However, his fan and cane business prospered and so he was able to send his siblings to school. Ocampo believes that Bonifacio could be considered to belong to lower-middle class.

2) Bonifacio was believed to have many cedulas so he was able to tear them in every rally that the Katipunan had. He was able to acquire many cedulas because he has many aliases.

3) In the record of his wedding to Gregoria "Oryang" De Jesus, Bonifacio had to use one of his alias because he was a half-Spanish mestizo and his church wedding was not recognized by his revolutionary group.

4) Not contented with the loss of Bonifacio in the presidential election, Gen. Aguinaldo (who won) concocted a case against Bonifacio: malversation of funds owned by the organization. Court trial was held. Bonifacio lost. Still resisting the Aguinaldo government, Pres. Aguinaldo ordered the arrest of Bonifacio's wife, Gregoria de Jesus. During her incarceration, Pres. Aguinaldo's henchman, Gen. Yntong attempted to rape Gregoria de Jesus.

5) Andres Bonifacio was killed by the same soldiers who earlier killed his younger brother, Procopio Bonifacio.

6) Up to this point, we don't know where Bonifacio brothers' bones are. There are bones interred at the bottom of Bonifacio's monument in Caloocan but their authenticity is uncertain.

7) Alibangbang is a tree. I thought it was an insect because of the song: "Sisiritsit alibangbang / Salaguinto at salagubang / Ang babae sa lansangan / Kung gumiri'y parang tandang." There used to be a cheap beerhouse in Cubao during the 80's that had butterflies as part of the club's signages.

I have many other learnings from this book but I would rather suggest that you read this in its entirety. This is one of the ARO (Ambeth R. Ocampo) books that I really liked.

A very appropriate read to celebrate the birthday of our well-loved hero of the masses: Andres Bonifacio.

[Josephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Review:

I had to reread this because I helped moderate our book club's online discussion and I had to ask questions.

During our book club's discussion, some of the members had theories regarding the matter with Bonifacio that seemed logical - especially the matter with his and his brother's disappearance (no one could find even their bones).

You would wonder why is that. Various statements were released but it seemed no one was speaking the truth.

And most probably, no one really wanted to speak of it, not the truth. Kaya ang gulo-gulo - di ma-pinpoint alin ang alin. Kasi nga naman, if they speak of what really happened - really tell the truth - it's synonymous to admitting guilt.

Kasi sabi sila nang sabi - dito namin pinatay at inilibing - pero asan ang katawan? Ano kaya 'yun? But if Bonifacio brothers' remains were discovered, it would make their actions seem more true that it already is. Siguro, ganun 'yung logic nila.

Maybe.

Also, I'm willing to believe that a part of Aguinaldo didn't want to kill Bonifacio. Pero kasi, ang bottom line, he still did. So mas malaking part sa kaniya ang may gusto rin. May mga bagay na tayo lang ang pwedeng gumawa para sa sarili natin, hindi ang ibang tao. No matter what Noriel et al said, if he didn't say yes, this wouldn't have happened (maybe, unless Aguinaldo's men were willing to defy him).

Siguro nga hindi premeditated, pero ang masakit dito, ang bottom line, he still ordered it.

He said it was because he was told that it was for the good of the country. He was persuaded by others.

Let's say he was telling the truth. This is why I say, delikado na ang maging lider/presidente ay walang sariling disposisyon at madaling ma-sway. Walang paninindigan. Ano kaya 'yun? Oo na lang ng oo kahit mali na.

To say that that is alarming is an understatement.

Re: Magdalo men, maybe, maybe, it's just his men who wanted the brothers killed. Kasi nga naman, if it was Aguinaldo in power, kasama sila sa pag-angat. Kung si Bonifacio - same people na andun na, sila pa rin ang mamumuno. Paano nga naman sila?

Selfish din, may sariling agenda. Nagkakaganun na ang Pilipinas, career pa rin nila ang iniisip. Ang masama, ganyan pa rin ang nangyayari sa ngayon.

Kung hindi sana sila nabulag dahil sa greed, they would have realized that Bonifacio wouldn't have allowed the votation in Tejeros convention if he only wanted to cling to his power.

Ang sakit talaga i-analyze ang politics natin. Masakit sa ulo at masakit sa dibdib.

Nakakalungkot.

On the other hand, if Aguinaldo lied about it, that he wasn't swayed after all, then that meant that he lied. Either way, it doesn't look good.

Bottom line is that you don't kill a good man and get away with it unscathed.


First Read from September 28 to October 02, 2013|First review:

I think I said some things repeatedly. But, just so I'd finally be able to post this, I'll let it be for now and edit it later. Else, I'll never finish it. I've been working on this review for a month and a half now!

On Bones of Contention by Ambeth Ocampo, Heroes, History, Reading, and whether or not we Filipinos deserve the mess we’re currently in

Why do people betray their brothers and eventually themselves?
-The Cripple, in Poon by F. Sionil Jose

Bones of Contention: The Andres Bonifacio Lectures is a book that recounted the life and death of one of the Philippines’ National Heroes: Andres Bonifacio.

Reading this book was like watching a movie and I would have been amused and vastly entertained if it were fiction. Well, it’s definitely going to make for a good movie because Bonifacio’s life was surrounded with deceit, jealousy, hunger for power, conspiracy, intrigue, rape, treason, murder. But it left me filled with grief and seething with anger instead. Not that I didn’t have a general idea of his life before reading this. But Bones of Contention offers more details to his life that was not privy to the general public before.

Bonifacio is “the father of the Philippine Revolution.” Along with colleagues, he founded the Katipunan movement in July 7, 1892 with the hope of uniting the Filipinos into one solid nation and winning the Philippines’ independence from the Spanish colonial rule by means of revolution (Source: http://www.gov.ph/bonifacio-150/).

Bonifacio was elected as Supremo in January 5, 1894 and was reelected in December 31, 1895 (and took his oath as President of the Katipunan in January 1, 1896). On April 2, 1896—three months after he took the oath, he went to Cavite alongside his brother Procopio Bonifacio and colleagues Emilio Jacinto and Pio Valenzuela to organize a branch of the Katipunan.

At the time, the Filipinos were not united [However, this point is moot because to date, we are still deeply divided]. The Tagalogs would fight as one, even the Kapampangans, and the Ilokanos, and many others. But not together. Not all as one. Bonifacio, realizing that regionalism is the biggest weakness of the Filipinos, aimed to unite the country and a branch of Katipunan in Cavite would have been the first of the many branches all over the country.

Little did he know that that decision would spell the beginning of his end. A little over a year after he successfully formed a branch, he was arrested, tried, and “executed” for treason, his brothers killed, his wife Oryang raped and beaten. Just within the span of a year, his name was besmirched. He was accused of stealing from the coffers of Katipunan, accused of selling the country’s independence to Spain, and various other accusations that were spread through rumors clearly woven with plans carefully laid and executed so that they could remove him forever from his position.

Again, if this were fiction, I would have been impressed. The Caviteños were so focused and united and were such fast workers they managed to successfully implement their plan in such a short amount of time. Only, the man that they killed was a good man. A brother.

Types of Pinoys

After reading this book, I realized that there were five types of Pinoys during the Spanish era:

1. We have the “educated” ones—more popularly called the ilustrado—like Dr. Jose Rizal. They were the “learned ones” and the “enlightened” individuals who had strong opinions of their own regarding the Spanish oppression that we were suffering from then. They expressed these opinions a lot in the form of arts (the likes of Félix Resurrección Hidalgo, Dr. Jose Rizal, and Juan Luna) and through writing books and poems (Dr. Jose Rizal).

Their priority was their country and they made sure that their people and the entire world knew about it.

Unfortunately, people like them either get incarcerated or get shot at on the back or both through the orders of the Spanish authorities.

Nowadays, people like this keep quiet. We all know why. Like Rizal, they end up dead.

2. The true revolutionaries. There were also people like Andres Bonifacio. They didn’t have a diploma to show because of lack of money but they didn’t let that hinder their education by continually reading. They read even if the books they were reading were strictly prohibited. Books like that of Rizal’s, Victor Hugo, and books on the French Revolution and international law. It was said that mere possession of these books at the time was considered a crime.

People like Bonifacio had a big heart for the country. This heart would spur them to start a revolution. They aspired for nothing else but freedom.

However, people like them get shot at on the back or hacked by bolos, too, by their very own people. They were intelligent enough to evade the enemies but were gullible enough to think that every Pinoy was like them—and therefore, can be trusted—that they all loved the country equally and that they were all aiming for the country’s unity. They think that because they were all suffering from the same pain, that they all wanted the same thing: freedom. They didn’t expect that centuries of oppression would breed ambitious and power-hungry Pinoys who would stop at nothing in order to achieve their goals. Yes—at nothing—even if it meant that they would off an unsuspecting compatriot.

They were so naïve they didn’t fight back and let themselves be arrested thinking everything will be resolved in the end. After all, they were all Filipinos, right?! Right!

*If Bonifacio indeed stole from the coffers, if he sold the country from Spain, if he did many other accusation they said he did… why did he die poor? Why did his sister have to sell his “relics” just to ensure that the family would be able to eat? Is that something a family who sold the country would do if they had plenty?

Why, instead of finding money he supposedly stole or he had gotten from selling the country, did the authorities found books instead? Why not bars and bars of gold? He didn’t even have a bankbook [unlike the other heroes]!

Bonifacio was intelligent enough to evade the authorities. He had no permanent address. The only way he was defeated was by the hands of the people he trusted. Because they were the ones who knew where he was. All the time.

Again, we don’t get Bonifacios a lot these days. Everybody knows they’ll end up dead, too, if they become one.

3. And then we have aspiring politicians like Aguinaldo. They were not voracious readers like the first and the second type. They had aspirations for the seat of power but they knew when to be swayed and when to cooperate just to ensure their survival.

They are like weeds. They thrive everywhere and in every type of era. This is because they were the types who survived because they have no qualms of selling the country to the very same Spanish government they were fighting against just to ensure the safety of their lives [please refer to the Pact of Biak-na-Bato. (For those who didn’t know, this particular pact was called a “truce” made between the Spanish Government and Emilio Aguinaldo and the revolutionaries meant to end the revolution. Emilio Aguinaldo and some of his associates were exiled to Hong Kong and were paid a considerable sum of money they called an indemnity)].

They also didn’t hesitate to cooperate again during the American settlement (the matters with Pratt, Wildman, and Williams) and yet again, during the Japanese occupation.

*Don’t get me wrong. I would never ask anyone to die for me. Or for my country. Something like that should be done wholeheartedly. But to do exactly what they had accused Bonifacio of doing… they were actually the ones who committed treason. And they did it with signed papers for every generation to see. And yet, they called themselves heroes? Where is justice?

4. The cronies. I realized that centuries ago, they already existed! If this were high school, I’d call them the sidekick of the third type. I wish it were as simple as that.

Cronies were the weak ones who were only strong when they were hiding behind someone else they deem far stronger than them. They were only strong because they knew that that their targets won’t fight back. They were only strong because they knew they were trusted enough by their “brothers,” and because they were sporting a gun and they were not afraid to use this gun to said brothers and their wife.

They were the types who were willing to do the dirty deeds themselves. And for a price, of course! They get to have a position in the would-be government, probably attend parties such as the Malolos banquet. A little bit of fame, that was their price, a picture and a mention of their names on the society page and history books as heroes and revolutionaries and reformists here and there.

It didn’t matter if they only took the credit from someone else. It didn’t matter if they bloodied their hand on the process. What only mattered was self-advancement.

Nowadays, they call themselves honorable. But deep down, they are nothing but cronies and thieves.

5. The spectators. They are the general public. The females get raped. Both by the Spanish and Pinoy authorities of that era. Their properties get pillaged, they get killed, betrayed. Repeatedly. And they allow it. They had over three centuries of practice they accepted it as a norm already.

When the power shifted from Spain to Pinoys, they continually allowed it. Better than letting the Spaniards do it to them, right? Or the Americans or the Japanese.

At least they were our own, right? Right?

Right!

*Nowadays, they are being lauded and called resilient. They are called strong, forgiving, and kind. I say they’ve had enough. They’ve been long suffering. Emotionally battered. Forever preyed upon. That’s what they are.

Present Times

I have always wondered why very few among Filipinos love to read [now, before we waste our time arguing about this statement, we can easily save time and effort by checking the study that National Book Development Board (NBDB) has been doing over the years].

After reading this book, I came to the following conclusions: first that the reason why Filipinos don’t love reading was because during the Spanish era, the Spanish authorities were so afraid we’ll become “learned” and “enlightened” that they practically prohibited reading.
I also realized the reason why most people of the first types leave the country. Types third, fourth, and fifth still exist.

The general public still let themselves be used and abused.
Politicians and cronies and political dynasty are still abound and are getting worse by the minute. They preyed upon people even in light of disasters that left thousands dead.

On Dr. Jose Rizal:

Dr. Jose Rizal loved reading so much he became such an “enlightened person,” or as Ambeth Ocampo put it – “he was such a renaissance man amidst a country still very much caught up in the Middle Ages.”

Because Rizal knew so much and saw so much, he was killed for it.

On Aguinaldo:

According to Ambeth Ocampo, Emilio Aguinaldo did not seem to read at all. He related in Bones of Contention how Nick Joaquín discovered in an interview that Aguinaldo’s Spanish was so inadequate he couldn’t read Rizal’s novels at all.

It is easier to think that he did things like tried Bonifacio for treason on the advice of the sharks around him. That he had trusted them so easily he didn’t see awful things coming.

That he was duped easily many times by many people including those who had hidden agenda, Filipinos and foreigners alike. He had political aspirations and he was so easily manipulated because this political aspiration was used against him.

That or maybe he was indeed behind the downfall of the Bonifacio brothers alongside the other members of his faction because they wanted the power for themselves. Let’s face it; either he was indeed an idiot manipulated by the others or that he was willing to do everything in order to realize his political ambitions.

As a Filipino, it is very hard to accept that Aguinaldo would order the arrest of the Bonifacio brothers in such a manner. But he couldn’t have been such an idiot he wouldn’t realize things for what they truly were.

On Andres Bonifacio:

He, too, loved to read and again, because he knew so much and saw so much, he was killed for it.

1. That Andres Bonifacio was indeed more brilliant than the Filipinos credit him for. I really agree with Ambeth Ocampo on this.

2. Sometimes I couldn’t help but think that he was probably killed on the spot alongside his brothers the day his supposed “colleagues” stormed his house to arrest him. That no trial ever occurred.

If there really was, then exactly how many days would it take for a man who had been both shot and at the same time, slashed on the neck to live, without any medical attention? This, while he was being jostled and carried around for five days for the trial (April 29, 1897 — May 4, 1897). Would he really have the energy to attend a trial?

And just as Mr. Ocampo had wondered, why carry him to a mountain on a hammock so far away if he could have been killed anywhere. Someplace nearer and less difficult?

3. They couldn’t find the brothers’ bones, because as Ocampo had surmised, that they were never buried in the place the executioners mentioned in their accounts.

4. And I’m not even saying this simply because of the books that Bonifacio read. For me, the books that we read aren’t the ultimate measure of the person’s brilliance alone but also how we actually use this brain of ours.

It was actually how Andres managed to evade the enemies that made him downright brilliant.

He had managed to live in stealth even while making a living and supporting a family. This is what made him more intelligent and more capable of carrying out the revolution more than anyone.

Yes, there were signs of an impending revolution, the Spaniards have long suspected it before it was exposed – after all, not everyone can be as careful as Andres Bonifacio. But what made him an even more effective leader was that he had managed to wipe out almost all traces of his existence.

And he was able to do this because he was selfless and he didn’t cling to material things and power. He had no designs of owning even a house as evidenced of his not having a permanent address.

Because it could lead to his capture.

This can be affirmed by the fact that we only have so little to go by in as much as Bonifacio is concerned. It was because he made sure of that. After all, his capture would mean the failure of the revolution - the end of everything that they had so worked hard for.

So much was at stake that he made sure that no one would be able to trace his steps.

Read the rest of my first review here: http://josephinelitonjua.wordpress.co...

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ambeth R. Ocampo is a well-known Filipino historian and academic. He served the Philippine government as Chairman for both the National Historical Institute and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. His book Bones of Contention: The Bonifacio Lectures is “built around lectures delivered in 1997 when he was holding the Distinguished Professorial Chair on Bonifacio and the Katipunan at the City College of Manila” (p.viii). As opposed to his other famous book, Meaning and History: The Jose Rizal Lectures, which focuses on the National Hero of the Philippines, Bones of Contention sheds light on the controversies surrounding the Philippine Revolution and its hero, Andres Bonifacio.
In his book, Ambeth shows his vexation on how “fossilized” history can be. Having the vantage point of more than 100 years of historical hindsight, he believes that “history is far too important to be entrusted to academics”. He tells the story of him and his colleagues spending the whole day trying to pinpoint the exact date and place of the first “Cry” of the Revolution. They started with two locations and ended with nine. As for the dates, they started with two and ended up with six.
His exasperation was obvious when he exclaimed on page 80, “Seriously though, from what I gather, the place which saw the birth of the Philippine revolution cannot be pinpointed to one specific house or one specific date. Therefore, we have to see the revolution from a more holistic viewpoint. It was not one but a series of events which saw the Katipuneros moving from one place to another towards the end of August 1896 in Balintawak, or better yet, Caloocan.”
To him, history should not be largely confined to narrating nor memorizing personalities, places, events and dates. Hence, in this book he tries to uncover the meaning behind the so-called facts of the Philippine Revolution. He then goes on to say that, “In my opinion, it is the significance of the event rather than the date and place…”
Divided into six chapters, the first half of the book tries to uncover the mystery surrounding Andres Bonifacio’s life and death while the second half provides more information regarding the Philippine Revolution. An ingenious researcher, he gives meaning to memory by using unconventional sources in retelling old stories. For example, in discussing the life of Bonifacio, he uses the diary of Oryang and the sound bites from interviews of Bonifacios’s peers. On the other hand, in trying to solve the mystery of Bonifacio’s death, he uses data from existing history books, rumors and folklore to re-enact the possible scenarios. He then provides newspaper articles and official documents with regards to the government’s efforts of locating Bonifacio’s bones and place of death. This kind of investigative writing style shapes the entire book as he effortlessly moves back and forth through the years leading to, during, and after the Revolution, giving the reader the ability to understand how and why the Revolution (and Philippine history in general) is understood the way it is today.

Indeed, the contents of this book challenge the usual narratives of Philippine history. He argues that even though Bonifacio has the title of being the Great Plebeian; he may not have been as poor or uneducated as he was portrayed. In his lecture “Andres Bonifacio: Old Questions and New Answers”, Ocampo explains that Bonifacio’s occupation as bodeguero in English and German firms during that time is equivalent to today’s yuppie or young professional and that he may not have gone beyond grade 4 but he was home schooled and was well-read. Among many others, he read History of the French Revolution, Les Miserables, and Lives of the Presidents of the United States, even supposedly translating Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios from Spanish to Tagalog. He was also part of a freemason group which requires members to be of a certain stature. If Bonifacio was not really from the masses, then we cannot say that the 1986 Philippine revolution was truly a “Revolt of the Masses” as the historian Teodoro Agoncillo claimed it was.

How both the hero of the revolution and the revolution itself has been portrayed in history needs a deeper probe. The author’s query into these established historical facts is the book’s contribution to the pedagogy of Philippine history. He states further in “Meaning and History”, “I have learned the hard way that oftentimes in history it is more fruitful to discuss what did not happen, or what might have happened, rather than what actually happened. Making our students draw tentative conclusions develop thinking. If I believed all the things books and teachers told me, then I would not become the historian that I am today. […] I have committed a few errors too, but I rest on the dictum that we should always be courageous to challenge existing beliefs, theories, and “facts”.” (p. xix)

Indeed, a rethink of the existing narratives is necessary for history to make sense. For example, what was Aguinaldo’s motive in having Bonifacio executed? How come Bonifacio’s bones were never found? Why was the menu of the first Philippine banquet in French? What led to Bonifacio being portrayed as the Great Plebian? These open-ended questions are the starting point of historians that will continue the work of Ambeth Ocampo.

Furthermore, the book can be improved by organizing the content in a more chronological manner that would make it easier for readers to understand the sequence of events. Anyone who is not familiar with Philippine history will be overwhelmed with Ocampo’s confusion and attention to details. These are just some facets that succeeding scholars can improve on. More research is indeed necessary to bring to light mysteries surrounding the Philippine Revolution.

Lastly, if there is anything this book says about Filipino history it is this: much work needs to be done in ensuring accuracy of facts. It has more than a hundred years into being an independent nation-state yet it is still unsure of its past. Ocampo frequently reminds his readers that “history do not repeat itself, we repeat history”. For those who are knowledgeable about Philippine politics this warning will make sense after reading the book. Early on in its history as a nation the Philippines has already been mired by deceit, jealousy, rape, treason, backstabbing, and Filipinos turning against fellow Filipinos. It is no wonder then that much of its history remains hidden, either intentionally or unintentionally.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm currently reading this because i'm helping my sister with her final project, hahah. Well, i don't normally help her (part of my house rules to train the kid), but i volunteered on this one when i read the book preview.

Betting my 4-stars: I'm still in the mid but i can vouch that the book is historically-compelling. I'm grasping a lot of new trivias which i will breakdown below after... ('til now, glasses on)

...................................................................

After a day and a half of being accompanied by this book, i finally finished it this morning between having coffee and jotting down notes i'll pass for Googs to study. And officially today, i say -- in my life, Andres Bonifacio will never be the same again. I am hundred percent moved.

(adding one more star)

[ez · Rating 5 out of 5]

“literacy is one of the everyday things we take for granted, but when freedom of mind and body is threatened then we realize how one can be liberated by reading.”

i love you andres bonifacio i love you ambeth ocampo

[Tuklas Pahina (TP) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hindi ko kilala si Ambeth R. Ocampo,(ARO)naririnig ko lang ang mga sinulat niya hanggang sa bigyan ako ng kopya ng Bones.

Maituturing kong isa sa mga ini-idolo ko sa ngayon si ARO, may angking istilo, may paninindigan, pag-iimbistiga at may "B" (Bayani Factor) sapagkat hindi siya nagdalawang isip na ilantad ang mga datos, mga riserts, mga sulat niya, reperensiya at reflections hingil sa maselang tema ng ating kasaysayan.

Nakalulungkot mang isipin na may katotohanan o wala ay na-ipresenta niya ng maayos at detalyado ang mga sulat niya. Nasasa-atin na rin kung tayo'y maniniwala pero sa damdaming ipinakita ni ARO ay maituturing kong isa siyang bayani sa larangan ng pagsusulat ng kasaysayan natin.

Nalulungkot akong isipin na ako ay bunga ng maling pagkakilala kay Senyor Andres Bonifacio kung gaano ako nilason ng maling pagpapahayag tungkol sa buhay ni Andres. Hindi ko rin sila masisisi sapagkat wala din sila siguro magawa nuon dahil sunod sunuran lang sila. Napanuod ko rin ang programa sa TV "KATIPUNAN" na malaki ang naging partisipasyon ni Gat Andres Bonifacio sa KKK na dahil sa ilang mga taksil na kababayan natin na natukso sa sariling kapakinabangan-sa kapangyarihan, salapi, korapsyon ay hawak kamay na sana natin napagtagumpayan ang rebolusyn.

Nakaka-antig din ang pagmamahalan nila ni Oryang at ng mga bayani-Rizal, Mabini, mga Katipunero. etc.

Kapag nabasa ninyo ang aklat na ito-siguradong magiging kaisa at kadamdamin kayo ng awtor at ni Supremo sa pinakitang tapang, paninindigan, at makabayan.

Mabuhay ang iyong mabuting layunin Gat Andres Bonifacio!

Mga ilang sipi o kowts na nagustuhan ko sa aklat:

1. "Relics encouraged memory and nationalist devotion to heroes thus creating a sense of identity to the Filipinos."

2. "If the mind is like a house, then books that have been read are the furniture of the mind."

3. "Reading has the power to change both heart and mind. Reading gives us the furniture of our minds. Reading can spell the difference between independence and slavery; liberation and isolation. Without reading our history would have turned out differently. Reading made and shaped our heroes. Reading liberates."

[BookNoy (Pinoy Reads Pinoy Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mga ilang sipi o kowts na nagustuhan ko sa aklat:

1. "Relics encouraged memory and nationalist devotion to heroes thus creating a sense of identity to the Filipinos."

2. "If the mind is like a house, then books that have been read are the furniture of the mind."

3. "Reading has the power to change both heart and mind. Reading gives us the furniture of our minds. Reading can spell the difference between independence and slavery; liberation and isolation. Without reading our history would have turned out differently. Reading made and shaped our heroes. Reading liberates."



Hindi ko kilala si Ambeth R. Ocampo,(ARO)naririnig ko lang ang mga sinulat niya hanggang sa bigyan ako ng kopya ng Bones. Maituturing kong isa sa mga ini-idolo ko sa ngayon si ARO, may angking istilo, may paninindigan, pag-iimbistiga at may "B" (Bayani Factor) sapagkat hindi siya nagdalawang isip na ilantad ang mga datos, mga riserts, mga sulat niya, reperensiya at reflections hingil sa maselang tema ng ating kasaysayan. Nakalulungkot mang isipin na may katotohanan o wala ay na-ipresenta niya ng maayos at detalyado ang mga sulat niya. Nasasa-atin na rin kung tayo'y maniniwala pero sa damdaming ipinakita ni ARO ay maituturing kong isa siyang bayani sa larangan ng pagsusulat ng kasaysayan natin. Nalulungkot akong isipin na ako ay bunga ng maling pagkakilala kay Senyor Andres Bonifacio kung gaano ako nilason ng maling pagpapahayag tungkol sa buhay ni Andres. Hindi ko rin sila masisisi sapagkat wala din sila siguro magawa nuon dahil sunod sunuran lang sila. Napanuod ko rin ang programa sa TV "KATIPUNAN" na malaki ang naging partisipasyon ni Gat Andres Bonifacio sa KKK na dahil sa ilang mga taksil na kababayan natin na natukso sa sariling kapakinabangan-sa kapangyarihan, salapi, korapsyon ay hawak kamay na sana natin napagtagumpayan ang rebolusyn. Nakaka-antig din ang pagmamahalan nila ni Oryang at ng mga bayani-Rizal, Mabini, mga Katipunero. etc. Kapag nabasa ninyo ang aklat na ito-siguradong magiging kaisa at kadamdamin kayo ng awtor at ni Supremo sa pinakitang tapang, paninindigan, at makabayan.

Mabuhay ang iyong mabuting layunin Gat Andres Bonifacio!

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished another Ambeth Ocampo lecture series book (and at times, I regret the fact that I was not able to get him as my History teacher when I was in college). A lot of details from our history need to be covered, and Ocampo gets a lot of bases covered. Great, great compilation.

(Gotta love the lecture on food)

[Roberto D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 30 out of 200 books
"Bones of Contention: The Andres Bonifacio Lectures" by Ambeth Ocampo

"Bones of Contention" is a book of lectures and commentary, and the accompaniment/ twin book to "Meaning and History: The Rizal Lectures", due to the similarities of the two books, even in book cover designs. "Bones of Contention" is about Dr. Ocampo deciphering and lecturing about the life, times and more specifically the death and post-mortem of Andres Bonifacio, dubbed "The Father of the Philippine Revolution" or "The Father of the Katipunan", another Philippine national hero only a rival in popularity and contributions to Jose Rizal. Just like its Rizal equivalent, "Bones of Contention" has been revised and published many times, resulting in many editions.

I am reviewing the 2013 Edition of the book, the same year its revised accompaniment book was published.

MY THOUGHTS:
So this book had twice more information on a national hero compared to its Rizal equivalent but this book was even more tragic to read, considering how much little really Andres Bonifacio left for Filipinos to study. Only leaving a couple of poems, news articles and even only one photo, Bonifacio is and will forever be an enigma, even to the ordinary Filipino despite his name and image being synonymous to freedom, proletarianism and independence.

While Rizal left so much, 20+ volumes of writings, Bonifacio left little. Even his body still is missing. Glad to know that Bonifacio had descendants through his siblings but still- the true mystery was the fact that he left so little, the topic of this book is what he has left.

Dr. Ocampo explored so much, even a passage stating that he nearly cried (or cried totally) while reviewing what was left of Bonifacio, I too couldn't help but feel the sadness.

Throughout the Course of over 170 pages, gradually getting to know more about Bonifacio and his achievements, I think that every Filipino must read this book. We must stop hero-worshipping (most Filipinos see national Heroes like Gods because they already serve as inspiration) and actually acknowledge the fact that our heroes were human and committed blunders throughout the course of their pilgrimages to martyrdom.

Bonifacio himself wasn't exactly a great tactician, let alone a strategical thinker because his revolution waged prematurely, Rizal on the other hand was right. Had traitor ship not get in the Katipunan the revolution could've been achieved greatly.

But anyway, I still admire and acknowledge Bonifacio as a great man and inspiration for the Pilgrimage of freedom. Freedom and Democracy in the Philippines had historically, always been fragile since most Filipinos aren't critically thinking on who should be their new leaders every 3 or 6 years.

To end this book review, I want to commend historian Ocampo once again for a meaningful Read. This was the last book I read fully last year 2021.

[Nash Ancheta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ambeth Ocampo is a historian I have always admired when I was around 12 years old with my obsession or having fun learning our history. Watching YouTube videos of him including other historians teaching history was a big part of my childhood.

I've always wanted to read a filipino history book but don't always have the time or busy reading another book. Then, the Philippine Book Festival happened which is my first time knowing and going to that event since my Cousin and their theater group are volunteers. So I go there on its 3rd day since the author of the two books I have finished reading at that time Prof. Yuval Noah Harari will arrive, but he did not so I went to find my other target which is sir Ricky Lee and Prof. Ambeth Ocampo, so I bought their books. But Prof. Ambeth did not also arrive for the last day, but I still got Sir Ricky Lee's autograph.

This book helps me understand more of Andres Bonifacio as a person, and changes how I look at our history with shocking information that I did not learn from school. This book follows the mysteries of the death of Bonifacio's bones, raising a lot of questions and theories. This book also shows for me how doom we are in our founding, it's like we have our own George Washington - but instead of our people supporting him, we killed him showing how corrupt our government and politics is in our founding. This book also follows Aguinaldo, which is still the historical figure I have hated ever since I started learning history. The political implications and context of the bones in the American Colony Era, and Post War. Defining the setting of our revolution and its racial context which the book has done a good job making me feel like I'm there using my imagination. But the one that breaks my heart and is the unforgettable part for me is Gregoria de Jesus or Oryang, which the school has not taught this side of her, making it one of the saddest parts of this book showing the oppression of women.

This book leaves me with a lot of lessons I have learned and a new approach in learning and teaching our history, since we have a lot of missing parts that we have yet to discover. Prof. Ocampo helps us remember that history is not moving on its own, has no consciousness, and cannot decide what will happen as we are the one who will decide what will be our past as he reminds us that "we repeat history".

Looking towards reading his other books which I'm planning to buy in the next festival, hoping I will finally have him sign this book.

[V, The Reading Turtle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ambeth Ocampo, as a public historian, does a great job of bringing history to everyone through his conversational and easily digestible narrative. He opens up history to us in a way that could lead us to further study. With Ambeth Ocampo, we don’t have to start with challenging texts. He prepares us should we decide to take studying history seriously, like an appetizer before a meal.

This is my third book by ARO, and I was enthralled, entertained, and maybe a bit emotional.

Bonifacio is not as well documented as Rizal. He has only one known photograph (with two versions), and his remains were never actually found. His life is full of controversies, especially surrounding his death. Rizal’s final moments were somehow grand: his execution had witnesses, he remained composed (his heartbeat was steady), he had the chance to shout “Consummatum est,” and he did the iconic “Rizal twist” when he was shot, so he died facing the sky. Bonifacio’s death was very different. Upon learning that he and his brother wouldn’t live to see another day, according to the account of Lazaro Macapagal, they were “terror-stricken” and visibly disturbed. He uttered words of desperation (and not something like "Consummatum est") and he died trying to escape. I absorbed the feeling of sorrow, dread, and despair that Andrés must have felt after the death of Procopio, followed by his own. I just learned this from this book, and I was truly heartbroken.

I learned a lot from this book, things I hadn’t known before. It shows all sides of our heroes, reminding us that they are human just like us. As Ambeth Ocampo says, this also reveals our own capacity for greatness.

There are a few issues I had with the book. It seems that it might also be intended for non-Filipino readers, as some quoted Filipino words and phrases were translated into English. However, there are large chunks of narrative written purely in our language, which could be a struggle for foreign readers. Also, some sections (or large parts) are not focused directly on Bonifacio but rather on the context. There was a bit of imbalance.

But overall, this is a book you need to read if you want to learn more about Bonifacio, then maybe dive into other sources.

[Rebekah Rosito · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Literacy is one of the everyday things we take for granted, but when freedom of mind and body is threatened then we realize how one can be liberated by reading."

AMBETH. FREAKING. OCAMPO. OTL LODI

[emil · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love u andres

[Ingrid Cadena]

Knowledge soothes the nerves of those who crave it.

[Melody Malinao]

Goods

[Cloudy · Rating 4 out of 5]

andres bonifacio is the og jose rizal fanboy

[Patch Sing · Rating 5 out of 5]

"History does not repeat itself. We repeat history" changed my 18 year old self forever right before the pandemic happened

[Matthew Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the companion piece to Meaning and History but on focus on the other patriot and national hero Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan movement. This compilation of lectures provide another insight into the man behind the Katipunan in spite of the scant details known about his life.

[Robbie G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Debating in the morning on whether The Cry was made in Balintawak or Pugadlawin and ending up in the afternoon with several other possible places (like Daang Malalim, Bahay Toro, Pasong Tamo, etc.) other than the two aforementioned ones for possible other candidates must probably be the best disclaimer this book would ever have. It indeed hatched several other questions which had later branched out to even more complex ones- questions that had been in my head since, and some that had not been even mentioned in this book.

Case in point, was it really Gen. Aguinaldo who had ordered the execution? I was surprised that, not only was it not mentioned here, but neither had the issue been opened at all when in fact every detail of Bonifacio’s killing was investigated, and the latter half of the book seemed to dabble much into Aguinaldo. Forgive me if it was indeed mentioned, because if it was, then it had obviously eluded my reading, which was nothing short of contemplative.

The reader had been forewarned of how emotionally heavy the details were. I took the advice with a grain of salt, knowing by experience that only stories of elders with memory struggles were the only stuff that moved me. And then it hit me, all those dialogues actively quoting the Supremo’s pleading and begging for mercy for his life. It did not help as well that it all happened in my province, mentions of my ancestral town came up several times as well. For all I know, it may be my ancestors too, who had taken part in this darkest part of our history.

[Ric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ambeth R. Ocampo again showed us how much inaccuracies our history textbooks has taught us. He did not provide the exact facts because, most of the time, there isn't any. It is very rare that a historical question can be answered by an exact fact backed up by complete and accurate evidences.

He showed us that what historians actually do is detective work, either by going through piles of materials or by scratching anywhere just to find at least one. They then need to check which ones are to be trusted and which ones are fraudulent, and then piece all of these together to come up with the most feasible assumption. Yes, just an assumption especially in the case of controversial characters and events, just like Andres Bonifacio and his last days.

What I like about this book is that he did not carelessly interpret historical manuscripts. He printed his chosen excerpts verbatim and, sometimes, even in both the original and English language. These were then followed by his interpretations which are mostly possibilities in interrogative form instead of conclusive statements.

Finally, I love how Ocampo encourages everyone to not just accept traditional facts blindly and to THINK CRITICALLY. Our history, for example, are muddled with errors, failing memories, and politically motivated manipulations. Personally, I advocate that this skepticism should not only be applied to history but to everything that we believe in, as well.

[Jon Adreeane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Major takeaways:
1. The actual and verified remains of Bonifacio has never been found until this day.
2. The "Cry of Balintawak" and "Cry of Pugad Lawin" should just be "Cry of Caloocan."
3. Bonifacio never had a permanent address.
4. Bonifacio was not exactly poor and illiterate - not ignoble or uncultured.
5. Bonifacio was not a pure "indio," but a mestizo.
6. Bonifacio used multiple fake "cedulas."

Other takeaways:
1. Rizal read books on masturbation (for medical reasons).
2. Aguinaldo was deceived (or stupid enough to trust?) by American and English diplomats, hence the American colonization of the Philippines.
3. History does not repeat itself. We repeat history.
4. "Perhaps our country is in such a mess because we have a distorted history and thus cannot find meaning in and lesson from it."

[Apple · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enlightening book. It affirms the premise that history, like all things, is not confined to what you learn in the classroom. Learning can also come from asking questions and challenging the status quo. History is an amalgamation of different peoples' experiences which sometimes makes it difficult to get to the real facts. I think Ambeth does this wonderfully and stresses on the journey instead of the destination. After all, it is through the journey of discovery and research where we are able to piece together and see glimpses of our past. More power to Dr. Ambeth R. Ocampo!

[Bomalabs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this at the Author's talk yesterday at the Ayala museum - and even though the issues tackled was painful and sad to read - it is very well written. I leafed through it in half a day. It asked interesting and compelling questions like why are people so worked up on National Hero Relics and where the hell did the concept of being "Filipino" came from. It also supplements the topic with a backgrounder on the aftermath of Bonifacio's death and the aftermath of Aguinaldo's dealing with the Americas. All of it made very readable to a casual reader.

[Georgette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading about our history can be hard, especially when the history accounts tell you very horrid events. Once again, A. Ocampo left me with a sense of panghihinayang on what happened all those years before. They say the more you know about someone, the more you see their flaws, the more you understand them. Every book I pick up depicting the history of this country, my heart breaks for her. And yet, there are moments I wish I witnessed with my own eyes, such as the Cry of Balintawak with Andres Bonifacio and all those Filipinos he lead.

[Irjay Rolloda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hindi kumpleto ang Filipino identity mo kapag di mo nabasa ang mga history books ni Ambeth Ocampo. Page turner at daig pa ang mystery thrillers kung maka-suspense sa pagtuklas sa mga naisasantabi pero mahalagang detalye ng ating kasaysayan lalo na nung kay Bonifacio. :))))

[Weng Cahiles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of disappointed that not all contents in the book are exactly about Bonifacio. However, among the non-Bonifacio lectures, I really enjoyed reading about the reenactment of the Malolos Congress menu. There is history, even from the kitchens!

[Matthew Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is different from the normal books being written by Ambeth. It is serious, scholarly but also riveting and insightful because these are lectures that was not heard by the general public and is now shared so to provide a more humane sides of Rizal and Bonifacio.

[kwesi 章英狮 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Challenges:
Book #153 for 2011
Book #79 for Off the Shelf!

[Marlon Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for those who love Philippine History... I've learned a lot from this book... Thank You Sir Ambeth...

[Carlo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ganda sya. Basahin nyo. :)