Andres Bonifacio (1863-1897) was the founder of the Katipunan, a militant nationalist secret society that led the rebellion against Spain. Bonifacio declared Philippine independence in 1896 in the wake of the execution of his hero and mentor José Rizal. He was arrested that year and charged with treason and sedition, and executed in 1897. He is remembered as a nationalist proletariat hero and father of the anti-colonial revolution, alongside Rizal. Like Rizal, he was remembered in celebrations of the...

Cardinal Jaime Sin (1928-2005) was the Archbishop of Manila and the most influential Roman Catholic leader in the political and popular opposition against Ferdinand Marcos. Hailing from a family of Chinese mestizos, Jaime Sin was appointed as cardinal in 1976 and remained in the position over the following decades. He remained politically active throughout his career, and was a critical supporter of...

Thousands of Chinese immigrants arrived in the Spanish Philippines to profit from the Galleon Trade, by which goods passed between China and Mexico. Many Chinese assimilated into Filipino society, intermarrying with native Indios and others, as well as with Spaniards. Through success in trade, many acquired farmlands in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, becoming relatively wealthy, acquiring social status and, especially in the 19^th and 20^th centuries, growing political clout. One such wealthy family was the Cojuangcos, from which president ...

Christians for National Liberation (CNL) was the largest organization within the leftist umbrella group, the National Democratic Front, which also included and was led by the Communist Party of the Philippines. Inspired by the social justice imperative of Vatican II and Latin American liberation theology, the CNL was founded by Roman Catholic priest Fr. Edicio de la Torre in response to the imposition of martial law by President ...