Thursday, November 18, 2010

Andres Bonifacio's Private Library

Andres Bonifacio was not able to pursue higher eduction due to his parents early death.As the eldest child,he stood in place of his parents. He earned a living by making commercial posters,making and selling paper fans and walking canes .He later found employment in foreign own bussiness establishments in Manila.Dr.Pio Valenzuela ,his close associate remembered that Bonifacio have his own private library and sometimes spend sleepless nights reading the books that were the bestsellers during that time. Among the books he owned /read according to Dr.Valenzuela were:

"The History of the French Revolution"
"The Holy Bible"(5 volumes)
"Civil Code"
Victor Hugo."Les Mesirables"
"International Law"
"La Solidaridad"
"Lives of the Presidents of the United States"
"Penal Code"
"Religion Within the Reach of all"
Jose Rizal, "Noli Me Tangere" ,"El Filibusterismo"
Eugene Sue, "The Wandering Jew"
Volney ."The Ruins of Palmyra:Meditations of the Revolution of the Empires"

The "Katipunan"library book collection consist of the law books of Emilio Jacinto,medical books of Dr.Pio Valenzuela and the rest belonged to Bonifacio.

Supremo Bonifacio did not have a university diploma but he is not uneducated as his "illustrado" critics claimed he was .He was able to reach third year in a private secondary school
and he compensate his lack of university education by reading .Hence ,he was an autodidact, a self taught person.
By the way,how many university graduates have read the above innumerated books in the Supremo's library ?