November 23 smudges the Ampatuan massacre. November 30 commemorates the Bonifacio Day. 2012 movie spreads the news about the end of the world. Seven days before the commemoration of heroism, here comes the inhuman massive killing in the history of the country showing the irony of Filipino brotherhood. Is it the existent sign that the world is near to end?
Peoples throughout the world were disturbed by the result of the catastrophic incidence in Maguindanao where almost 57 were the victims of the massacre, but some are still missing. The major suspect was pointed to the Ampatuan clan as testified by the witnesses. It is said that the victims were about to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan town. Mangudadatu wanted to defy the candidacy by the name of Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr., son of the incumbent Maguindanao governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr., in the forthcoming Maguindanao gubernatorial election in 2010.
The informants unveiled that the Ampatuans had been in control of Maguindanao since 2001. Andal Ampatuan, Sr. came first into prominence when President Corazon Aquino appointed him as officer-in-charge of Maganoy (now Shariff Aquak) in 1986 right after the People Power Revolution. Aquino, having come into power via revolutionary means, replaced every locally-elected official with officers-in-charge, although the town of Maganoy was approached differently; the ageing mayor, Pinagayaw Ampatuan, was replaced by his vice mayor, Andal Sr. He won the 1988 local elections, then served for ten years. In the 1998 elections, Andal Sr. was elected as governor. Members of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, PGMA listed Andal Ampatuan, Sr., as a major ally in Mindanao. ARMM regional governor Zaldy Ampatuan was the party's regional chairman. Andal Sr., the family patriarch, has been provincial governor since 1998; he has been elected thrice, unopposed. Eighteen of the mayors in Maguindanao belong to the clan. In the 2004 presidential elections, Arroyo won 69% of Maguindanao's vote; three years later, the party-backed coalition scored a 12-0 sweep of the senatorial elections in the province. Unable to run for a third term, he is currently grooming his son, Andal, Jr., to succeed him as governor. Arroyo, as head of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, mediated between the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus (both are from the same party) to prevent election-related violence. Arroyo's adviser for political affairs Gabriel Claudio, disclosed that there was an initial agreement "in principle" that no Mangudadatu would contest Ampatuan Sr.'s gubernatorial post.
Seven days after the massacre, the Filipinos commemorated the Bonifacio Day. Some are still unaware the reason why Bonficio took into execution. Historians disclosed that Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro was a Filipino nationalist and revolutionary. He was a founder and leader of the Katipunan movement which sought the independence of the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule and started the Philippine Revolution. It was marked by the tearing of cedulas (community tax cetificates) and was later called the "Cry of Balintawak" or "Cry of Pugad Lawin.” He believed that all its members of whatever rank followed the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity, upon which republicanism is founded. He was executed on May 10, 1897 in the mountains of Maragondon with his brother when the Cavite leader Emilio Aguinaldo assumed for presidency of the Republica Filipina and inaugurated on June 23, 1899. However, Morong leader Bonifacio received the second-highest number of votes for President. Though it was suggested that he should automatically be awarded the Vice Presidency, no one seconded the motion. Magdalo leader (originally Magdiwang) Mariano Trías was elected Vice President; while, Bonifacio was elected as Director of the Interior. However, Daniel Tirona, who had helped distribute the ballots, protested against Bonifacio on the grounds that the position should not be occupied by a person without a lawyer's diploma. Bonifacio demanded an apology that the voters had agreed to respect the election results. Instead, Tirona left the room. Bonifacio drew his gun and nearly shot Tirona again, but he was restrained by Artemio Ricarte of the Magdiwang, who had been elected Captain-General. As people left the room, Bonifacio declared the assembly dissolved and annulled all that has been approved and resolved. Afterwards, Bonifacio met with his remaining supporters and drew up the Acta de Tejeros wherein they gave their reasons for not accepting the election results. Bonifacio alleged the election was fraudulent due to cheating and accused Aguinaldo of treason due to his negotiations with the Spanish. Aguinaldo later sent a delegation to Bonifacio to get him to cooperate, but the latter refused. Aguinaldo's men led by Agapito Bonzon and José Ignacio Paua visited him at his camp in Indang; yet, Bonifacio received them cordially, unaware of the order for his arrest. On the next day, Bonzon and Paua attacked Bonifacio's camp. Bonifacio did not fight back himself instead ordered his men to hold their fire. In the crossfire Bonifacio was shot in the arm. He stood trial and accused of sedition and treason against Aguinaldo's government and conspiring to murder Aguinaldo. Bonifacio was found guilty despite insufficient evidence to prove his alleged guilt and recommended to be executed.
Maguindanao massacre, also known as Ampatuan massacre is taken after the name of the town where the mass graves were found, happened in the morning of November 23, in the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao province, on the island of Mindanao. Bonifacio's birthday on November 30 is celebrated as Bonifacio Day and is a public holiday in the country. Looking into these parameters, the first incident is massacre and the second is execution. Both viewed as horrible killing fueled by politics. 2012 movie only reminds us that this is not the end of the world, but this is just the beginning of the end.
