Procopio Bonifacio y de Castro (1873 – May 10, 1897) was a Filipino independence activist and revolutionary during the Philippine Revolution of 1896 against

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

. He was a member of the secret revolutionary society turned revolutionary government

Katipunan The Katipunan, officially known as the Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan or Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK; en, Supreme and Honorable Association of the Children of the Nation ...

with his other siblings Ciriaco and Espiridiona. His eldest brother

Andrés Bonifacio Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro (, ; November 30, 1863May 10, 1897) was a Filipino Freemason and revolutionary leader. He is often called "The Father of the Philippine Revolution", and considered one of the national heroes of the Philippin ...

was one of the founders and, eventually, president of the Katipunan.

Family background and early life

Procopio was the third of the six children of Santiago Bonifacio and Catalina de Castro. His siblings were Andres, Ciriaco, Troadio, Espiridiona and Maxima. During childhood he, with his other siblings, sold paper canes and fans made by their brother Andres for their living. Eventually, he was employed as a baggage porter in the government-owned

Philippine National Railways The Philippine National Railways (PNR) ( fil, Pambansang Daang-Bakal ng Pilipinas and es, Ferrocarril Nacional de Filipinas) is a state-owned railway company in the Philippines which operates one commuter rail service between Metro Manila an ...

until the revolution broke out.

Marriage

Procopio was said to have married a woman from

Mindoro Mindoro is the seventh largest and eighth-most populous island in the Philippines. With a total land area of 10,571 km2 ( 4,082 sq.mi ) and has a population of 1,408,454 as of 2020 census. It is located off the southwestern coast of Luz ...

whom he met while organizing the Katipunan chapter in the island

Katipunan

Procopio became a member of ''Katipunan'' adopting the name ''Pisaw''. He was responsible for the founding of ''Katipunan'' chapter in the island of

. With Andres Bonifacio, Candido Tirona,

Emilio Jacinto Emilio Jacinto y Dizon (; December 15, 1875 – April 16, 1899) was a Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution. He was one of the highest-ranking officers in the Philippine Revolution and was one of the highest-ranking officers of the ...

and Pio Valenzuela they founded the

Council of the Ancient Assignment A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/ shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or nati ...

Kawit Kawit, officially the Municipality of Kawit ( tgl, Bayan ng Kawit), is a first-class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 107,535. It is one of the notable places that had ...

Cavite Cavite, officially the Province of Cavite ( tl, Lalawigan ng Kabite; Chavacano: ''Provincia de Cavite''), is a province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region in Luzon. Located on the southern shores of Manila Bay and southwest ...

. Procopio was led into light, which is a two part of such council. He was present during the

Cry of Balintawak The Cry of Pugad Lawin ( tgl, Sigaw ng Pugad Lawin, es, Grito de Pugad Lawin) was the beginning of the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish Empire. In late August 1896, members of the '' Katipunan'' led by Andrés Bonifacio revolted ...

in August 1896 in

Caloocan Caloocan, officially the City of Caloocan ( fil, Lungsod ng Caloocan; ), is a 1st class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in Metropolitan Manila, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population ...

which signaled the start of the Philippine Revolution.

Revolution

Procopio fought the Spanish authorities side-by-side with his brothers Andres and Ciriaco. He was given the rank of

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...

. In December 1896, he and Ciriaco accompanied their brother Andres and wife Gregoria to

through the invitation of Cavite's provincial head of the revolution Mariano Alvarez to mediate between the growing conflict of the two rival factions of the ''Katipunan'' in the province, that of ''Magdiwang'' headed by Alvarez and ''Magdalo'' headed by cousins Emilio and

Baldomero Aguinaldo Baldomero Aguinaldo y Baloy (February 27, 1869 – February 4, 1915) was a leader of the Philippine Revolution. He was the first cousin of Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippines, as well as the grandfather of Cesar Virata, a ...

. The mediation turned out to be a lost cause for the Bonifacios. Andres Bonifacio who was recognized as the over-all leader of the

revolution In political science, a revolution (Latin: ''revolutio'', "a turn around") is a fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organization which occurs when the population revolts against the government, typically due ...

and of the ''

'', was insulted and disrespected by a ''Magdalo'' officer. The revolutionary leadership of Andres Bonifacio then shifted to Emilio Aguinaldo who was elected as president through the

Tejeros Convention The Tejeros Convention, also known as the Tejeros Assembly and the Tejeros Congress, was a meeting held on March 22, 1897, between Katipunan factions of Magdiwang and Magdalo in San Francisco de Malabon, Cavite (now General Trias) that result ...

Death

Due to the insults experienced by them from the Cavite revolutionary leaders, he and other leaders of the Katipunan signed the Acta de Tejeros, proclaiming that the Tejeros Convention had been disorderly, that its decisions were illegitimate and invalid. They opted to leave the province and go back to

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital city, capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is Cities of the Philippines#Independent cities, highly urbanize ...

or Morong. While they were leaving Cavite, they were the target of a surprise attack (ARREST ORDER due to Treason as initially evidenced by the ACTA de Tejeros itself) by Emilio Aguinaldo's men led by Gen. Agapito Bonzon and Gen. José Ignacio Paua due to some events while they were encamped in a village in

Indang Indang, officially the Municipality of Indang ( tgl, Bayan ng Indang), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 68,699 people. The municipality is situated in the c ...

. Ciriaco was shot and died on the spot, while Procopio was beaten and Andres was shot in the arm and stabbed in the neck by Paua. The two remaining brothers were then brought to

Naic Naic, officially the Municipality of Naic ( tgl, Bayan ng Naic), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 160,987 people. Naic has a land area of 76.24 square ...

for a trial, then to

Maragondon Maragondon, officially the Municipality of Maragondon ( tgl, Bayan ng Maragondon), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 40,687 people. The town is famous for its ...

, and were subjected to a court-martial as ordered by the war council under the new revolutionary government. They were sentenced to death. The two brothers were taken into the mountains. Procopio, 24 years old, was shot dead before Andres suffered the same fate.

In popular culture

* Portrayed by Joko Diaz in the film, '' El Presidente'' (2012). * Portrayed by Alchris Galura in the TV series, ''

'' (2013). * Portrayed by Junjun Quintana in the film, '' Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo'' (2014). * Portrayed by Jake Feraren in the film, ''

Heneral Luna ''Heneral Luna'' () is a 2015 Filipino historical biopic film depicting General Antonio Luna's leadership of the Philippine Revolutionary Army during the Philippine–American War. Directed by Jerrold Tarog and produced by Artikulo Uno Produ ...

'' (2015).

External links

The Records of the Court Martial of Andres and Procopio Bonifacio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonifacio, Procopio 1873 births 1897 deaths Executed Filipino people Filipino revolutionaries Filipino people of Spanish descent Paramilitary Filipinos People executed by the Philippines People from Tondo, Manila People of the Philippine Revolution