He was the founder and eventual Supremo of the Katipunan, a secret society that triggered the Philippine Revolution of 1896 against the Spanish Empire.

By 1920, Senator Lope K. Santos filed a bill to declare November 30 a holiday.

[4] Quirino explained in a speech at the National Teachers College that the "change has become necessary because of the interest from different sectors of our country to celebrate each hero's anniversary in order to perpetuate his name.

This is because of the controversial events on which Bonifacio was executed by his fellow revolutionaries during the time of the Philippine Revolution.

[11][12][13][14] Protests calling for government action, often focusing on wage hikes for laborers, are held in the Philippines on Bonifacio Day.