Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo

Plot

The film begins with the execution of GOMBURZA in 1872. The story then flashes forward to the present day where high school students Joaquin (Daniel Padilla), Andrea (Jasmine Curtis-Smith), and Gary (RJ Padilla) visit Museo ng Katipunan.

Flashback: On July 3, 1892, Dr. Jose Rizal (Jericho Rosales) brings together La Liga Filipina, a peaceful reform movement that aims to unite all Filipinos and give them one voice. One of its members is Andres Bonifacio (Robin Padilla), who is currently supporting his siblings, as both their parents died due to illness. Rizal is later arrested after the Spanish authorities uncover the organization. Bonifacio then decides to form the Katipunan to lead a revolution against the Spanish colonizers. With the help of his friend Teodoro Plata, he meets Gregoria de Jesús (Vina Morales), who is also known as Oriang. Bonifacio visit the church,meeting oriang again. She knew that he joined a group of Masons and is not religious. Bonifacio denies the accusations to them that those are just a inventions of the Prayles(Priest). Later that day, while walking on the street with those two, they (Bonifacio and Oriang)meet a friend of oriang (Pepe Herrera)begging to the prayle to give their salary in the polo. But suddenly, he (the guy with the prayle) was shot by an spanish soldier. Their relationship develops, and they finally marry after Oriang’s parents give their approval. While recruiting additional katipuneros, Bonifacio then knows that Teodoro and Nonay Bonifacio are lovers. continues the following day; one of their recruits is a mayor named Emilio Aguinaldo.

In the present, the museum curator decides to guide the students towards the truth about Bonifacio, to enlighten them amidst the wrong historical information in their textbooks.

Back in the past, the Katipunan starts publishing the newspaper “Ang Kalayaan” through the printing press of the Diario de Manila. They distribute the paper to their fellow countrymen to further expand the organization. A man called Teodoro Patino goes out of the press and then tells his wife who is a nun about the revolution, then he tells it to the Gobernadorcillo. Then a raid has happened in the press which the gobernadorcillo discovers the "Ang Kalayaan" Spanish authorities then begin to grow wary of anti-government activities. Oriang gives birth to their first child who later dies early due to smallpox.

A man in the press who has published the paper, has tortured, and Bonifacio calls all of the katipuneros to pile up in Tandang Sora's Home. She then gives the sword to Bonifacio to fight for the Spanish for freedom. Then later, Bonifacio declares the revolution on April 29,1897, then here they tear the Cedula and all screams, "Mabuhay ang Piipinas!, Mabuhay ang Katipunan!,Mabuhay ang Supremo!"

On the day of revolution, they crossed the river and secretly pulls a feet of one of the Spanish soldiers while the other one is shot by Bonifacio. In their entrance in the of the house of the Officials, Bonifacio then throws in the torch that is lit up in the trolley loaded with canisters then shots it, letting them get inside the gate and then here he shots an official and here, also killing the Gobernador Heneral by stabbing. After the battle they replace the flag of spain with the KKK flag.

Aguinaldo’s comrades are concerned that the revolution might die under Bonifacio’s leadership. They advise Aguinaldo to urge Bonifacio to come to Cavite to reunify the factions of the Magdiwang and Magdalo and hold an election for it. Aguinaldo is elected president, while Bonifacio is only elected interior minister. A Magdalo member named Daniel Tirona objects to his election and insults him, angering Bonifacio who challenges Tirona to a duel. Feeling discriminated, Bonifacio then voids the convention as Supremo of the Katipunan. The newly formed, Aguinaldo-led revolutionary group is concerned about the unity of Katipunan after failing to persuade Bonifacio to join them. Aguinaldo orders the capture of Bonifacio, during which Bonifacio is stabbed at the neck and suffers a gun shot at his arm. His brother Ciriaco is shot dead, while his other brother Procopio is beaten, and his wife Oriang possibly raped by Col. Agapito Bonzón. Suffering from his untreated wounds, Bonifacio tells his wife Oriang of his dream of finally achieving his wish of the country’s independence against Spain. Andres Bonifacio and Procopio Bonifacio are sentenced to death.

Present day: The students finally learn the truth about Bonifacio. Joaquin then decides to share what he learned with his classmates: the “true” story of Bonifacio, the First President of the Philippines.

At the end of the film, Bonifacio is shown holding his personal flag aloft while leading his troops in a charge against Spanish forces. His personal flag then slowly turns into the present Philippine Flag. In the post-credits scene, Antonio Luna did a cameo appearance (This is an actual part as a preparation for the film entitled Heneral Luna).

Cast

Supporting cast

Additional cast

Production

Philippians Productions is the studio responsible for the conception of Bonifacio. Enzo Williams, a Los Angeles City College graduate was the director for the film. Williams was aided by cinematographer Carlo Mendoza, production designer Roy Lachica, musical scorer Von de Guzman, and stunt director Sonny Sison who has worked for Hollywood. Poducers are Rina Navarro and Eduardo Rocha

According to Williams, he did six months of research before working on the film. The film was entirely shot using an Arri Alexa camera with anamorphic lenses and a complete Arri Raw post-production workflow, and was edited using processes which are also used in major Hollywood movies such as Gravity and Iron Man 3. Bonifacio is the first film in the Philippines to device the technology.

Robin Padilla, who usually does his own fight choreography entrusted himself to the production staff's hired choreographer.

Williams supervised the work of the location managers to locate a suitable location for a scene during the shooting of the film. The production staff resorts to a building sets if a suitable location for a certain scene satisfying Williams' standards can not be found. The fort of El Polvorin, the Aguinaldo Shrine and the house of the La Liga Filipina meetings were among those recreated as sets. Part of the film was shot in Pagsanjan where the production staff erected a big battleground set for a scene. Shootings also took place at the heritage resort of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan. The production expenses of the film exceeded the original budget. The production budget for the film is ₱90 million excluding expenses for the promotion of the film.

Regarding on the casting of the Gregoria de Jesus, Bonifacio's wife also known as Oriang, in the film, Williams asked star actor Robin Padilla, who portrayed Bonifacio for his opinion and suggest Vina Morales to portray Oriang. Iza Calzado was originally the one to portray the role of Oriang, but did not due to scheduling conflicts.

The film was initially planned to be released under the title Bonifacio, Gusto Mo Ba Siyang Makilala? (English: Bonifacio, Do you Want to Know Him?).

Release

The film opened on December 25, 2014, but the film did not do well at the box office. Robin Padilla said that the movie only earned ₱10 million against its 90 million budget. The film ended its theatrical run at the 7th place.

International release

The “international version” includes English subtitles, fresh footage and additional content featuring lead star Robin Padilla, who plays Bonifacio first shown in Barcelona, Spain earlier 2015, had its US premiere in New York City, screenings in Los Angeles in December the same year.

Awards

Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo managed to win the most awards at the awarding night of the 40th Metro Manila Film Festival among the eight entries for the mainstream category of the film festival with nine awards including Best Picture. The awarding ceremony was held at the PICC Plenary Hall on December 27, 2014.