Espiridiona Bonifacio

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Bonifacio and the second or maternal family name is de Castro.

Espiridonia Bonifacio de Castro
Born	(1875-12-14)December 14, 1875 Tondo, Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines
Died	May 26, 1956(1956-05-26) (aged 80) Paco, Manila, Philippines
Resting place	Manila South Cemetery
Nationality	Filipino
Other names	Nonay
Known for	Philippine Revolution
Political party	Katipunan
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Espiridonia Bonifacio de Castro (14 December 1875 – 26 May 1956) was a Filipino Katipunera. She was one of the first female members of Confederation established by her older brother Andres Bonifacio. The others were his older brother Ciriaco Bonifacio and Procopio Bonifacio.

Family background

Bonifacio was born in Tondo, Manila. Her father was Santiago Bonifacio of Taguig, a tailor who served as a teniente mayor of Tondo, Manila. Her mother was Catalina de Castro, a native of Cabangan, Zambales, a mestiza born of a Spanish father and a Filipino-Chinese mother who was a supervisor at a cigarette factory. She was the fourth of six children. Her siblings were Andres, Ciriaco, Procopio, Troadio and Maxima.

Her life

Her nickname from a teenager was Nonay; her grandchildren still call her Lola Nonay. She joined the revolution as a teenager, going with either the group or hers brothers wherever they went. Her older brothers were her de facto parents. She hid bullets in the pots she cooked rice in and hid guns under her skirt. She took care of the wounded and sick Katipuneros and cooked for them.^[1]

Entering the Katipunan

The women's chapter of the Katipunan was formed in July 1893. There were only around 30 women members of the Katipunan, limited to wives, daughters and close relatives of Katipuneros.

Her agony

The Bonifacio siblings were orphaned at an early age and Andres had to act as the family's breadwinner. Nonay, as a teenager, was dependent on her brothers for guidance. Her three older brothers were all part of the armed struggle.^[2]

Marriage

In 1893, when she was seventeen years old, she married Teodoro Plata, one of the founders of the Katipunan. She was widowed when Plata was executed in Bagumbayan in 1896 when the Spaniards discovered the Katipunan.

Death

She died on May 26, 1956, in Paco, Manila, and was buried at the Manila South Cemetery.

In popular culture

Portrayed by Isabel Oli in the 2014 film, Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo.

References

Philippine Revolution

Battles
People

Events

Prelude	Novales Revolt Palmero Conspiracy Gomburza

Concurrent	Cry of Pugad Lawin Bonifacio Plan Katagalugan (Bonifacio) Imus Assembly Tejeros Convention Republic of Biak-na-Bato Elections Pact Spanish–American War Declaration of Independence Malolos Congress República Filipina Negros Revolution Republic of Negros Republic of Zamboanga

Epilogue	Treaty of Paris Philippine–American War Katagalugan (Sacay) Moro Rebellion Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916 Commonwealth of the Philippines Treaty of Manila

Organizations

Documents

Symbols

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