Imagine this: you walk into class, half-asleep, and suddenly your English teacher is Andres Bonifacio. Barong sleeves rolled up. Red pen ready. Aura screaming: “Sino ang nag-submit nang walang proofread?!”
Ridiculous? Yes.
Entertaining? Tell me more!
But honestly… Bonifacio correcting grammar makes sense. He was a self-taught reader and a straightforward writer who valued clear, direct communication.
So let’s imagine how he’d react to your everyday writing mistakes with humor, heart, and a tiny bit of terror.
image source: https://www.bria.com.ph
- “Walang Ligoy.” He hates run-on sentences.
Your sentence:
“I went to the mall and then I saw my friend and then we talked for hours and then—”
Bonifacio:
“Isa lang hinihingi ko: periods. Mahirap ba ’yon?”
He’d slice run-ons like weeds (like cedula). Clear. Direct. No breathlessness.
- “Huwag Magtago.” Active voice, please.
Your sentence:
“Mistakes were made.”
Bonifacio:
“Sino? Sabihin mo. Walang takutan dito.”
He wants accountability—even in grammar. No hiding behind the passive voice.
- “Tapat Dapat.” Subject-verb agreement.
Your sentence:
“The group of friends are here.”
Bonifacio:
“‘Group’ is singular. ’Wag kang pasaway.”
Unity was important in the Katipunan. Unity is important in grammar, too.
- “Huwag Maligaw.” Fix your modifiers.
Your sentence:
“Walking to the store, the rain started.”
Bonifacio:
“So… the rain was walking? O ikaw?”
He’d remind you: modifiers belong beside the thing they’re modifying.
- “Ipaglaban ang tamang gamit.” Choose the right words.
Your sentence:
“I literally died.”
Bonifacio:
“You’re literally alive and literally exaggerating.”
He’d correct “literally,” “effect/affect,” “than/then,” and (deep sigh) “irregardless.”
- “Walang Drama.” Remove unnecessary fillers.
Your sentence:
“So like basically I was kinda gonna tell him like…”
Bonifacio:
“Kunin mo notebook mo. We’re removing 90% of those words.”
He’d want clean, confident sentences—not verbal smoke machines.
- “Tapusin ang Laban.” Complete your comparisons.
Your sentence:
“She’s prettier.”
Bonifacio:
“Mas maganda… kaysa kanino? Huwag kang bitin.”
He’d remind you not to leave readers hanging.
- “Panindigan Mo.” Parallel structure.
Your sentence:
“I like cooking, reading, and to dance.”
Bonifacio:
“Choose a pattern and stick to it like a true revolutionary.”
Consistency = clarity = power.
The Heart of This Fun Thought Experiment
Behind all the jokes, there’s something meaningful here.
Bonifacio valued clarity, conviction, and honesty—and those values make writing better, too. Grammar isn’t about perfection; it’s about being intentional and brave with your words.
Good grammar helps your message stand tall.
Good grammar makes you sound credible.
Good grammar protects your meaning from being lost or misunderstood.
So next time you write something, whether it’s an essay, an email, or a 1 a.m. message to your crush, ask yourself:
“Would Bonifacio let this pass?”
If the answer is no…
Edit. Revise. Clean it up.
Fight for clarity the way he fought for freedom—boldly, honestly, and with purpose.
It’s the kind of revolution he’d approve of.
Ronnie Yatco
Ronnie is a portrait and editorial photographer, a coffee and sushi-lover, a dog-dad, a fitness enthusiast, an interior design hobbyist, and a budding theater actor. Follow him on IG @znackefronn
