Career
He was a lawyer by profession. In 1998, his History of the Revenue Stamps of Costa Rica (1870-1970) was updated by Héctor R. Mena and Oscar C. Rohrmoser as the Costa Rica Revenue Stamp Catalogue (). Bonilla Lara was twice President of Louisiana Federación Interamericana de Filatelia and joined the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 1967.