Candido Iban
Katipunero; First OFW of Aklan
(1863 - 1897)
Candido Iban (Kán·di·dó Í·ban) was one of the leaders of the Katipunan in the Visayas, and one of the Nineteen Martyrs of Aklan, the first heroes of the province. He was also the first overseas Filipino worker (OFW) of Malinao town working as a pearl diver in Australia. Overseas Filipino workers are now considered modern-day heroes not only for supporting their families but also for their contribution to the Philippine economy.
Birth and Early Years
Candido was born on October 3, 1863, in Barangay Lilo-an in the town of Malinao which was then a part of the province of Capiz. Candido Iban was born with a spirit of adventure. The young Candido, the son of poor farmers, left his home province for Iloilo and subsequently Negros in search of a respectable profession. The difficulties faced by many Filipinos today are strikingly similar to his narrative.
Life and Work in Australia
Following a period of employment as a sugar worker, Candido and his friend Francisco del Castillo went to Australia to work as pearl divers. As a result, Candido became the first "OFW" from his town and likely the first in the Visayas.
As fate would have it, the two Filipinos won a lottery in Australia in 1894 and took home a P1,000 prize. They may have made the decision to eventually return to their country because of their win.
Becoming A Katipunero
They became acquainted with another Filipino they met on a boat on their way home. As it turned out, the stranger was Procopio Bonifacio, a revolutionary commander and Andres Bonifacio's brother.
Procopio Bonifacio soon succeeded in persuading his new acquaintances to become members of the Katipunan, a revolutionary organization founded to eliminate Spanish authority in the Philippines. A catalyst was required to accelerate the group's sluggish but steady progress.
The problem is that they don't have the money to purchase a printing press that would provide reading materials and eventually boost their membership.
The two patriotic Aklanons saved the day at this time. The Katipunan donated any remaining funds from its lottery winnings and savings to buy its own printing press.
The press had to be first kept at Andres Bonifacio's home, which was situated somewhere near the intersection of modern-day Zurbaran and Oroquieta Streets, in order to avoid being discovered by spies and Spanish authorities before being relocated.
What seemed to be a straightforward instrument purchased thanks to Candido Iban's generosity became an enormously powerful recruiting tool. The press published the fabled Kalayaan, the Katipunan's official newspaper, in addition to the organization's forms and Kartilla.
Emilio Jacinto was the editor of the aforementioned publication, which issued its first and last issue in March 1896. It contains a poetry titled "Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa" by Andres Bonifacio, who wrote under the pen name Agapito Bagumbayan, and a narrative titled "Pahayag" by Jacinto himself under the pen name Dimas-Ilaw. The public was inspired by both pieces to overcome obstacles and ultimately assist the nation in escaping the constraints of colonization.
The newspaper and other reading materials had such an impact that, by the time the Spaniards found it, the Katipunan had grown from just 300 members in January 1896 to an incredible 30,000 members.
Thanks to Candido Iban's choice to donate his lottery winnings to a worthy cause and the founders' commitment to spreading the word.
The 19 Martyrs of Aklan and Death
Candido and his comrade Francisco responded to the call to arms when the Philippine Revolution broke out in 1896. After returning to Aklan, they established the first local Katipunan branch in the Visayas. In Lilo-an, the birthplace of Candido, the Katipuneros constructed a mansion that served as their headquarters.
Francisco Castillo led his troops to the village of Kalibo on March 17, 1897, with the intention of attacking it the next day. In an attempt to speak with the local authority, General Castillo rode up to Capitan Municipal Juan Azaraga's residence on a white horse. Instead, a guardia civil named Moises Ilicito greeted him with a barrage of gunfire that promptly killed him.
Candido was meant to accompany his companion, but he was apprehended en route and imprisoned at Lezo. In the meantime, those who managed to escape capture during the attack in Kalibo took refuge in the highlands.
Colonel Ricardo Carnicero Monet, the commander of Spanish forces in the Visayas, issued a declaration that would forgive rebels who came forward in an attempt to persuade them to surrender. A lot of people fell into his trap.
Those who turned themselves up were imprisoned at Kalibo rather than granted freedom. Nineteen of the inmates were chosen by hand to be executed by firing squad. These "19 martyrs of Aklan," who never had a trial, shed their blood and perished as patriots on March 23, 1897. The brothers Candido and Benito Iban were among them.
Candido's monument now stands in Lilo-an, Malinao's plaza. It is a bittersweet emblem that always brings to mind a guy who emerged from obscurity to demonstrate that even common laborers may make a lasting impact on history. This figure is well-known to the majority of Aklanons but unknown to the majority of Filipinos.
