Unknown Filipino Hero: Juan Araneta

 

Juan Araneta

Revolutionary Leader and Pioneering Farmer

(1852 - 1924)

Juan Araneta is a revolutionary leader and patriot who is one of the key figures of Negros Occidental's Al Cinco de Noviembre. He is also a sugar farmer who pioneered the development of sugar industry in Negros. He is instrumental in the development of agriculture in the Philippines. 

Birth and Early Years

On July 13, 1852, Juan Anacleto Torres Araneta was born in Molo, Iloilo (now a district of Iloilo City). His mother, Agueda Villanueva Torres, was 23 years old when he was born, and his father, Romualdo Marcial Cabungsol Araneta, was 29 years old at the time and a direct male-line descendant of José de Araneta y Guyol.

Juan has a brother, Eusebio, who moved to Iloilo, and sisters, Magdalena and Pedro Sarmiento, who were important figures in Juan Anacleto's life; Maria Rosario and Remegio Salas; and Maria Consolacion and Fedirico Matti, who was one of the first Bago mayors.

Later on, the Araneta-Torres family relocated to Negros and made it their permanent home.

Pedro Sarmiento, his brother-in-law, took him to Manila when he was 19 years old, and he enrolled in the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. He had a lot of promise in school and was recognized for his efforts with distinction medals. He received a perito mercantil degree upon graduation, which is the same as a bachelor's degree in commerce today. José Alejandrino, Apolinario Mabini, Cayetano Arellano, and José Rizal were among of his schoolmates.

Like his father before him, he was elected Capitan del Pueblo upon his return to Molo.  However, the province's friars had grown wary of him, and the only thing keeping the Spanish government from summarily eliminating him was the great admiration and respect of the residents of Bago and the other towns in the province of Negros Occidental.

Life as a Farmer

After his wife passed away in 1891, Juan traveled to Europe with his friend Don Claudio Reina. He got to meet a lot of the Filipino leaders who were then residing in Madrid, London, and Paris. He marveled at the independence and the progress of industrialization there. The Swiss cantonal system of government really intrigued him. He became a believer in the potential of machines as catalysts for advancement after witnessing the industrial machinery used by European farmers.  This led to even greater hostility from the Spanish government when he returned.  He consequently lost the farm that his parents had left him and his sisters. He was forced to relocate his family to the Mount Kanlaon slopes, where they began farming once more. He brought a lot of devices to his Dinapalan hacienda.

His use of a telescope to remotely monitor his workers on the expansive hacienda is one well-known story. The general populace began to believe that he possessed magical abilities, but in fact, he could simply view their behavior via the telescope.

Tan Juan was an agricultural inventor of his era who experimented with cultivating rice, abaca, and coffee in addition to sugarcane, diversifying the agricultural output in Negros Occidental.

Tan Juan, as he was affectionately known, also brought foreign agricultural equipment to Bago, which facilitated the cultivation of rice, abaca, and coffee.

He presented what he observed to the village of Bago after applying what he had learned in Europe to his land.

Tan Juan is largely responsible for the agricultural prosperity of Bago, which is currently regarded as the rice granary of Negros Occidental and a developing coffee haven.

Conflict with the Spanish Authorities

He became aware of the use of modern agricultural equipment and tools during his trips in Europe. He had a sugar mill erected at his Dinapalan hacienda after importing it from England. He occasionally purchased farm equipment such as an abaca baler, a rice thresher, and better models of plows.

But this penchant for contemporary farming implements proved to be his downfall.  The boatloads of material being unloaded close to his Lumangub property raised suspicions among the Spanish authorities.  In January 1897, he was taken into custody and taken to Concordia.  Later, he was taken to Himamaylan and then to Ilog, the province's capital at the time.  According to his diary, there were plans to organize the province's revolutionary forces while he was incarcerated.  Annotations indicated that he communicated with other provincial leaders.  In October 1897, he was ultimately taken to Bacolod and set free.

The Negros Revolution

The initial phase of the revolution was sweeping across the provinces as he worked to build his farm. Spanish authorities throughout the archipelago were alarmed and increased their vigilance by detaining anyone they believed would rebel against them. Despite his reputation as a liberal thinker, Araneta was not exempt from their lists. He was taken into custody on January 9, 1897, and remained incarcerated until March 8, 1897.

After being released from prison, he joined Aniceto Lacson, Leandro Locsin, and Nicolas Golez to form revolutionary forces in Negros.  Lacson led the North command, while Araneta led the South.

A messenger from Talisay reported that the revolutionaries and the cazadores were already fighting on November 5, 1898 (Cinco de Noviembre). The revolutionary forces in Bago began their march toward Bacolod at around 1:00 in the afternoon.  They only owned three weapons: a shotgun, a Mauser rifle, and a Remington rifle.  The leader of the rebel troops, General Araneta, instructed his men to chop pagong, or nipa stems, and to carry them like weapons. The password was to be utod (brother) in Hiligaynon in case they got in touch.

Araneta declared the Republic of Negros and raised the Filipino flag in Bago Town that same day. Araneta led his troops into Bacolod at around 1:00 in the afternoon of the next day, with the majority of them carrying farming implements and woods that appeared to be rifles from a distance, along with a few firearms (a Remington, a Mauser, and a shotgun). As they marched from the northern side to Bacolod, the Lacson faction followed suit.

When the rebels marched near Bacolod, the Spanish authorities believed they wanted to give up their weapons. To their surprise, the rebels suggested that the Spaniards surrender to prevent bloodshed. The Spaniards agreed without hesitation. Spanish reinforcements from Iloilo didn't arrive until Bacolod was already in rebel control.

The Spanish friars and Colonel Isidro de Castro, the Spanish Gobernador Politico-Militar of Negros, observed the rebel troops marching on Bacolod from opposing directions while looking fully armed from the belfry of the Bacolod Cathedral. Alarmed, Colonel de Castro dispatched Manuel Fernandez Yuson and Jose de Luzurriaga to negotiate the surrender of the Spanish civil guards and soldiers, only to discover later that they had been duped by the rebels' resourcefulness.

By utilizing bamboo mats painted to simulate cannons, they cleverly bluffed Spanish forces into surrendering, opening the door for a republican government led by the Negrenses.

On November 6, 1898, Don Isidro Castro, the Spanish governor of Negros Island, gave himself up to soldiers led by Juan Araneta and Aniceto Lacson at Bacolod.

On November 7, 1898, a cantonal system of governance was established in Bacolod, with Aniceto Lacson serving as president and General Juan Araneta as secretary of war.  However, when the Americans landed in Negros on December 28, 1898, this administration was overthrown.  Araneta advised the administration to surrender after observing the American forces' superior equipment.  His allies fiercely fought and denounced his request, but eventually gave in.  America's occupation of Negros was hence peaceful.  By the time American military rule was instituted in the nation, the cantonal government had been permitted to continue until it was eventually abolished.

The Republic of Negros

General Aniceto Lacson established a cantonal system of governance in Bacolod, with General Juan Araneta as the Secretary of War and General Aniceto Lacson as President. He advised the cantonal government to surrender to the American forces upon their arrival in Iloilo. His comrades-in-arms strongly objected to this and mocked it. But in the end, his plan was accepted, and the Americans took Negros without facing any resistance.

Personal Life

A total of twenty-five children were born to Juan Araneta.  Cristeta Sarmiento, his first wife, passed away in 1891, leaving him and their nine children.

He has thirteen children with Natalia Salsalida y Bobeda, his second spouse.

He has three more children from his two other relationships.

Cristeta Sarmiento, with whom he had nine children:

Elisa Araneta y Sarmiento

Romualdo Araneta y Sarmiento

Félix Araneta y Sarmiento

Gertrudes Araneta y Sarmiento

Jaime Carlos Araneta y Sarmiento

Jorge León Araneta y Sarmiento

José Araneta y Sarmiento

Luisa Flavia Araneta y Sarmiento

Ramón Araneta y Sarmiento

Natalia Salsalida, with whom he had thirteen children:

Agüeda María Feliciana Araneta y Salsalida

Romualdo Marcial Araneta y Salsalida

Crestita Pascuala Araneta y Salsalida

Teresa Bonifacia Araneta y Salsalida

Guillermo Hillarión Araneta y Salsalida

Ana Justina Araneta y Salsalida

María Ricarda 'Rica' Araneta y Salsalida

Patrocinio Dominga Araneta y Salsalida

Teodoro Antonio Araneta y Salsalida

Silvia Agustina Araneta y Salsalida

Woodrow Cecilio Araneta y Salsalida

Felipe Alberto Araneta y Salsalida

Félix Alberto Araneta y Salsalida

Celestina Díaz, with whom he had a son:

Emilio Araneta y Díaz

Juanita Camellarosa, with whom he two daughters:

Trinidad Araneta y Camellarosa

Rufina Araneta y Camellarosa

Unusual Charm and Supernatural Story

Since Juan Anacleto is recognized for having a strong charisma (or "dungan" in the local dialect), Aguinaldo's belief in him is not out of the ordinary. Ordinary people believe that he is friends with the sota, a mythical monster that is half-black and half-white and represents both good and evil, and that he consorts with the spirits that reside in Mount Kanlaon.  According to the folklore, he can see far and wide and his horse can fly. One of the most powerful "anting-anting" (talismans) is embedded in him. It is said that he battles his fiercest foe in the sky, and their battles resemble thunder.

Later Years and Death

He served as one of the commissioners for the St. Louis Exposition in 1904, where he displayed more than a thousand rice varieties, as well as samples of cocoa, beans, abaca, and numerous other crops from Negros and Panay. Due to the outstanding quality of all these shows, he received both gold and silver medallions. For the enjoyment of his big family, he also created Buenos Aires Mountain Resort. Maria A. Matti, his daughter, subsequently received this property from him.

He stayed up to date on the latest advancements in crops or agricultural tools and implements. He planted trees that were not native to Negros and attempted to raise a variety of crops on his land.  He was one of the founding members of the Ma-ao Sugar Central in Bago. To support the new business, he lent the corporation the titles to his properties. Later, the province's first American sugar factory was established by the Sugar Central. He convinced his tenants to cultivate sugarcane on huge tracts of land. Tan Juan also had a key role in the establishment of the Bago Baptist Church.

The City of Bago has a museum and a monument in his honor today. Araneta did not live long enough to witness the growth of the agricultural and business he had previously diversified into. He left behind a big family consisting of 25 children and several grand and great grandkids when he passed away on October 3, 1924.

General Juan Anacleto Torres Araneta, better known as the mastermind behind the November 5, 1898, march from the town of Bago (now a city) to the San Sebastian Cathedral, loved the soil just as much as his nation. His love of farming gave his idyllic life a surprising splash of color. 

Tan Juan is recognized for his services to agriculture and for motivating the following generation of farmers, in addition to making a lasting impression on Negros history by defeating the Spaniards in 1898.

Sources

WikiTree Biography of Juan Anacleto T. Torres -https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Araneta-61

On 100th death anniversary, Juan Araneta honored as both revolutionary and farming hero by Ambo Delilan on Rappler - https://www.rappler.com/philippines/visayas/centennial-death-anniversary-tan-juan-araneta-honored-revolutionary-farming-hero/

The life and legend of Gen. Juan T. Araneta, Sunstar.com.ph - https://www.sunstar.com.ph/more-articles/the-life-and-legend-of-gen-juan-t-araneta

Unknown Filipino Hero: Antonio Ledesma Jayme

Antonio Ledesma Jayme

Patriot and Fourth Civil Governor of Negros Occidental

(1854 - 1937)

A Filipino lawyer, revolutionary hero, assemblyman, governor of Negros Occidental, and founding father of a revolutionary nation, Antonio Ledesma Jayme (July 24, 1854 – October 19, 1937) was also a legislator and a signatory to the constitution of a nation-state.

Early Years and Education

On July 24, 1854, Antonio L. Jayme was born in what is now Iloilo City's Jaro district. He was the oldest of Aguedo Gamboa Jayme and the former Sabina Lopez Ledesma's seven children.

When Jayme was a little boy, his family moved to Silay City, Negros Occidental. This happened at a time when inexpensive imports from mainland China were forcing the Chinese mestizos of Jaro and Molo on Panay Island to look for better economic prospects outside of Iloilo's dwindling textile sector. This interest among Jaro's businesses to settle in adjacent Negros Island was fueled by the prospect of enormous reward provided by the high price of world sugar. The Jaymes converted a plot of land into a plantation, or hacienda, and followed sugar-based agriculture like the other immigrants in the wave.

Jayme received an early education by traveling across the Guimaras Strait to attend the Seminario de Jaro, often known as the Jaro Seminary, as was typical of the Negros principalia.  Since its first rector was his paternal uncle, Fray Francisco Jayme, who raised and schooled Philippine patriot Graciano Lopez-Jaena, he was easily accommodated.  Jayme attended Jaro, which at the time was still the most populous, hardworking, and wealthy province in the Philippines, to study philosophy and letters from 1869 to 1871.

But in 1872, driven by a desire to travel and pursue higher education, he traveled to Manila to enroll in Colegio de San Juan de Letran.  He enrolled in the University of Santo Tomas after finishing his segunda ensenanza (Spanish for "secondary education"), where he graduated in October 1881 with a licenciado en jurisprudencia, or Bachelor of Laws.

During the time of Spanish colonization in the Philippines, he was to become the first Ilonggo lawyer to practice law in Negros.  He later joined the government as a judge of the province's Court of First Instance and a justice of the peace.

The Philippine Revolution and Its Aftermath

Negros armed themselves against Spain in 1898 during the second phase of the Philippine Revolution.  Jayme witnessed the bloodless surrender of Spanish troops in Bacolod during this historic occasion, which is today known as the Cinco de Noviembre Movement or the November 5 Movement of the Negros Revolution.  The people of Negros celebrated the first time a Philippine flag floated triumphantly in the Spanish fortress of Bacolod, breaking "more than three hundred years of Spanish rule without firing a shot."

The ratification of a new government's constitution following the Spanish defeat was signed by Jayme.  Jayme served as the general counselor of the provisional government despite internal leadership conflicts when the "Cantonal Republic of Negros" (Spanish: República Cantonal de Negros) was renamed the Republic of Negros on July 22, 1899. He also held the position of Secretary of Justice under President Aniceto Lacson.  By using subtlety and careful diplomacy, he was able to keep conflicts from breaking out between groups that supported American sovereignty and those that opposed it.

In 1904, Jayme defeated Esteban de la Rama to win the position of provincial governor following the United States' declaration of secure rule over Philippine territory.

In his capacity as governor, Jayme used public monies to build schools, promote enrollment, and raise his constituents' reading rates.  In addition to accelerating the province's pacification, he waged campaigns against gambling, banditry, vagrancy, and other vices.  His support of legal reform contributed to the improvement of Negros Occidental's political and social circumstances.  The laws of the era were derived from the 19th-century Spanish legal system.  According to a document created by the Philippine National Historical Institute, "He sought remedies to problems by suggesting modifications in existing laws and the enactment of new ones."

Because to his achievements as governor, he was elected to the First Philippine Assembly in 1907 as the representative of Negros Occidental's first district.  Filipinos established their own legislature for the first time in history. He was a member of the City of Manila committee, the Provincial and Municipal Government committee, and the Law Revision Committee. He wrote a measure to abolish the death penalty while serving as chairman of the committee on police powers.

After serving as an assemblyman, he went back to managing his haciendas and practicing private law.

Other Works

He gained notoriety as a young man for writing a variety of essays in Spanish and Hiligaynon that were included in magazines such as La Razon (1906) and La Libertad (1900).  Among his aliases were "P. Moral," "Farole," "Mansilingan," "Panagao," and "G.G."  The Instituto Rizal, which was subsequently renamed the Negros Occidental High School, was founded by him and he taught there.  He supplied the school's first dormitories and classrooms.

He served as a director of the still-operating Bacolod-Murcia Sugar Central.

Death

On October 19, 1937, Jayme passed away, leaving behind his wife and kids.  Angela, his oldest daughter, wed Fernando Figueroa Gonzaga, a businessman and philanthropist.  Vicente R. Jayme, another descendent, served under Philippine President Corazon C. Aquino as secretary of public works and highways, secretary of finance, and president of the Philippine National Bank.

The Republic Act No. 6709 was signed into law by President Aquino on February 10, 1989. It honors the Ilonggo people's valor throughout the Philippine Revolutions in the late 19th century, designated November 5 as a special non-working holiday in Negros Occidental. This was in honor of the Cinco de Noviembre Movement, in which Secretary of Justice Antonio Ledesma Jayme was instrumental.

Sources:

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/Antonio_Ledesma_Jayme

https://www.geni.com/people/Antonio-Jayme/6000000082668454449

Unknown Filipino Hero: Aniceto Lacson

Aniceto Lacson

First and Only President of the Negros Republic

(1857 - 1931)

Aniceto Lacson y Ledesma was a Filipino revolutionary general, sugar planter, and entrepreneur who lived from April 17, 1857, to February 3, 1931. Alongside Juan Araneta, he led the Negros Revolution and served as the first and only president of the Negros Republic from 1898 to 1901.

Early Life

Gen. Aniceto Lacson, a Chinese-Mestizo politician from the Philippines, is the fifth of eight children born to Lucio Lacson y Petronila and Clara Ledesma. During the later 1800s, when wealthy Iloilo families were migrating to Negros, Lucio's branch of the Lacson family moved there.

After receiving private instruction for his early schooling in Molo, Iloilo, Lacson went on to study commerce at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, where he was classmates with José Rizal and Juan Araneta. He purportedly shared a secret blood covenant with Andres Bonifacio, whom he also met there. Additionally, he received his membership in the Philippine Revolutionary Society.

A few of Lacson's siblings also made contributions to local history and business.  He is the brother of Sta's founder, Domingo Lacson Sr. Don Mariano Lacson, who constructed the Lacson Ruins in Talisay City, close to Aniceto's Casa Grande Mansion, and Clara Estate Inc., a company that specializes in varied real estate.  Rosendo Lacson, another sibling, signed the ratification of the short-lived Cantonal Republic of Negros, which came to an end soon after the Negros Revolution.

Aniceto enhanced his father's sugar plantation in Talisay, Negros Occidental, after earning a degree in commerce at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. Through acquisitions from Nicholas Loney, an English businessman, he grew the estate.

On August 29, 1898, Belgian Consul Édouard André reported seeing how workers on Aniceto Lacson's plantation were mistreated in Negros, where they were subjected to bamboo lashing, sometimes as many as 100 lashes.

The Negros Revolution

Leading the campaign to free Negros Island from Spanish domination, Aniceto Lacson played a pivotal role in the Negros Revolution of 1898. As the commander of the northern forces, Lacson led a rebellion in Silay on November 3, 1898, with the help of important figures like Juan Araneta, Leandro Locsin Sr., and Nicolás Gólez.

Lacson led his troops in a well-organized rebellion on November 5, 1898, which swiftly expanded throughout the island. Under his direction, the Silay rebels were able to force the local Spanish garrison to surrender without encountering any opposition.  Using wooden rifles and homemade bamboo cannons, Lacson's soldiers proceeded on Bacolod City the next day. This strategy persuaded Isidro de Castro, the Spanish governor, to give up Bacolod without a struggle.

An important signatory to the Acta de Capitulación, which formalized the Spanish capitulation, was Lacson.  He was a key figure in the island's fight for independence because of his leadership, which helped bring the Negros Revolution to a peaceful and final end.

When Spanish forces in Bacolod surrendered on November 6, 1898, the revolution in Negros came to an end.  Under the leadership of Lacson and Gólez, the rebels persuaded the Spanish to surrender by brandishing bamboo and wooden weapons.  The accord, which resulted in the unconditional surrender of Spanish forces and the transfer of public monies to the new government, was enabled by mediator José Ruiz de Luzuriaga.

Isidro de Castro, Braulio Sanz, Manuel Abenza, Ramón Armada, Emilio Monasterio, and Domingo Ureta were the Spanish signatories.  Aniceto Lacson, Juan Araneta, Leandro Locsin Sr., Simeón Lizares, Julio Díaz, and José Montilla were among the signatories of the Negros Revolution.  Forty-seven notable Negrenses, including Rafael Ramos, Agustín Amenabar, Nicolas Gólez, Eusebio Luzuriaga, Antonio L. Jayme, and Rosendo Lacson, ratified a constitution to create a new republic after the capitulation.

The Cantonal Republic of Negros

The island of Negros in the Philippines was home to the short-lived revolutionary government known as the Cantonal Republic of Negros (November 27, 1898–March 4, 1899).  The Cantonal Republic was established after Spanish Governor Isidro Castro surrendered to forces led by Aniceto Lacson and Juan Araneta at Bacolod on November 6, 1898. Lacson presided over the country from November 27, 1898, until March 4, 1899, when the Negros revolutionaries turned themselves in to US General James Francis Smith.  The duration of the government was three months and four days.

Cinco de Noviembre

Historic sites in Negros Occidental and the Cinco de Noviembre ceremony honor Aniceto Lacson and other revolutionaries.

On November 5, 1898, Aniceto Lacson and Juan Araneta staged a revolution that resulted in the peaceful surrender of Spanish forces in Bacolod, which is celebrated on Cinco de Noviembre. This bloodless victory was largely due to Lacson's calculated bluff with homemade weaponry and leadership.

In Negros Occidental, the day is celebrated as a special holiday every year.  Lacson and the rebels are honored at the Cinco de Noviembre memorial in Silay City, which includes a Spanish cannon that was donated by Claudio G. Akol Jr. By virtue of Republic Act No. 6709, President Corazon Aquino proclaimed November 5th a holiday.

Casa Grande was given to the National Museum of the Philippines by the Lacson-Claparols heirs on November 5, 2024, during the 126th Cinco de Noviembre event.  The old home will be restored by the NMP, maintaining its status as a museum and national historical monument.

The Fountain of Justice

The Fountain of Justice, a historic site in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines, is located in front of the former Bacolod City Hall and honors the Spanish capitulation to Gen. Aniceto Lacson's men during the Negros Revolution.  José de Luzuriaga's home used to be located there as well.

During the Negros Revolution, on November 6, 1898, Bacolod was turned over by Spanish authority to Filipino soldiers under Gen. Aniceto Lacson at Luzuriaga's home. In addition, he acted as a go-between for the parties.

On behalf of the Spanish army, the capitulation document was signed by Colonel Isidro de Castro, the governor of Negros.

The Fountain of Justice served as a venue for political rallies, religious meetings, cultural festivals, and leisure activities.  It was the site of Bacolod City's 66th Charter Anniversary celebration and was once a well-liked rally and protest location.

Political Life Under the American Regime

General Lacson and his leaders met with General Marcus P. Miller when the Americans arrived in Negros following the fall of Ilo-ilo in February 1899.  The Negrenses chose to work with the Americans for two reasons: first, they saw that fighting against America would be ineffective; second, the leaders, who were all wealthy and landed, did not want the destruction of war to affect their sugar plantations.  General James F. Smith arrived with a battalion of the California Volunteers to seize Bacolod on March 4, 1899, after General Otis quickly accepted their offer of help.  Peace returned to Negros, with the exception of the occasional harassment by the zealous "Papa Isio" in the southern towns.

Lacson was named governor of Negros by William Howard Taft, the American governor-general of the Philippines. But Lacson turned down the invitation. He would rather focus on his company and running his sugar plantation.

Personal Life

Rosario Araneta and Magdalena Torres were the two spouses of Aniceto Lacson. With two marriages and more than twenty children, Aniceto Lacson had a sizable family. His wife and descendants also gave him connections to numerous other well-known families, which increased their clout in the Philippines.

Marriage with Rosario Araneta Lacson

Rosario Araneta, the daughter of Patricio Cabunsol Araneta and Leoncia Araneta, was Aniceto's first spouse.  She is also Juan Araneta's first cousin. Rosario and Aniceto had eleven children.  They were:

1. The oldest, Jesusa, wed her second cousin, Jose Maria Lacson Arroyo y Pidal. Iggy Arroyo and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, who is married to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, are grandchildren of Jesusa and Jose.

2. Emilio died at a young age.

3. Clotilde passed away young.

4. Dr. Jaime Lacson Claparols, Carmen's son with Spanish husband Ricardo Claparols, went on to establish the JRS Express in 1960. 

5. Domingo Lacson II, son of Domingo Lacson Sr. of Sta., was married to Enriqueta.  Clara Estate, Inc.

6. Isaac married Carmen Paterno, the niece of Philippine diplomat Pedro Paterno, and went on to become governor of Negros before becoming a congressman and senator of the Republic.

7. Mariano and Lilia Montilla were wed.

8. Perfecta, who wed Santiago Franco

9. Jose passed away at a young age.

10. Aniceto Jr. wed his cousin Aurora Lacson.

11. Dominador wed another relative, Visitacion Lacson.

Marriage with Magdalena Torres Lacson

He had ten children with his second wife, Spanish Mestiza Magdalena Torres.  They were:

1. Resureccion wed German Carlos Sackermann.

2. Former Miss Negros Occidental Margarita wed Swiss-German William Gemperle.

3. Leonila and Angel Gamboa were married.

4. Leoncia

5. Nicolas wed Amparo Lacson, who was Mayor Arsenio Lacson's sister.  Salvador Lacson, the head of LLIBI Insurance Brokers Inc., and Rose Lacson, an Australian-Filipino socialite, are their children.

6. Juan and Reymunda Villareal were wed.

7. Jose and Estelita Adrias were married.

8. Lucio and Consuelo Flores were married.

9. Luis and Lily Distajo were married.

10. Consuelo wed the Spaniard Sebastian Corro.

Death

Lacson passed away on February 3, 1931, in Talisay, which is now a city in Negros Occidental and was buried in his hometown of Molo, which is now a district of Iloilo City in Iloilo

Source:

https://pinoyfolktales.blogspot.com/2013/01/filipino-martyr-aniceto-l-lacson.html

Unknown Filipino Hero: Alejandro Roces Sr.

Alejandro Roces Sr.

Father of Modern Philippine Journalism

(1876 - 1943)

The first Filipino publisher to take newspaper publishing seriously was Alejandro Roces Sr.  In 1917, he demonstrated his foresight by granting access to his newspapers to foreign news organizations.  The Taliba, La Vanguardia, and Tribune became the largest newspapers in the entire archipelago during his leadership, and he modernized the media sector.

Early Life

On April 26, 1876, Alejandro Roces was born in Manila.   Don Alejandro Roman Roces and Dona Maria Filomena Gonzales had him as their eldest child.  His younger siblings, Rosario Roces, Jesus Cesario Gonzales Roces, Filomena Gonzales Roces, Rafael Filomeno Gonzales Roces, Joaquin Capriano Gonzalez Roces, _ Roces, and Carmen Roces, were placed under his guardianship after their parents passed away unexpectedly.  He was the one who assumed control of their family's homes and other assets.

Government Service

He was a member of Quezon City's first City Council and the Chairman of the Board for the People's Homesite and Housing Corporation.

Life as a Journalist

The first Filipino publisher to take newspaper publishing seriously was Alejandro Roces.  With his three publications—TALIBA, LA VANGUARDIA, THE TRIBUNE, and THE MANILA TIMES—Alejandro established the first newspaper chain, which grew to become the largest in the entire archipelago.

Alejandro Roces purchased the Spanish-language daily La Vanguardia in 1916. It was formerly known as El Renacimiento, which was edited by Teodoro M. Kalaw but shut down in 1923 after an American named Dean Worcester was sued for libel.

In 1925, Roces established the English Tribune, which Carlos P. Romulo had previously edited.  He started Ang Taliba as well.  With Ang Taliba for Tagalog readers, La Vanguardia for Spanish-language readers, and the English Tribune for those who subscribed to the English version, these three newspapers—also referred to as T-V-T—served a wide range of readers at the time.

In 1917, he demonstrated his foresight by granting access to his newspapers to foreign news organizations.

Personal Life

He married Antonia Padul Pardo in 1897, and the two of them have ten children: Rafael Pardo Roces, Alejandro Pardo Roces, Isabel Pardo Roces, Marcos "Taling" Pardo Roces, Filomena Pardo Roces, Mercedes Pardo Roces, Chino Roces, and Antonia Pardo Roces.

Death

He died on July 8, 1943, at the age of 67 in Manila.

In Philippine print media, his family name became associated with a tradition that perpetuated his impact.

Sources:

https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alejandro_Roces,_Sr.

https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/MB3L-B4G/alejandro-gonzales-roces-sr.-1876-1943

https://rocesfamily.com/sm2002/rocesphils/introduction.htm

Unknown Filipino Hero: Jose Palma

Jose Palma 

The Brains of the Philippine National Anthem

(1876 - 1903)

José Palma y Velásquez (Spanish: [xoˈse ˈpalma]: June 3, 1876 – February 12, 1903) was a Filipino poet and soldier. He authored the Spanish patriotic poetry "Filipinas" while working for La Independencia.  On September 3, 1899, it was initially published in the issue of La Independencia, which celebrated its first anniversary. Julián Felipe's instrumental composition "Marcha Nacional Filipina" complemented the poem, which has since served as the foundation for all translations of the Philippine National Anthem.

Early Life

The youngest child of Hilaria Velásquez and Don Hermogenes Palma, a clerk at the Intendencia Office, Palma was born in Tondo on June 3, 1876.  Rafael Palma, his older brother, was a journalist, politician, and scholar who was elected as the University of the Philippines' fourth president.

Palma continued his education at the Ateneo Municipal after completing his primera enseñanza (first studies) at Tondó.  He began writing verses while he was a student at Ateneo.  "La cruz de Sampaguitas" (literally, "The Cross of Jasmines") was one of his first compositions. He wrote it in 1893, the same year he fell in love with Florentina Arellano.  However, the girl's parents disapproved of him and ended their relationship.  Following that, he became gay and remained thus for the rest of his life.  Palma kept himself occupied with his reading passions.

Being a Katipunan Member and Joining the Revolution

Palma focused on writing more poetry as underground revolutionary activity increased.  He joined the Katipunan in 1894, but he refrained from fighting during the 1896 Philippine Revolution.  When the Philippine–American War broke out in 1899, he finally joined Colonel Rosendo Simón's revolutionary forces and fought in the battles of Ángeles and Bambán under Colonel Servillano Aquino's leadership.  He frequently stayed in camps and performed kundiman, a traditional Filipino lyrical and musical art form, for the soldiers because he was unable to physically handle the hardships of war.

During their marches away from the pursuing American forces, Palma and his colleagues in the paper often entertained themselves with songs and poetry while resting in camps or other locations.  Palma's poetic spirit was raised to a new level during one of their pauses in Bautista, Pangasinan.  when he heard Julian Felipe's Triumphant March in Kawit, Cavite.  The hymnal melody, which is currently the official Philippine National Anthem, served as his inspiration.  He composed the poetry "Filipinas" to go with Julian Felipe's "Marcha Nacional Filipina" music.

When the Philippine-American War broke out in 1899, he eventually joined Colonel Rosendo Simon's revolutionary forces and fought in the battles of Angeles and Bambang under Colonel Servillano Aquino's leadership. He frequently stayed in camps and performed kundiman, a traditional Filipino lyrical and musical art form, for the soldiers because he was unable to physically handle the hardships of war. He became a member of the Tagalog staff of La Independencia, a revolutionary newspaper. This gave him the opportunity to vent his patriotic feelings and fight the Americans in a way that he couldn't on the battlefield.

Becoming a La Independencia Journalist

Eventually, he started working for the revolutionary daily La Independencia's Tagalog-language department.  This gave him the opportunity to vent his patriotic feelings and fight the Americans in a way that he couldn't on the battlefield.  During their marches away from the pursuing American forces, Palma and his newspaper colleagues frequently entertained themselves with music and poetry while resting in camps or other locations.

Writing of Filipinas

The Spanish ode "Filipinas" was the result of Palma's lyrical mood during a break for the Bautista, Pangasinán newspaper workers.  Palma wrote "Filipinas" in Doña Romana G. vda. de Favis' home at Sitio Estación Barrio Nibaliw, Bayambang (now Barangay Población West, Bautista, Pangasinan).  In honor of Saint John the Baptist, Nibaliw was renamed "Bautista" on June 24, 1900, and separated from Bayambang as an independent town.

The instrumental piece "Marcha Nacional Filipina," written by Julián Felipe as incidental music for the Declaration of Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite, a year prior, was eventually adapted to the appropriate lyrics.  On September 3, 1899, "Filipinas" appeared in La Independencia's inaugural anniversary issue.

COMPLETE LYRICS

Tierra adorada,
hija del sol de Oriente,
su fuego ardiente

en ti latiendo está.

Patria de amores,
del heroísmo cuna,
los invasores
no te hollarán jamás.

En tu azul cielo, en tus auras,
en tus montes y en tu mar
esplende y late el poema
de tu amada libertad.

Tu pabellón que en las lides
la victoria iluminó,
no verá nunca apagados
sus estrellas ni su sol.

Tierra de dichas, de sol y amores
en tu regazo dulce es vivir;
es una gloria para tus hijos,
cuando te ofenden, por ti morir.

Death

José Palma died of tuberculosis on February 12, 1903, aged 26. No historical accounts are known to where his resting place is, however, his remains were believed to be interred inside the Maria Clara Parish Church of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente in Santa Cruz, Manila.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_Palma

https://pilipinaskongminamahal.blogspot.com/2011/05/jose-palma-y-velasco.html

https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1160/today-in-philippine-history-june-3-1876-jose-palma-was-born-in-tondo-manila

Unknown Filipino Hero: Purmassuri

 

Purmassuri

Warrior Princess of Sulu

The remarkable bravery of Princess Purmassuri of Sulu is well known, and it was partly due to her leadership and slyness that the Spaniards were unable to establish themselves in Moro territory. Purmassuri's tale demonstrates how fiercely Filipino women are prepared to make sacrifices for the independence of their homeland.

A stunning princess from Sulu. She attempted to enchant the Spanish soldiers, ultimately bringing them to ruin, using her powerful will and passion.

A Moro leader named Siri Kala had already merged his forces with those of another Moro chief named Sigalo, but they were still unable to assault the Spaniards, who were well-armed and whom they believed they could not defeat. Purmassuri thus proceeded to the Spanish barracks. The Spanish soldiers were enchanted by Purmassuri's beauty, just like other descendants of Adam. She seized the chance and provided the white soldiers with excellent entertainment.

The Spanish soldiers were attacked by the soldiers of Sigalo and Siri Kala. All of the white soldiers were killed, with the exception of those who remained in the ship. The opes who exposed everything that transpired were the remaining soldiers.

This Purmassuri narrative demonstrated that our nation was never overrun without defense and that our ladies are always willing to try their hardest to do their share for the good of their nation.

Sources:

https://pilipinaskongminamahal.blogspot.com/2011/08/purmassuri.html

https://filipiknow.net/filipina-muslims-philippine-history/

https://dfa.gov.ph/images/AMabini/C__Managepoint_sessions_Diane_Rar848.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawGyYgpleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXINPNFqE-hJEYPRpRauU5lB_aGdsZzjpV_LizY0B0Vtrt4XhCu4Gj85Lg_aem_ojJsDiZGF07qqT5BD0A65g

Unknown Filipino Hero: Timoteo Paez

Timoteo Paez

Filipino Revolutionary Leader and Reformist

(1861 - 1939)

Timoteo Paez is a Filipino revolutionary and patriot. He was born in Tondo, Manila. He is widely known as one of the co-founders of La Liga Filipina and Nilad Lodge alongside Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal.

Early Years

Timoteo Paez or “Teong” to his friends was born on August 22, 1861 in Tondo, Manila. Orphaned at an early age by his wealthy father, Francisco Paez, he had to take care of himself. After finishing his elementary school in Tondo Municipal School, he took clerical jobs or as messenger in offices during the day and studied at the Escuela Nautica during the night until he completed a course in accounting.

First Employment and Participation in the Reform Movement

He was employed at the shipping company of Carrinage & Co. when he became involved with the reform movement, which he served by raising funds for the support of the reformists and the La Solidaridad abroad. On July 3, 1892, he joined the La Liga Filipina and became part of its Supreme Council. Although the organization was short lived, he continued his support to the ideals for reform. He printed and distributed Bonifacio’s “True Decalogue” and the teachings of Rizal at his own expense. 

On August 19, 1896, Spanish authorities discovered the Katipunan and as a result, they arrested many suspected members including Timoteo Paez. He suffered nine months in prison until General Primo de Rivera pardoned him and placed him in exile in Hong Kong. There, he continued to update himself of developments in the Philippines and, later, became acquainted with the exiled revolutionary leaders.

The War Years

In September 1898, he returned to the Philippines and joined the revolutionary government of General Emilio Aguinaldo that have retreated to Tarlac. He was designated commissary officer with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and represented the province of Surigao in the Revolutionary Congress. Paez was assigned to a command field during the Philippine-American War. In April 1899, General Aguinaldo attached him to the General Headquarters Service Force as one of his security officers on their retreat to Northern Luzon. After Tirad Pass fell to the Americans, the revolutionary leaders decided to make their flight from the Americans easier by surrendering the women and other non-combatant members in their company. Colonels Paez and Sityar were tasked to accompany those who surrendered back to Manila, where he was held as prisoner-of-war.

Later Years 

When the civil government was organized, Paez was one of the first councilors of Manila. In 1903, he erected a monument of Rizal in the place where the La Liga was established and was one of those who proposed the Rizal monument in Luneta. One who strongly believed in God, he had the Ten Commandments from the Bible inscribed on a stone block.

On September 18, 1939, Timoteo Paez passed away in Tondo.

Unknown Filipino Hero: Rajah Sulayman

Rajah Sulayman

The Last King of Manila

(1558 - 1575)

Often called Sulayman III (Arabic script: سليمان, Abecedario: Solimán), Sulayman died in the 1590s while serving as the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Luzon. He was the nephew of King Ache of Luzon. In the 1570 Battle of Manila, he led the Luzonian soldiers against the Spanish.

Manila was a walled and fortified city, and it contained his palace. Sulayman was one of three kings who fought the Spanish in the battle of Manila in 1570, along with his uncle King Ache and Lakan Dula, the ruler of the nearby kingdom or principality of Tondo. Considering his youth in comparison to the other two monarchs, the Spanish characterized him as the most violent. Following Lakan Dula's passing, Sulayman's adopted son—whom he christened Agustin de Legaspi—was anointed as Tondo's sovereign monarch. He was put to death by the Spanish, along with the majority of Lakan Dula's sons and the majority of Sulayman's other adopted sons, for their roles in an assembly that sought to overthrow Spanish power in Manila. This execution strengthened the Spanish East Indies' hold over portions of Luzon.

Names

According to Spanish records, Sulayman was referred to by his subjects as Raja Mura or Raja Muda, "Young Raja," because he was the nephew and presumed heir of Raja Matanda. Due to Spanish influence, his name is sometimes frequently spelled Solimán. The Spaniards also called him "Raja Solimano el Mow".

Family History

The genealogy put up by Mariano A. Henson in 1955 and confirmed by Majul in 1973 states that Sulayman was the fourteenth Raja of Manila after Rajah Ahmad established the city as a Muslim principality in 1258 after defeating Raja Avirjirkaya, the suzerain of Majapahit.

Manila Was Conquered by the Spanish (1570–1571)

At the time of the Legazpi invasion, Rajah Sulayman and Rajah Matanda ruled over Maynila. Already, neighboring Southeast Asian kingdoms had considerable impact on Manila. The region served as a hub for trade with China, Thailand, and other countries.

After transferring from Cebu to Panay due to Portuguese claims to the archipelago, Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi ordered Martín de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo on an expedition northward to Luzon after learning of a rich kingdom there.

Goiti sent a "message of friendship" to the states bordering the Pasig River after establishing his anchorage at Cavite. Sulayman was prepared to accept the "friendship" from the Spaniards as he had been granted control over these villages by the aging Rajah Matanda. But he would not give up his throne, and he was forced to fight back against the demands of the newcomers. Goíti and his army invaded the kingdoms in June 1570 and proceeded to sack and burn the mighty city before retreating back to Panay.

The Battle of Bangkusay and Tarik Sulayman (1571)

Regarding the identity of the Macabebe chieftain who started the Bangkusay Battle in 1571, there is some dispute. Filipino history refer to that chieftain as Tarik Sulayman. Some accounts of the Battle of Bangkusay claim that Sulayman III of Manila and Tarik Sulayman of Macabebe are the same person, but others dispute this.

The Macabebe Rebel leader's name is omitted from Spanish records, but it is noted that he perished at Bangkusay, forcing the Macabebe to retire and giving the Spanish the upper hand. Conversely, Sulayman III is unmistakably documented as having taken part in the Revolt of 1574, and hence he cannot be the anonymous person who perished at Bangkusay in 1571.

The 1574 "Sulayman Revolt"

Following the death of Lopez de Legazpi in 1572, the agreements made with Sulayman and Lakan Dula were not upheld by his successor, Governor-General Guido de Lavezaris. He put both kings' properties under lockdown and put up with crimes committed by the Spanish.

In retaliation, Sulayman and Lakan Dula staged an uprising in the Navotas villages in 1574, taking advantage of the chaos caused by the Chinese pirate Limahong's attacks. The Sulayman Revolt is also known as the "First Battle of Manila Bay" because it engaged naval forces. This is commonly referred to as the "Manila Revolt of 1574," while it is also occasionally called the "Sulayman Revolt" and the "Lakan Dula Revolt."

It was the duty of Friar Gerónimo Marín and Juan de Salcedo to negotiate a settlement with the kingdoms. Salcedo's peace deal was accepted by Lakan Dula and Sulayman, and the two parties established an alliance.

Life after 1574

Some American Occupation sources state that Sulayman was murdered in the 1574 insurrection; however, this seems to be another case of Sulayman being mistaken for Tarik Sulayman of Macabebe, who had already passed away in the 1571 revolt. According to an analysis of genealogical records held by the National Archives, Sulayman survived the uprising in 1574 that resulted in the death of his son Rahang Bago. He also lived long enough to adopt an unidentified sibling's children and claim them as his own grandchildren.

The narratives of the events of 1586–1588, which involved numerous members of Sulayman's family, no longer mention him.

Descendants

Genealogical research by Luciano P.R. Santiago indicates that Sulayman married a Borneo princess, his cousin, and that they had at least two biological children: a daughter who would be baptized Doña María Laran and a son known as "Rahang Bago" ("new prince"; written as "Raxa el Vago" in the Spanish texts). According to a tale claimed by the Pasay administration in the 1950s, Sulayman had two children: Dayang-dayang (Princess) Pasay, who would inherit the lands south of Manila that are now Pasay and Parañaque, and a son named Suwaboy. But in the chaos that followed Limahong, the Chinese corsair, attacking in November 1574, Rahang Bago and his cousin Lumantalan were slain by the Spanish.

Santiago's investigation revealed that Doña María Laran had two daughters: Doña Inés Dahitim, the older, who wed Don Miguel Banal of Quiapo, and Doña María Guinyamat, who wed a Don Agustín Turingan. According to Luciano P.R. Santiago's theory, Don Miguel Banal was the son of Don Juan Banal, who was charged in the 1587 Tondo Conspiracy. According to Santiago, Don Miguel Banal and Doña Inés Dahitim are credited with bearing Fray Marcelo Banal de San Agustín, the second Filipino to enter the Augustinian Order.

According to the oral tradition that the Pasay local administration cites, Dayang-dayang Pasay moved to Balite after marrying Maytubig, a local prince. According to folklore, they had a daughter named Dominga Custodio who, before her death, bequeathed all of her estates to the Augustinians.

Santiago asserts, however, that Sulayman had adopted descendants in addition to his own offspring. According to Santiago's genealogy research, Sulayman may have had a male sibling who passed away before Rahang Bago in 1574 but whose name is not mentioned in the documents. Sulayman made the decision to adopt this sibling's boys, who were named in the documents as Don Jerónimo Bassi, Don Gabriel Taumbasan, and Agustin de Legaspi. Sulayman's three adopted children took part in the Tondo Conspiracy in 1587; only Taumbasan, who was banished to Mexico for four years, escaped execution.

Others

Historiography of Meranau places him among these kings:

Sulayman Rajah

Maharaja Indarafatra

Umaka'an Rajah

Legacy

A statue of Rajah Sulayman, a hero opposing the Spanish invasion, is located in Manila's Rizal Park. One of two science high schools in Binondo, Manila, Rajah Soliman Science and Technology High School bears his name.