Unknown Filipino Hero in History: Edilberto Evangelista

 

Edilberto Evangelista 

First Filipino Civil Engineer and Revolutionary General 

(1862 - 1897)

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While many Filipinos recognize his name from the major street in Quiapo or the military camp in Cagayan de Oro, few realize that Edilberto Evangelista was the "Engineer of the Revolution." A man of immense intellect, he was one of the few Filipinos of his time to hold a high-level European degree in engineering, which he used not for personal profit, but to design the sophisticated trenches and forts that allowed the poorly armed Filipino rebels to withstand the might of the Spanish Empire.

Edilberto Evangelista was a brilliant strategist and a brave soldier who proved that the Philippine Revolution was not just a struggle of bolos and grit, but also one of science and mathematics. General Emilio Aguinaldo once remarked that if the Revolution had a brain like Rizal and a sublime paralytic like Mabini, it had its master builder in Evangelista.

Childhood and Education

Edilberto Evangelista was born on February 24, 1862, in Santa Cruz, Manila. He was the son of Agaton Evangelista and Faustina Sablan. Growing up in a modest household, he showed early academic promise. He completed his primary education in Manila and eventually earned his Bachelor of Arts from the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in 1878.

Seeking to improve his family's standing and satisfy his hunger for technical knowledge, he initially worked as a cattle dealer and a tobacco merchant. However, his life took a pivotal turn when he traveled to Europe. In 1890, while in Madrid, he met Jose Rizal. It was Rizal who suggested that Evangelista study engineering, noting that the Philippines would soon need builders and technical experts to modernize the nation once it gained independence.

Following Rizal’s advice, Evangelista moved to Belgium and enrolled at the University of Ghent. He excelled in his studies, graduating in 1896 with a degree in civil engineering and architecture. He was the first Filipino to graduate from this prestigious institution. Despite receiving lucrative job offers from the Belgian government to work on infrastructure projects in Europe and South America, the echoes of the 1896 Revolution called him home.

The Engineer of the Revolution

Evangelista arrived back in Manila in September 1896, just as the revolution was gaining momentum. He was immediately suspected by Spanish authorities and was briefly imprisoned. Upon his release, he fled to Cavite to join the forces of Emilio Aguinaldo.

Aguinaldo was quickly impressed by Evangelista's technical background. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant General and tasked with the fortification of Cavite. Evangelista applied modern European military engineering to the Philippine landscape. He designed a complex system of trenches, redoubts, and forts that were so well-constructed that Spanish generals were shocked to find "European-style" defenses manned by "indios."

His most famous achievement was the fortification of Binakayan and Dalahican. During the Battle of Binakayan in November 1896, his defensive designs allowed the Filipino revolutionaries to deliver the first major defeat to the Spanish regular army. His trenches were deep enough to protect soldiers from artillery fire and angled to provide optimal fields of fire.

Death and Legacy

Edilberto Evangelista’s life was cut short during the Battle of Zapote Bridge on February 17, 1897. As he was directing his troops and inspecting the defenses, he stood up to get a better view of the enemy's positions. At that moment, a Spanish sniper’s bullet struck him directly in the forehead. He died instantly at the age of 34.

His death was a massive blow to the revolutionary cause. Aguinaldo wept at his funeral, realizing he had lost his most capable military engineer. Evangelista's body was buried in the cemetery at Bacoor, Cavite, but his legacy lived on in the fortifications that continued to hold back the Spanish forces for months after his passing.

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Interesting Facts and Trivia

• Rizal’s Protege: Evangelista was so close to Jose Rizal that Rizal once wrote to his family about the young engineer's "extraordinary talents."

• The First Engineer: He is officially recognized as the first Filipino civil engineer to have graduated from a foreign university.

• The "Science" of War: Unlike many revolutionary leaders who relied on "anting-anting" (amulets) and raw courage, Evangelista insisted on using surveying tools, maps, and mathematical calculations to determine where to dig his trenches.

• A Belgian Offer: He turned down a salary that would have made him a very wealthy man in Europe just to return to the Philippines with no guarantee of safety or pay.

• Camp Evangelista: The headquarters of the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army in Cagayan de Oro City is named "Camp Evangelista" in his honor.

• Quiet Brilliance: Peers described him as a man of few words but immense action. He was often seen carrying his surveying equipment and transit level onto the battlefield rather than a ceremonial sword.

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Sources

1. Agoncillo, T. A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. Garotech Publishing.

2. Quirino, C. (1995). Who's Who in Philippine History. Tahanan Books.

3. Zaide, G. F. (1970). Great Filipinos in History. Verde Bookstore.

4. National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). Biographical entries on Revolutionary Generals.

5. University of Ghent Archives. Records of Filipino Alumni (1890-1900).

Unknown Filipino Hero: Crispulo Zamora

Crispulo Zamora

Engraver, Silversmith, and Sculptor

(1871 - 1922)

His name is etched on the backs of countless historical plaques, academic medals, and monuments across the country, but little do most Filipinos know that the man behind "Crispulo Zamora & Sons" was a trailblazing artist and a master metalworker whose legacy is deeply ingrained in Philippine history.

Crispulo de Guzman-Mendoza Zamora was a prominent Filipino engraver, silversmith, and sculptor considered the foremost artisan in his field during the late Spanish and American occupational eras in the Philippines. He was not just a businessman, but a classically trained artist who revolutionized the metalworking and engraving industry in the country. From producing religious ornaments and military decorations to crafting commemorative medals for momentous national events, his artistry captured the political, religious, and cultural shifts of his time.

He successfully transitioned from a skilled craftsman to an industrial pioneer, transforming his father's modest Quiapo workshop into a highly acclaimed national enterprise. He secured significant commissions, including the design of medals and ornaments for the U.S. Army, the Philippine Constabulary, and various units of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). After his passing, his firm became an institution of its own, serving the government and private sector for generations and setting the standard for metallurgy and engraving in the country.

Childhood and Matrimony

On June 10, 1871, Crispulo Zamora was born in Sampaloc, Manila, to Mauricio Zamora, a skilled silversmith who taught him the early foundations of the craft. His formal education in the arts began with private lessons from Jose Flores, after which he enrolled at the prestigious Academia de Dibujo y Pintura from 1890 to 1893. There, he trained under distinguished masters Lorenzo de Icaza Rocha and Melecio Magbanua Figueroa. He furthered his studies under Felix Lorenzo Martinez at the Escuela Practica y Professional de Artes Oficios de Manila.

During his time at the Academia, he met a fellow student, Pelagia Gotianquin Mendoza. Pelagia was an exceptional artist in her own right, historically recognized as the first female sculptor in the Philippines. The two later married, and their union produced several children, including Vicente and Clemente. Instead of pursuing independent sculpting careers, the couple merged their talents to manage and elevate the family engraving business. Following Crispulo's death, Pelagia took over the enterprise, introducing modern techniques she learned from her international travels and leading the company to even greater acclaim.

Artistic and Sculptural works

Crispulo Zamora was celebrated as the finest engraver of his time, blending classical art training with meticulous metalworking. After graduating, he initially worked with his brothers under their father's shop before establishing his own legendary reputation. His works ranged from large-scale civic pieces to intricate religious items. Some of his most notable religious creations included the highly detailed chanter of the Manila Cathedral, the exquisite crown for the icon of the Virgin of Peñafrancia in Naga, and the 18-karat gold scepter designed in 1908 for the revered image of Our Lady of La Naval de Manila.

He was highly sought after for state and historical commemorations. In 1907, Zamora designed and struck the official bronze and silvered-bronze medals celebrating the First Philippine Legislative Assembly and the visit of U.S. Secretary of War William Howard Taft. His portfolio also included creating detailed plaques featuring the likenesses of prominent global figures, including U.S. Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, King Alfonso XIII of Spain, and Emperor Yoshihito of Japan.

Collections

Today, Zamora's works are highly prized by numismatists, historians, and museums. Rare medals, such as the 1907 First Philippine Assembly pieces bearing his distinct "CZ" initials, remain highly sought-after artifacts in Philippine numismatics and are carefully cataloged by collectors worldwide.

Beyond private collections, his firm's large-scale castings belong to the public sphere. The Zamora business was contracted to cast major historical monuments and plaques, including the brass markers for the iconic Gomburza National Monument in Plaza Roma, Intramuros. The intricate molds, dies, and historical markers produced by his foundry over the decades formed a vast physical collection that shaped the visual identity of Philippine civic and military honors.

Other Interests

Apart from his technical mastery in metallurgy, Zamora was deeply invested in the modernization of local industry. He and his wife Pelagia shared an intense interest in international art styles and technological advancements.

This curiosity drove them to study foreign techniques, exploring how different nationalities applied their artistry and technology in the production of arts and crafts. This interest in global methodologies allowed them to modernize the Philippine engraving and metalworking industry far beyond the traditional Spanish-colonial methods they inherited.

Serving the Public

While not a politician like Epifanio de los Santos, Zamora served the public by becoming the de facto visual historian of the Philippine government. Starting out as an apprentice in Quiapo, Crispulo eventually took the helm of the family trade and elevated the craft to an industrial scale.

Under his leadership, he provided essential services to the state by minting official government awards, military insignias, and public monuments. His firm dominated the local market for trophies and medals, winning numerous local and international awards. The company was so vital to public infrastructure and state ceremonies that it was legally recognized by the Philippine government, holding such a prominent status that acts of the Philippine Legislature (such as Act No. 3867 in 1931) specifically cited financial transactions and contracts with his firm.

Death and Legacy

On October 11, 1922, Crispulo Zamora passed away. Though his life was relatively short, the institution he built far outlasted him. His wife Pelagia, and later his sons, continued the business, maintaining its status as the premier engraving and metal-crafting firm in the country for decades.

Viuda e Hijos de Crispulo Zamora

For much of the 20th century, the name "Viuda e Hijos de C. Zamora" (Widow and Sons of C. Zamora) stamped on the back of a medal, plaque, or historical marker was a guarantee of excellence and prestige.

It became the gold standard for official government commissions, ensuring that Crispulo Zamora's legacy survived through the Commonwealth era, World War II, and into the modern Republic.

The business became a testament to the enduring partnership between him and Pelagia, proving that their combined artistic vision could forge a lasting industrial empire that recorded the nation's most important milestones.

He was one of the first native artisans to elevate a traditional craft into a highly respected, formalized industry that chronicled the nation’s milestones in bronze, silver, and gold. And he did it with unparalleled skill, marrying artistic elegance with industrial utility. Just as his contemporaries used the pen to define the Filipino identity, Zamora used the crucible and the chisel.

"Every medal, every historical marker, and every monument cast in the fires of his foundry was a permanent testament to a nation's unfolding history. Crispulo Zamora did not merely record the triumphs of his era; he forged them into enduring physical form, proving that the Filipino artisan was second to none."

Sources:

Lakbay ng Lakan - https://lakansining.wordpress.com/tag/crispulo-zamora/

Review of Women's Studies (Women Artists in 19th Century Philippines) - https://scispace.com/pdf/women-artists-and-gender-issues-in-19th-century-philippines-3p1ipxn21d.pdf

JAA Philippine Medals & Tokens - https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/CoinView.aspx?sc=629771

Unknown Filipino Hero: Epifanio de los Santos

 

Epifanio de los Santos

Historian and Scholar

(1871 - 1928)

The famous highway named after him was just the acronym EDSA for most Filipinos but little did they know that this great man is an intellectual and patriotic the level and contemporary of Jose Rizal.

Epifanio de los Santos y Cristóbal, sometimes referred to as Don Pañong or Don Panyong, was a prominent civil servant, journalist, and historian from the Philippines. He was a prominent civil servant, journalist, and historian from the Philippines. In addition, he practiced law, was a philosopher, a bibliophile, a biographer, a painter, a poet, a musician, a literary critic, a librarian, and an antique collector. Some people considered him to be among the greatest Filipino authors of his era.

He also got involved in politics, representing Nueva Ecija as a member of the Malolos Congress from 1898 to 1899 and then as governor of Nueva Ecija from 1902 to 1906. In 1900, he was appointed district attorney of San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, and subsequently served as fiscal of Bataan and Bulacan provinces. He was appointed in 1918 as the Philippine Census's assistant technical director. In 1925, Governor General Leonard Wood named him Director of the Philippine Library and Museum, a position he held until his passing in 1928.

Childhood and Matrimony

On April 7, 1871, Epifanio de los Santos was born in Potrero, Malabon, Manila Province, to Escolastico de los Santos of Nueva Ecija and pianist Antonina Cristóbal y Tongco, who was well-known for her harp and piano skills. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. Although he spent some time painting, music eventually became a part of his everyday life, and he was even given a professorship in the field. After completing his legal education at the University of Santo Tomas, he took the bar exam in 1898. He worked as a private secretary to a high-ranking Spanish official after graduating, a role that was somewhat like to that of a solicitor-general.

When he committed himself to collecting plants and flowers in Nueva Ecija during his college years, Rafael Palma (1930) observed that his collecting instinct was already apparent. He also sought out and spent time with rural communities during this period. "Nobody suspected that he would someday become a literary man" is how Agoncillo puts it. He became interested in Spanish literature as a young law student after reading "Pepita Jimenez" by Juan Valera and other available works. Later, after meeting Valera in Spain, he became friends with him.

Leticia, Fernando, Socrates, Federico, Hipatia Patria, Espacia Lydia, Glicera Ruth, and Margarita were the eight children Epifanio had with his second wife, Margarita Torralba of Malolos, while his first wife, Doña Ursula Paez of Malabon, gave birth to four children: Jose, Rosario, Escolastico, and Antonio. Jose, his first wife's son, went on to become a collector, historian, and biographer. In addition to being a pianist for silent films, his brother Escolastico wrote poetry and told realist stories for Philippine newspapers and magazines. His second wife's son, Socrates, went on to become a prominent aeronautics engineer for the Pentagon.

Scholarly and Literary works

Some people regarded Epifanio as one of the greatest Filipino authors in Spanish at the time. His memberships included the Spanish Royal Academy of History, the Spanish Royal Academy of Literature, and the Spanish Royal Academy of Language in Madrid. Marcelino Menéez y Pelayo was an admirer of his writings.

Epifanio, who wrote in prose under the pen name G, was a youthful associate editor of the revolutionary newspaper "La Independencia" (1898). Solon and a Malolos Congress member as well. La Libertad, El Renaciemento, La Democracia, La Patria, and Malaysia are among the other newspapers he co-founded. Algo de Prosa (1909), Literatura Tagala (1911), El Teatro Tagala (1911), Nuestra Literatura (1913), El Proceso del Dr. José Rizal (1914), and Folklore Musical de Filipinas (1920) are some of his works. Additionally, he wrote Cuentos y paisajes Filipinos (Philippine Stories and Scenes), Filipinas para los Filipinos, Filipinos y filipinistas (Filipinos and Filipinists), and Criminality in the Philippines (1903–1908). He is a linguist in Spanish, English, French, German, and Tagalog.

Lope K. Santos, Rosa Sevilla, Hermenegildo Cruz, and Jaime C. were among the active members of Samahan ng mga Mananagalog, which was founded by Felipe Calderon in 1904. He spoke Ita, Tingian, Spanish, English, French, German, and Ibalao with ease. Florante and Laura were translated into Castilian by him. He belonged to the Academia Filipina de la Lengua Española as an honorary member.

As a scholar, he contributed to early Philippine studies in anthropology, ethnology, archaeology, linguistics, and demography. He traveled to European museums and libraries to collect rare documents and artifacts from and about the Philippines. As a statesman, De los Santos was elected governor of Nueva Ecija in 1902 and 1904. He was the first governor of the province to be democratically elected. After his term, he was appointed provincial fiscal of Bulacan and Bataan. In 1925, Governor General Leonard Wood appointed him director of the National Library and Museum.

Collections

Epifanio de los Santos made a lot of trips in quest of rare Philippine documents. Almost 200 paintings and sculptures, musical compositions, records of operas, written materials, documents and manuscripts pertaining to the revolution, and historical photographs were all part of his collection. His collection of Filipiniana was well-known. In Europe, he was recognized as a philologist and biographer of Philippine subjects.

His collection includes certain printed materials and documents that are thought to be unique. W acknowledged his collections from Rizaliana. Austin Craig, James A. Le-Roy, and E. Retana. 213 materials or documents about the Philippine Revolution and 115 printed works make up his collection. Following his passing, the Philippine Legislature paid ₱19,250.00 to acquire de los Santos's library and collection under the Philippine Clarin Act.

Other Interests

He was regarded as a talented guitarist as well.

According to one story, Antonio Luna offered his guitar to the winner of a quarrel between de los Santos and Clemente Jose Zulueta. According to reports, De los Santos won and got Luna's guitar.

Serving the Public

Up until November 1899, Epifanio de los Santos was one of three delegates from Nueva Ecija in the Malolos Congress, having been elected in September 1898. He was named San Isidro, Nueva Ecija's district attorney in 1900. Later, in 1902 and 1904, he was elected governor of Nueva Ecija, a position he held until 1906. As a result, he became Nueva Ecija's first democratically elected province governor and the leader of the Federal Party. He was chosen to represent the Saint Louis World's Fair in 1904 as a member of the Philippine Commission. Later on, he was named Bataan's and Bulacan's provincial fiscal. In 1907, he penned "Electoral Fraud and its Remedies" (Fraudes Electorales y Sus Remedios) for the Philippine Assembly. He also spent time studying Philippine literature and history. Fires at his home in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, destroyed a portion of his collection. Agoncillo and Palma claim that politics was not his main focus. Governor General Francis Burton Harrison appointed him assistant technical director of the Philippine Census in 1918. 

Following Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, de los Santos was named Director of the Philippine Library and Museum by Governor General Leonard Wood in 1925. Additionally, he became the first native-born Filipino to be elected as the third President of the Philippine Library Association (now known as the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc.). According to Gabriel Bernardo, he gave up "all his other avocations except music and bibliophile" in order to devote himself fully to his profession as director of the Philippine Library.

Death and Legacy

On April 18, 1928, de los Santos passed away while in office. The principal thoroughfare in Metro Manila, Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), bears his name. In his honor, the National Library of the Philippines has named a number of schools, streets, a college, a hospital, a printing press, and an auditorium.

EDSA

On April 7, 1959. Highway 54 was officially renamed Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). The name change was enacted through Republic Act No. 2140 to honor Epifanio de los Santos, a renowned Filipino scholar, historian, and jurist. The date of the law’s passage coincided with his birth anniversary. 

Before becoming Highway 54, the road was known as the North-South Circumferential Road (1930s) and Avenida 19 de Junio (1946), named after Jose Rizal’s birthday.

The name was assigned by the American military after World War II. It was commonly (though mistakenly) believed to be exactly 54 kilometers long.

While it was renamed in 1959, the acronym "EDSA" only became the dominant way to refer to the highway starting in the 1970s.

He was the first well-educated and cultured Filipino to draw his fellow citizens' attention to their own notable personalities as well as to their own poetry, music, art, and literature. And he did it critically, without being overly emotional or chauvinistic. However, he had faith in his people. At one point, he said:

"We Filipinos are the most promising people in the world. We have unheard of possibilities. There never has been a people similarly situated. Here we are in the Orient, with our Oriental thoughts and sentiments, but living amidst a civilization more Western than was ever known in the East. The Philippines is the only country where East meets West. The Filipino is a true cosmopolite. From him the world may expect something new and distinctive." - Epifanio de los Santos

Sources:

CulturED Philippines - https://philippineculturaleducation.com.ph/de-los-santos-epifanio/

The Kahimyang Project -https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1060/today-in-philippine-history-april-7-1871-epifanio-de-los-santos-was-born-in-malabon

Munting Nayon - https://muntingnayon.com/102/102441/index.php

This very long stretch important main highway in Metro Manila is popularly called EDSA beginning only in the 1970s named in honor of this great intellectual and nationalist.

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

Gay Filipino In History - Walterina Markova

Walterina Markova (1924 - 2005) 

Filipino Comfort Gay

Birth Name: Walter Dempster Jr.

Birth Date: May 20, 1924, in Pasay, Rizal

Death: June 24, 2005

During the Japanese conquest of the Philippines in World War II, Walter Dempster Jr. (May 20, 1924 – June 24, 2005), better known by his nickname Walterina Markova, was a gay Filipino who was compelled to work as a "comfort gay" (sex slave) for Imperial Japanese Army soldiers.

As a young child growing up in Manila in the 1930s, Markova's life was already influenced by cruelty. He was frequently harassed and mistreated as a child by his older brother, Robert. When Robert passed away, he experienced independence for the first time.

According to Markova, he was first unconcerned by the Japanese soldiers' presence in the nation in the early 1940s. Actually, the soldiers only chuckled when they witnessed his gang rifling through a Harrison food shop.

However, Japanese forces searching for Americans nearly arrested him during a raid. When the military arrived, he was accompanied by his American stepfather, and they brought him to a garrison at the University of Sto. Tomas.

Markova claimed that the Japanese soldiers eventually turned vicious. He remarked, "In the land they do not own, they were like kings." Rice, vegetables, and other goods were seized by the soldiers to be kept in their barracks. By then, he recalled, forced labor was also enforced.

Markova joined a gang of six drag queens, or crossdressing performers, after leaving home. Japanese forces detained him when he was a member of this group and brought him to what is now the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

For several years, he and his friends—along with other "comfort gays"—were forced to work and were sexually exploited by Japanese soldiers, who utilized the "comfort women" for their own purposes.

During World War II, when homosexuality was seen as a societal taboo and a cardinal sin, the Japanese army compelled him to work as a sex slave.

At Japanese sentry stations, violence was a common occurrence. Markova said how they were told to exit the car in order to give them a salute. They would be beaten severely if they did not perform the proper salute, which is to bow the head to hip level with the hands-on top of the thighs. He held his cheeks and remarked, "Pag hindi maganda ang saludo mo sasampalin ka…bibigyan ka ng mag-asawang sampal" (If the salute was not performed correctly, the soldiers would slap you on both sides of your face).

After learning from an informant that a gay man had killed a Japanese in retaliation for the loss of his parents, Japanese soldiers were once hunting out gays. At the San Beda College gate, a gay acquaintance was detained, shackled, and subjected to beatings and cigarette burns by passing Japanese soldiers. Only when another gay suspect—who was thought to be the Japanese murderer—was apprehended was he released.

The culprit was then taken to Fort Santiago, according to Markova, where burning wood was placed beneath his feet and his arms were hung. It appears that during torture, all of his toenails were ripped out.

Between 80,000 and 200,000 women were reportedly coerced into serving Japanese troops at "comfort stations" across the Pacific during World War II, according to historical records.

Even when men were around, Filipino women were not safe in those days. In reality, women were raped anywhere, at any time, and even in front of their male friends, according to Markova. "They would compel women to accompany them and sexually assault them anywhere," Markova said, describing the ways in which they would violate their rights.

Markova and his gay pals were not exempt from such "service" at the age of 18, which is considered to be the age of adolescence for women.

When Markova's barkada (friends) were brought to the Japanese officials' suites at the Manila Hotel, Japanese soldiers initially thought they were ladies. In addition to being beaten with weapons for their "deception," all drag queens were ordered to be detained. After being taken to a place that is now known as the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the gays were raped far more frequently than comfort ladies and turned into comfort drag queens.

"Buti sana eh hindi kung isang beses lang ginawa sa amin 'yon." Lahat ng klaseng kababuyan ginawa sa amin. "Mga bakla ito, hindi ito mga tunay na babae." He recalled, "Di ka naman makapagsabi ng 'huwag,' e bayoneta ang kaharap mo" (They did it not once, but multiple times; they were even enraged that we were gay and not women; they did all kinds of nasty things to us and we were unable to defend ourselves because their bayonets were pointed at us).

The barkada or friends would be transported to other Japanese camps for years in order to provide the soldiers with their "service." They simply had a set of clothes back then, Markova disclosed. He said that while they were washing their garments, they would just wear rice sacks.

Additionally, the barkada were forced to perform labor. They would wash the soldiers' uniforms and shine their battle shoes every morning before cleaning their barracks. The lawn in front of Manila City Hall also needed to be mowed.

He claimed that despite all of their "service" and other labor, they were frequently just given lugaw (rice porridge) to eat. Giving them sisid rice—sea rice that had to be fried due to its unpleasant odor—along with mongo beans and ginataang ubod ng saging, or banana stalk cooked with coconut milk, was already a feast for them.

Markova witnessed the army raiding communities nearly every day while they were in Japanese prison. Those who were arrested would be slain after having their hands tied. "D'yan sa may Remedios Church, ang daming paring Amerikanong pinatay d'yan" (Many American priests were slaughtered at the Remedios Church in Baclaran), he said.

Markova, however, was appalled by the infant deaths. "Cheers to the sanggol!"Ihahagis nila nang pataas bago sasaluhin ng bayoneta," Markova muttered, shaking his head in fear. (Babies were hurled up in mid-air and their bodies punctured by bayonets as they came down.)

These terrible events caused Markova to live each day as though it were his last. Nevertheless, his desire to regain his freedom had not been forgotten.

About a year before American troops returned, he had an opportunity to run for freedom. He was traveling to another Japanese garrison in a military truck with a few friends. The Japanese soldiers had to disembark to inspect the truck due to a mechanical issue. It was then that Markova and his companions fled. The Japanese soldiers pursued them through a grassy field that is known today as the EDSA highway, but it was too late for them. 

Markova witnessed a captured Japanese soldier bound to the rear of a jeep one day during the "liberation." He claimed to have struck the soldier with an umbrella in retaliation. Then he removed a safety pin and poked the inmate several times.

When the soldier's American prisoners attempted to step in, he warned them, "You don't know what the Japanese did to us...they tortured us."

To exact revenge for what they had done to us, I slapped the Japanese and then struck his arms, head, and face. “But nahampas ko na ‘yung Hapon…kung saan ko hampasin, sa likod, sa braso, sa ulo, sa mukha, para makaganti ako sa galit ko sa ginawa sa amin.”

Markova was eventually left alone to tell this story after learning that his two other gay friends had been killed in a raid shortly before the Japanese occupation ended.

He retired from crossdressing years after the war ended and worked as a makeup artist for the motion picture industry. He also discovered that some macho actors in the movie business were in relationships with gay lovers.

He would spend the night in the Home for the Golden Gays in Pasay City, where other elderly gay people who had experienced persecution from society also sought safety.

Additionally, he started training young Filipinas part-time to work as exotic dancers in Japan.

Markova never believed that his story, which was already widely known in print and on television, would be worthy of a movie. Dolphy, the comedy king of the film industry, depicts his life in much more detail.

His final years were spent in Pasay City at the Home for the Golden Gays. When he was unintentionally struck by a racing bike on June 24, 2005, he passed away at the age of 81.

He was cited as saying: "Tayo namang tao ay hindi talaga magtatagal. Kaya ako lumabas ay para magbigay inspirasyon lalo na mga baklang hanggang ngayon ay inaalipusta pa rin. Because of this, naniniwala ako na hindi lang ang sarili ko ang napalaya ko mula sa ganitong pagtingin." (As humans, we won't live long. By sharing my own story, I hope to inspire other gays who are still oppressed today, and by doing so, I may have likely granted freedom to many other gay people.)

Gil Portes directed the 2000 movie Markova: Comfort Gay, which was based on his narrative. It was screened at the San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival as well as the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in 2002.

Source Article: 

WP, excerpts from AUBREY SC MAKILAN's interview of Walter Dempster Jr for Bulatlat.com

Photo Source: 

The Probe Team

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.