Albay to honor bravery of hero General Ola

The province of Albay will celebrate the 151st birthday of Gen. Simeon Arboleda Ola, the last Filipino general to surrender to American forces during the Filipino-American War. INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON

GUINOBATAN, Albay—Albay province will celebrate the 151st birth anniversary of Gen. Simeon Arboleda Ola tomorrow, a special nonworking holiday, in honor of the local hero’s contribution to the country’s independence.

Local government unit officials, headed by Mayor Gemma Ongjoco, will offer a holy Mass at Our Lady of Assumption parish on Thursday morning. Students and other stakeholders will also lay bouquet of flowers at his monument situated near the church.

A 21-gun salute will also be done as a gesture of recognition of Ola’s bravery as the last Filipino general soldier to surrender during the Filipino-American war.

“Paying tribute to General Ola is the only thing we can do, because he is our pride and we consider him as our hero,” Ongjoco said.

The public are also encouraged to visit the Ola Museum to get a glimpse of the general’s artifacts and belongings, which he used during the war./rga