In The Know: Remembering Miguel Malvar

Born in Santo Tomas, Batangas province, on Sept. 27, 1865, Miguel Malvar became a gobernadorcillo in 1892. When the 1896 Philippine Revolution broke out, he joined the Katipunan and led a small force in the attack on a Spanish military unit in Talisay, Batangas.

He then joined the revolutionary forces in Cavite province. On March 31, 1897, he was promoted to lieutenant general. He was also the first administrator of the revolutionary funds.

After the outbreak of the Filipino-American War in 1899, Malvar became a brigadier general. When Emilio Aguinaldo was captured, he became the commander in chief of the Filipino forces.

He continued to fight even as other guerrilla leaders were captured or forced to surrender. Americans also sent citizens to persuade him to surrender.

On April 16, 1902, Malvar presented himself at the headquarters of Gen. Franklin Bell. In recognition of his patriotism, he was neither imprisoned nor exiled. He declined the offer to be governor of Batangas and went back to farming.

He died of a liver ailment in Manila on Oct. 13, 1911, at 46. He was buried with military honors in his hometown. —Inquirer Research

Source: Filipinos in History Volume 2 by the National Historical Institute