Martin Teofilo Delgado
Encyclopedia
Martin Teofilo Delgado was a Visayan military leader during the Philippine Revolution
and the Philippine-American War
.
. He completed his schooling at the Santa Barbara Parochial School and later at the Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer in Jaro
and Ateneo Municipal in Manila
.
Government in the Philippines
. During this period he was conferring in secret with other Visayan revolutionaries, in preparation for the liberation of the Philippines from Spanish rule.
On October 28, 1898 Tan Martin (Martin Teofilo Delgado) marched into Santa Barbara
and took over the municipal building. On the same day, uprisings were held simultaneously in towns across Iloilo
. On November 17, 1898 Martin Delgado was promoted to lieutenant general. On December 24, 1898 the Spanish forces under the command of General Diego de los Rios
evacuated Iloilo
and the Filipino flag was raised on Christmas Day. On December 28, 1898 General Marcus P. Miller leading the American force arrived to conquer Panay
. Assisted by warships from Admiral George Dewey
, they lowered the Filipino flag and hoisted the American one, signifying American control.
General Delgado encouraged rebel troops to revive their nationalist cause. As the military governor of the province and General-in-Chief of the army, he challenged the American forces led by General Hughes using guerrilla tactics. Eventually, leading citizens of Iloilo wrote a circular urging General Delgado to surrender for the benefit of "the victims of useless resistance."
On February 2, 1901 General Delgado formally surrendered in Jaro to the American military governor, Edmund Rice
. Up to the time of his surrender, Delgado was heralded as the chief insurgent leader on the island of Panay. He was recognized by the Americans as "the ablest leader" on the island and honored him with the appointment of the First Governor of Iloilo province upon the establishment of the Civil Government on 11 April 1901. On March 3, 1902, the first local election was held. He was elected governor of Panay and served until 1904. After his term, he returned to his hometown of Santa Barbara and served for eight years as superintendent of a leprosy sanitarium. He spent his last years as superintendent of the leper colony on the island of Culion where he died on November 12, 1918 at the age of 60. A statue was erected in his honor in the town square of Santa Barbara, Iloilo in 1998 during the occasion of the Philippine Centenary celebrations.
Philippine Revolution
The Philippine Revolution , called the "Tagalog War" by the Spanish, was an armed military conflict between the people of the Philippines and the Spanish colonial authorities which resulted in the secession of the Philippine Islands from the Spanish Empire.The Philippine Revolution began in August...
and the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
.
Early life & education
Martin Delgado born 11 November 1858 to Don Jacinto Delgado and Gabriella Bermejo in Santa Barbara, IloiloSanta Barbara, Iloilo
Santa Barbara is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 46,076 in 8,821 households and is strategically located in the center of Iloilo, 15.7 kilometers away from the Iloilo City.The Iloilo International Airport is...
. He completed his schooling at the Santa Barbara Parochial School and later at the Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer in Jaro
Jaro
-Philippines:*Jaro, Leyte a municipality in the province of Leyte*Jaro, Iloilo City a district of Iloilo City-See also:*Jaro–Winkler distance*Jaro Medien a German music company*Jaro Records, a subsidiary of Rank Records...
and Ateneo Municipal in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
.
Military and political career
At 25, he was appointed teniente mayor of his hometown and capitan municipal, positions under the SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Government in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. During this period he was conferring in secret with other Visayan revolutionaries, in preparation for the liberation of the Philippines from Spanish rule.
On October 28, 1898 Tan Martin (Martin Teofilo Delgado) marched into Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, Iloilo
Santa Barbara is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 46,076 in 8,821 households and is strategically located in the center of Iloilo, 15.7 kilometers away from the Iloilo City.The Iloilo International Airport is...
and took over the municipal building. On the same day, uprisings were held simultaneously in towns across Iloilo
Iloilo
Iloilo is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of Panay Island and is bordered by Antique Province to the west and Capiz Province and the Jintotolo Channel to the north. Just off Iloilo's southeast coast is Guimaras Province,...
. On November 17, 1898 Martin Delgado was promoted to lieutenant general. On December 24, 1898 the Spanish forces under the command of General Diego de los Rios
Diego de los Ríos
Diego de los Ríos was the last Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines. He became the governor during the Spanish American War with the capital at Iloilo on August 13, 1898. He later transferred his capital to Fort Pilar in Zamboanga when he saw the Visayan rebels closing on him in October of...
evacuated Iloilo
Iloilo
Iloilo is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of Panay Island and is bordered by Antique Province to the west and Capiz Province and the Jintotolo Channel to the north. Just off Iloilo's southeast coast is Guimaras Province,...
and the Filipino flag was raised on Christmas Day. On December 28, 1898 General Marcus P. Miller leading the American force arrived to conquer Panay
Panay
Panay may refer to*Panay Island*Panay *Panay, Capiz*Panay River*Panay Gulf* USS Panay *Panay incident...
. Assisted by warships from Admiral George Dewey
George Dewey
George Dewey was an admiral of the United States Navy. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War...
, they lowered the Filipino flag and hoisted the American one, signifying American control.
General Delgado encouraged rebel troops to revive their nationalist cause. As the military governor of the province and General-in-Chief of the army, he challenged the American forces led by General Hughes using guerrilla tactics. Eventually, leading citizens of Iloilo wrote a circular urging General Delgado to surrender for the benefit of "the victims of useless resistance."
On February 2, 1901 General Delgado formally surrendered in Jaro to the American military governor, Edmund Rice
Edmund Rice (general)
Edmund Rice was a soldier in the United States Army and a Medal of Honor recipient who achieved the rank of Brigadier General.-Early life:...
. Up to the time of his surrender, Delgado was heralded as the chief insurgent leader on the island of Panay. He was recognized by the Americans as "the ablest leader" on the island and honored him with the appointment of the First Governor of Iloilo province upon the establishment of the Civil Government on 11 April 1901. On March 3, 1902, the first local election was held. He was elected governor of Panay and served until 1904. After his term, he returned to his hometown of Santa Barbara and served for eight years as superintendent of a leprosy sanitarium. He spent his last years as superintendent of the leper colony on the island of Culion where he died on November 12, 1918 at the age of 60. A statue was erected in his honor in the town square of Santa Barbara, Iloilo in 1998 during the occasion of the Philippine Centenary celebrations.