Vicente Alvarez
Encyclopedia
General Vicente Alvarez is a Philippine revolutionary general who led the revolution in Zamboanga
which forced the last Spanish troops stationed there to flee from the Philippines
.
. Alvarez terminated his elementary course at the Liceo de Zamboanga inside Fort Pilar
and pursued his military studies at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila
.
when it was established in 1892. It was in 1895 when the Spanish government discovered his actions. As a result of his treason, he was punished by sending him into a mission in Sulu
to pacify a quarrel between the Sultan and the landowners there. Because of his hard work of diplomacy, in 1897, the landowners and the Sultan quickly agreed on a compromise and recognized Alvarez' judgment and authority. The Sultan designated him the title Datu Tumanggung, giving him jurisdiction over the constituents of the Sultan in Basilan
and Zamboanga
. Because of his accomplishments, he was pardoned by the Governor-General.
In 1898, prominent Zamboangueños organized a revolutionary group to fight the Spanish that remained in Zamboanga
after they were forced to abandon Manila
and Iloilo
during the Spanish-American War
. The council then elected Alvarez as their commanding general.
After organizing enough troops, he laid siege against the Spanish stronghold of Real Fuerza de Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar de Zaragoza
in April 1899. The siege last until in May 18, 1899, the Spanish compelled to surrender. General Alvarez then proclaimed a revolutionary government as the Republic of Zamboanga
with him as its first president.
After Zamboanga's independence from the Spanish, Alvarez met opposition with Isidro Medel. Medel, who is an ally of the occupying Americans, forced Alvarez from office. Alvarez then fled to Basilan
in November 16, 1899. Medel replaced him as president of the republic which is now a protectorate under the United States
. After that, Alvarez faded away from the public eye.
Today, he is remembered by the Zamboangueños as their local hero. A busy street is named after him at downtown Zamboanga. In July 3, 2008, the Zamboanga City Council approved the City Ordinance 334 naming Plaza Roma situated at the corner of Don Pablo Lorenzo St., Zaragoza St. and Gen. V. Alvarez St. as Plaza Vicente S. Alvarez.
Zamboanga City
The City of Zamboanga : is a highly urbanized, independent and a chartered city located in Mindanao, Philippines....
which forced the last Spanish troops stationed there to flee from 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...
.
Early life
Vicente Solis Alvarez was born in April 5, 1862 to Alejo Alvarez and Isidora Solis in Magay, ZamboangaZamboanga City
The City of Zamboanga : is a highly urbanized, independent and a chartered city located in Mindanao, Philippines....
. Alvarez terminated his elementary course at the Liceo de Zamboanga inside Fort Pilar
Fort Pilar
Fort Pilar is a 17th century military defense fortress built by the Spanish colonial government in Zamboanga City on Mindanao Island in the Republic of the Philippines...
and pursued his military studies at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
.
Malacañang Service
Alvarez was later assigned to the Malacañang Palace to serve under the Governor-General of the Philippines. During his service for the Governor-General, he joined the KatipunanKatipunan
The Katipunan was a Philippine revolutionary society founded by anti-Spanish Filipinos in Manila in 1892, whose primary aim was to gain independence from Spain through revolution. The society was initiated by Filipino patriots Andrés Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata, Ladislao Diwa, and others on the night...
when it was established in 1892. It was in 1895 when the Spanish government discovered his actions. As a result of his treason, he was punished by sending him into a mission in Sulu
Sulu
Sulu is an autonomous island province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Jolo and occupies the middle group of islands of the Sulu Archipelago, between Basilan and Tawi-Tawi...
to pacify a quarrel between the Sultan and the landowners there. Because of his hard work of diplomacy, in 1897, the landowners and the Sultan quickly agreed on a compromise and recognized Alvarez' judgment and authority. The Sultan designated him the title Datu Tumanggung, giving him jurisdiction over the constituents of the Sultan in Basilan
Basilan
The Province of Basilan is an island province of the Philippines within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Basilan is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago and is located just off the southern coast of Zamboanga Peninsula...
and Zamboanga
Zamboanga City
The City of Zamboanga : is a highly urbanized, independent and a chartered city located in Mindanao, Philippines....
. Because of his accomplishments, he was pardoned by the Governor-General.
Republic of Zamboanga
Zamboanga (province)
Zamboanga is a former province of the Philippines located in the western region of the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.-Creation:During the time of the United States' purchase of the Philippines of 1898, the Republic of Zamboanga had its own independence and jurisdiction on what is now...
after they were forced to abandon 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,...
and 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,...
during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
. The council then elected Alvarez as their commanding general.
After organizing enough troops, he laid siege against the Spanish stronghold of Real Fuerza de Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar de Zaragoza
Fort Pilar
Fort Pilar is a 17th century military defense fortress built by the Spanish colonial government in Zamboanga City on Mindanao Island in the Republic of the Philippines...
in April 1899. The siege last until in May 18, 1899, the Spanish compelled to surrender. General Alvarez then proclaimed a revolutionary government as the Republic of Zamboanga
Republic of Zamboanga
The Republic of Zamboanga was a short-lived revolutionary republic, founded after the collapse of Spanish colonial rule in Zamboanga in 1899.-End of Spanish Occupation:...
with him as its first president.
After Zamboanga's independence from the Spanish, Alvarez met opposition with Isidro Medel. Medel, who is an ally of the occupying Americans, forced Alvarez from office. Alvarez then fled to Basilan
Basilan
The Province of Basilan is an island province of the Philippines within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Basilan is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago and is located just off the southern coast of Zamboanga Peninsula...
in November 16, 1899. Medel replaced him as president of the republic which is now a protectorate under the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. After that, Alvarez faded away from the public eye.
Legacy
Alvarez died in November 4, 1942, leaving a legacy as revolutionary leader who fought foreign occupation in Zamboanga and in the Philippines. Shortly before his death, he apparently spoke out against the Japanese occupation in the Philippines.Today, he is remembered by the Zamboangueños as their local hero. A busy street is named after him at downtown Zamboanga. In July 3, 2008, the Zamboanga City Council approved the City Ordinance 334 naming Plaza Roma situated at the corner of Don Pablo Lorenzo St., Zaragoza St. and Gen. V. Alvarez St. as Plaza Vicente S. Alvarez.