Remembering a Great General

Miguel, Malvar Carpio, a filipino, farmer, businessman, politician, revolutionary

general, a hero. Born on Sep 27, 1865 from Santo Tomas Batangas in Southern
Tagalog. In the age 18. Son of Maximo Malvar and Tiburcia Carpio. A lovingly husband
to Paula Maloles daughter of Crispina Chavez and Ambrosio Maloles, a capitan from
some town in Santo Tomas.
He run for election for gobernadorcillo of Santo Tomas, lost, but through high
hopes of his companions, and leadership skills he become the gobernadorcillo of Santo
Tomas in the next election. In that time, the influence of catholic church in politics is
massive. They wanted control over the town. The corrupt friars. Because of this he
became enemy of the church, he rejected this system. But later on, they accused his
father, Maximo Malvar a filibuster and imprisoned him.
When the revolution started, together with the great names of Philippine
Revolution; like Andress Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Juan Luna etc. He participated
first by beating the Spanish force in Talisay. As a native of southern tagalog he took hide
in Mount Makiling. Through his innate leadership he gained a lot of followers and they
rally themseves in Cavite. They become part of Emilio Aguinaldo’s troops assigned first
in Zapote. He is recognized by Emilio Aguinaldo and promoted as lieutenant general in
the revolutionary government.
Following the Biyak-na-bato Pact, revolutionary activity momentarily came to an
end. The final person to give up an arm was General Malvar. Aguinaldo and a group of
generals and officers left on a voluntary exile on December 27, 1897. Malvar wasn't
present. He didn't join the exiled leaders until the next year. Malvar was selected as the
first cashier-administrator of the revolutionary funds in Hong Kong, where the
revolutionaries built their temporary headquarters and made plans for a second
revolution, based on his demonstrated financial and executive acumen. Malvar returned
to the Philippines about a month after Aguinaldo did; he arrived in Manila on June 15,
1898, carrying 20,000 rifles. After that, he was busy gathering troops in Batangas,
Mindoro, and Tayabas' provinces upon being named commanding general for Southern
Luzon. Since it was now clear that American weapons were better, open fighting proved
expensive for the revolutionary forces. After General Luna was killed in Cabanatuan, the
Filipino army lost its cohesiveness. The system of military organization changed to
smaller units under a general's command, with an area or zone allotted to each.
Because General Malvar was familiar with the terrain in and around Mount Makiling, he
chose this location to begin harassing raids against American forces. Guerrilla warfare
eventually proved to be the safest strategy. But as American fortifications grew stronger,
his area of action and supply sources grew increasingly constrained. The Americans
adopted the policy of “reconcentration” forcing barrio folks to live within certain zones in
order to break up the supply lines of the insurgents.
Sometime in the following year, 1900, Major J. H Parker of the 39th Infantry, U.S.A.,
wrote him as follows:
General, you have gallantly fought, and have had great achievements which will leave a
memory in the history of our country and in the minds of our children. But, sir, you have
already fulfilled the duty of a soldier, and it is not possible to prevent the American
soldiers from carrying out the order of their superiors, and still less to send them away. I
will soon give orders to surround you and take you prisoner. I desire nothing but peace
and prosperity in this place where I have to reside. I think it is in your power to bring that
peace and prosperity. I would rather you would come to your native town as an
honorable and honest soldier, who has fulfilled his duty, this being better than to be a
prisoner like General Rizal. I will feel myself flattered by the honor of receiving your
honorable capitulation, and happy to see you in your own house here at Tanawan or at
Santo Tomas…

To this General Malvar replied on May 11th as a fine soldier, diplomat, and gentleman
as follows:
I and all the forces under my command are witnesses before the whole world of the
valor of the American blood, of the honor and discipline of their army, of the superiority
of their artillery, and of the humanity and chivalry of her nation. But the same facts
cause us to hope greatly, that the American people, deceived by certain Filipinos, who
misinformed them that the people like annexation, be acquainted with the fact that for
every soldier they lose on the battlefield the Filipinos lose 100, their very power and
greatness compel them to give us the independence which has been commenced since
the first coming of the powerful fleet of the United States for the honor and glory of the
American people. I must also signify to you that till the moment when our scarce bullets
shall meet for the last time the overwhelming numbers of those of your powerful army,
our shots demand not the death of any American, but the freedom of a people who for
300 years have dragged the chain of slavery.

Though, he surrendered at the end because of inhumane policies of the American

government. On April 16, 1901 he gave up his arms in some jungle in Rosario,
Batangas. He wrote a letter to General Bell saying that he gave up because of the
suffering of the Philippine people. He had to consider the welfare of his men. The
epidemic that surge in that time, cholera. Historians says that many died from warfare
but also in epidemic. The American offers him a position in American government. Still
he to came back in his hometown in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. He lived a peaceful life and
continued his career as a farmer. And died at the age of 46 by cholera. I can see the
simple way of living of General Miguel Malvar. He achieved a lot. He became a
successful politician, successful business man, great general, loving husband,
responsible father and true son in the Philippines.