Arcadio Maxilom
Encyclopedia
General Arcadio Maxilom y Molero (November 13, 1862–August 10, 1924) was a Filipino
teacher
and hero of the Philippine Revolution
.
He was born in Tuburan, Cebu
to Roberto Maxilom, the town gobernadorcillo
, and Gregoria Molero. His family were members of the local gentry, or principalía. He worked as a teacher in the local school before joining the Katipunan
, whose activities in Cebu
were led by a young Negrense
, León Kilat
.
After Kilat's betrayal
and assassination
, Maxilom continued the revolution in Cebu. Under his command, the Katipunan was able to regroup in the central highlands
, which Spanish forces
found impenetrable. On December 16, 1898, Maxilom wrote a letter to the Spanish authorities
in Cebu, demanding that the latter surrender. Weary after incessant fighting, the Spaniards quickly responded, asking Maxilom for two to three days to leave the province. By Christmas Eve
, the Spaniards have left, leaving behind only three Catholic
clerics.
Little did the Cebuanos
, indeed, all Filipinos
, know that their newfound liberty
would be short-lived, Spain
having already been forced to sell the fate of their former subjects to the United States
for twenty million dollars
(see Treaty of Paris
).
Maxilom is best remembered for stubbornly refusing to surrender to the American occupying forces
even as his fellow revolutionaries in Manila
and Cebu
were starting to capitulate or collaborate
with the new colonial
power. He finally surrendered on October 27, 1901.
Virtually forgotten after the revolution, Maxilom died in his hometown of Tuburan
, after a long bout with paralysis
, on August 10, 1924. His funeral cortège, joined in by leading revolutionary figures including Emilio Aguinaldo
, stretched some four kilometers, in what remains to this day the longest in Cebu's history.
Mango Avenue, one of Cebu City
's main thoroughfares, was renamed Maxilom Avenue in honor of the general.
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...
teacher
Education in the Philippines
During the period of governance of Spain and the United States, education in the Philippines changed radically, mostly modeled on the system of education in the United States of the time...
and hero of the Philippine Revolution
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...
.
He was born in Tuburan, Cebu
Tuburan, Cebu
Tuburan is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 53,663 people.Tuburan was founded in the 1851 by Don Mariano Montebon who came from the town of Sogod...
to Roberto Maxilom, the town gobernadorcillo
Gobernadorcillo
The Gobernadorcillo was a municipal judge or governor in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period, who carried out in a town the combined charge or responsibility of leadership, economic, and judicial administration. The Gobernadorcillo was the leader of a town or pueblo . In a coastal...
, and Gregoria Molero. His family were members of the local gentry, or principalía. He worked as a teacher in the local school before joining the Katipunan
Katipunan
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...
, whose activities in Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
were led by a young Negrense
Negros Oriental
Negros Oriental is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. It occupies the south-eastern half of the island of Negros, with Negros Occidental comprising the north-western half. It also includes Apo Island — a popular dive site for both local and foreign tourists...
, León Kilat
León Kilat
Pantaleón Villegas better known as León Kilat , was a revolutionary leader in Cebu during the Philippine Revolution against Spain. He was born in Bacong, Negros Oriental, to Don Policarpio Villegas and Doña Ursula Soldi...
.
After Kilat's betrayal
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
and assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
, Maxilom continued the revolution in Cebu. Under his command, the Katipunan was able to regroup in the central highlands
Central Cebu Protected Landscape
The Central Cebu Protected Landscape, is a protected area located in the mountains and drainage basins of central Cebu in the Philippines....
, which Spanish forces
Spanish Armed Forces
The Spanish Armed Forces are the military forces of the Kingdom of Spain. The Spanish Armed Forces are a modern military force charged with defending the Kingdom's integrity and sovereignty...
found impenetrable. On December 16, 1898, Maxilom wrote a letter to the Spanish authorities
Spanish Government
Spain is a constitutional monarchy whose government is defined by the Constitution of Spain. This was approved by a general referendum of the people of Spain in 1978...
in Cebu, demanding that the latter surrender. Weary after incessant fighting, the Spaniards quickly responded, asking Maxilom for two to three days to leave the province. By Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
, the Spaniards have left, leaving behind only three Catholic
Roman Catholicism in the Philippines
The Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, in full communion with the Pope.With 73.8 million members in 2005, it is the predominant religion, making the Philippines the third largest "Catholic" nation in the world after Brazil and Mexico, as well as one...
clerics.
Little did the Cebuanos
Cebuano people
The Cebuano people , are a Visayan ethnic group in Cebu and form the second largest cultural-linguistic group in the Philippines.-History:...
, indeed, all Filipinos
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
, know that their newfound liberty
Philippine Declaration of Independence
The Philippine Declaration of Independence occurred on June 12, 1898 in Cavite II el Viejo , Cavite, Philippines. With the public reading of the Act of the Declaration of Independence, Filipino revolutionary forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the...
would be short-lived, Spain
Spain
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...
having already been forced to sell the fate of their former subjects to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for twenty million dollars
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
(see Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1898)
The Treaty of Paris of 1898 was signed on December 10, 1898, at the end of the Spanish-American War, and came into effect on April 11, 1899, when the ratifications were exchanged....
).
Maxilom is best remembered for stubbornly refusing to surrender to the American occupying forces
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
even as his fellow revolutionaries in Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
and Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
were starting to capitulate or collaborate
Collaborationism
Collaborationism is cooperation with enemy forces against one's country. Legally, it may be considered as a form of treason. Collaborationism may be associated with criminal deeds in the service of the occupying power, which may include complicity with the occupying power in murder, persecutions,...
with the new colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
power. He finally surrendered on October 27, 1901.
Virtually forgotten after the revolution, Maxilom died in his hometown of Tuburan
Tuburan, Cebu
Tuburan is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 53,663 people.Tuburan was founded in the 1851 by Don Mariano Montebon who came from the town of Sogod...
, after a long bout with paralysis
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
, on August 10, 1924. His funeral cortège, joined in by leading revolutionary figures including Emilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy was a Filipino general, politician, and independence leader. He played an instrumental role during the Philippines' revolution against Spain, and the subsequent Philippine-American War or War of Philippine Independence that resisted American occupation...
, stretched some four kilometers, in what remains to this day the longest in Cebu's history.
Mango Avenue, one of Cebu City
Cebu City
The City of Cebu is the capital city of Cebu and is the second largest city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines and known as the oldest settlement established by the Spaniards in the country.The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was...
's main thoroughfares, was renamed Maxilom Avenue in honor of the general.