Pedro Paterno
Encyclopedia
Pedro Alejandro Paterno y de Vera-Ignacio, also spelled Pedro Alejandro Paterno y Debera Ignacio (born on February 17, 1857 - died on April 26, 1911; in some references the birth date is February 27, 1858 while the death date is March 11, 1911) was a Filipino
politician
, as well as a poet
and novelist.
His intervention on behalf of the Spanish led to the signing of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato
on December 14, 1897, an account of which he published in 1910. Among his other works include the first novel written by a native Filipino, Ninay
(1885), and the first Filipino collection of poems in Spanish
, Sampaguitas y otras poesías varias
(Jasmines and Other Poems), published in Madrid in 1880.
He finished Bachiller en Artes in Ateneo de Manila . He gained fame with his conclusion. He still continued studies at University of Salamanca. Here he took courses Philosophy and Theology, then he moved to the Central University of Madrid where he also graduated expertise in law in 1880 .
He is called the mediator of the Spaniards and Filipinos to achieve peace deal with the Spaniards. According to him, because Spanish is less than a hundred people with incoherence in the Philippines. But is firmly opposed by the people because they want to fight for true freedom of the Philippines.
in 1896, it was suggested that Paterno, along with Rizal, had incited the Katipunan because they had both written about the ancient Tagalog civilization. As evidence for their complicity, the Spanish prosecution cited Paterno's earlier work "Antigua Civilización" as promoting ideas which had "consequences both erroneous and injurious to Spanish sovereignty." Nobody moved against Paterno, however, because he was close to a significant number of Spanish officials - both military and civilian - who could vouch for him. Thus, Paterno, like many others of the Manila elite, distanced himself from the events of the Katipunan revolution.
In 1897 the Philippine revolutionary forces led by Emilio Aguinaldo
had been driven out of Cavite
and retreated northwards from town to town until they finally settled in Biak-na-Bato, in the town of San Miguel de Mayumo in Bulacan
. Here, they established what became known as the Republic of Biak-na-Bato
.
In late July, 1897, Paterno voluntarily presented himself to Governor General Fernando Primo de Rivera
, whom he had known while living in Spain, and offered his services as a mediator.
Because many highly-placed Spaniards of the time thought Paterno held great sway over the natives, Primo de Rivera accepted Paterno's offer. He called for a truce, explaining his decision to the Cortes Generales
: "I can take Biak-na-Bato, any military man can take it, but I can not answer that I could crush the rebellion."
Paterno left Manila on August 4, 1897 and found Aguinaldo five days later. This began a three-month-long series of talks which saw Paterno constantly shuffling between Manila, Biyak-na-bato, and some areas in Southern Luzon where a number of revolutionary chiefs held sway. During the negotiations, Paterno's wife Luisa died on November 27, 1897.
In ceremonies on December 14-15 that year, Aguinaldo signed the Pact of Biak-na-bato. He proclaimed the official end of the Philippine revolution on Christmas Day, and on left for Hong Kong via the port of Dagupan on December 27.
He returned to Manila on January 11 amidst great celebration, but was spurned by Primo de Rivera and other authorities when he asked to be recompensed by being granted a dukedom, a seat on the Spanish Senate, and payment for his services in Mexican Dollars.
of the first Philippine republic in the middle of 1899, and served as head of the country's assembly
, and the cabinet
.
after the signing of the Treaty of Paris
in 1898, he was among the most prominent Filipinos who joined the American side and advocated the incorporation of the Philippines into the United States
.
on April 26, 1911. His literary work was not appreciated until several decades after his death.
Despite Paterno's prominence in the many upheavals that defined the birth of the Philippine nation during his lifetime, Paterno's legacy is largely infamous among Philippine historians and nationalists.
Philippine historian Resil Mojares
notes that:
Much of this is attributed to Paterno's penchant for turncoatism, as described by historian Ambeth Ocampo
, who sums up his career thus:
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, as well as a poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and novelist.
His intervention on behalf of the Spanish led to the signing of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato
Pact of Biak-na-Bato
The Pact of Biak-na-Bato, signed on December 14, 1897, created a truce between Spanish Colonial Governor-General Fernando Primo de Rivera and Emilio Aguinaldo to end the Philippine Revolution...
on December 14, 1897, an account of which he published in 1910. Among his other works include the first novel written by a native Filipino, Ninay
Nínay
Nínay is the first novel authored by a native Filipino. Originally written in the Spanish language by Pedro Alejandro Paterno, when he was twenty-three years old, and while living in Spain in 1885, the novel was later translated into the English language in 1907, and in the Tagalog language in...
(1885), and the first Filipino collection of poems in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, Sampaguitas y otras poesías varias
Sampaguitas y otras poesías varias
Sampaguitas y otras poesías varias , also known as Sampaguitas y poesías varias, is the first book of poetry published by a Filipino in Europe. The poems were written in the Spanish language by Pedro Paterno, a Filipino poet, novelist, politician, and former seminarian...
(Jasmines and Other Poems), published in Madrid in 1880.
Early life
Pedro Paterno was born on the 17th of February , 1857. He was one of 13 children of wealthy spouses Don Maximo Paterno and Dona Carmen de Vera Ignacio.He finished Bachiller en Artes in Ateneo de Manila . He gained fame with his conclusion. He still continued studies at University of Salamanca. Here he took courses Philosophy and Theology, then he moved to the Central University of Madrid where he also graduated expertise in law in 1880 .
He is called the mediator of the Spaniards and Filipinos to achieve peace deal with the Spaniards. According to him, because Spanish is less than a hundred people with incoherence in the Philippines. But is firmly opposed by the people because they want to fight for true freedom of the Philippines.
Biak-na-Bato
At the trial of José RizalJosé Rizal
José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda , was a Filipino polymath, patriot and the most prominent advocate for reform in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. He is regarded as the foremost Filipino patriot and is listed as one of the national heroes of the Philippines by...
in 1896, it was suggested that Paterno, along with Rizal, had incited the Katipunan because they had both written about the ancient Tagalog civilization. As evidence for their complicity, the Spanish prosecution cited Paterno's earlier work "Antigua Civilización" as promoting ideas which had "consequences both erroneous and injurious to Spanish sovereignty." Nobody moved against Paterno, however, because he was close to a significant number of Spanish officials - both military and civilian - who could vouch for him. Thus, Paterno, like many others of the Manila elite, distanced himself from the events of the Katipunan revolution.
In 1897 the Philippine revolutionary forces led by 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...
had been driven out of Cavite
Cavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
and retreated northwards from town to town until they finally settled in Biak-na-Bato, in the town of San Miguel de Mayumo in Bulacan
Bulacan
Bulacan , officially called the Province of Bulacan or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region in the island of Luzon, north of Manila , and part of the Metro...
. Here, they established what became known as the Republic of Biak-na-Bato
Republic of Biak-na-Bato
The Republic of Biak-na-Bato , officially referred to in its constitution as the Philippine Republic , was the first republic ever declared in the Philippines by the revolutionary Emilio Aguinaldo and his fellow members of the Katipunan. Despite its successes, including the establishment of the...
.
In late July, 1897, Paterno voluntarily presented himself to Governor General Fernando Primo de Rivera
Fernando Primo de Rivera
Fernando Primo de Rivera y Sobremonte, 1st Marqués of Estella, 12th Count of Peña Vélez, 17th Count of Torres Rovellas, 23rd Count of Sobremonte was a Spanish politician, and soldier....
, whom he had known while living in Spain, and offered his services as a mediator.
Because many highly-placed Spaniards of the time thought Paterno held great sway over the natives, Primo de Rivera accepted Paterno's offer. He called for a truce, explaining his decision to the Cortes Generales
Cortes Generales
The Cortes Generales is the legislature of Spain. It is a bicameral parliament, composed of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate . The Cortes has power to enact any law and to amend the constitution...
: "I can take Biak-na-Bato, any military man can take it, but I can not answer that I could crush the rebellion."
Paterno left Manila on August 4, 1897 and found Aguinaldo five days later. This began a three-month-long series of talks which saw Paterno constantly shuffling between Manila, Biyak-na-bato, and some areas in Southern Luzon where a number of revolutionary chiefs held sway. During the negotiations, Paterno's wife Luisa died on November 27, 1897.
In ceremonies on December 14-15 that year, Aguinaldo signed the Pact of Biak-na-bato. He proclaimed the official end of the Philippine revolution on Christmas Day, and on left for Hong Kong via the port of Dagupan on December 27.
He returned to Manila on January 11 amidst great celebration, but was spurned by Primo de Rivera and other authorities when he asked to be recompensed by being granted a dukedom, a seat on the Spanish Senate, and payment for his services in Mexican Dollars.
Prime minister
He served as prime ministerPrime Minister of the Philippines
The Prime Minister of the Philippines was the official designation of the head of the government of the Philippines from 1978 until People Power Revolution in 1986...
of the first Philippine republic in the middle of 1899, and served as head of the country's assembly
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
, and the cabinet
Cabinet of the Philippines
The Cabinet of the Philippines consists of the heads of the largest part of the executive branch of the national government of the Philippines...
.
American Colonial Period
With the Philippine-American WarPhilippine-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...
after the signing of the 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....
in 1898, he was among the most prominent Filipinos who joined the American side and advocated the incorporation of the Philippines into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Death
He died of choleraCholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
on April 26, 1911. His literary work was not appreciated until several decades after his death.
Legacy
Philippine historian Resil Mojares
Resil Mojares
Resil Mojares is a Filipino literature professor, historian and critic. He has a Ph.D. in Literature from the University of the Philippines. He is retired as Professor at the University of San Carlos in Cebu City...
notes that:
History has not been kind to Pedro Paterno. A century ago, he was one of the country's premier intellectuals, blazing trails in Philippine letters. Today he is ignored in many of the fields in which he once held forth with much eminence, real and imagined. No full length biography or extended review of his corpus of writings has been written, and no one reads him today.
Much of this is attributed to Paterno's penchant for turncoatism, as described by historian Ambeth Ocampo
Ambeth Ocampo
Ambeth R. Ocampo is a multi-awarded Filipino historian, academic, journalist, and author best known for his writings about Philippines' national hero José Rizal and for "Looking Back", his bi-weekly editorial page column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer...
, who sums up his career thus:
Remember, Paterno was one of the greatest "balimbing" [turncoats] in history (perhaps he was the original balimbing in Philippine political history). He was first on the Spanish side, then when the declaration of independence was made in 1898, he wormed his way to power and became president of the Malolos Congress in 1899, then sensing the change in political winds after the establishment of the American colonial government, he became a member of the First Philippine Assembly.
External links
- Biography at Jose-Rizal.eu
- Pedro Paterno's Proclamation of War on June 2, 1899
- Ninay The first Filipino novel written by Pedro Paterno published by Filipiniana.net