‘General Miguel Malvar was one of the most recognized leaders of the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War…’

CELEBRATE Malvar Day (27 September 2024) by saluting the launch of Manila’s first guided missile corvette, the BRP Miguel Malvar (FF-06) — derived from Hyundai Heavy Industries’ HDC-3100 concept and to be fitted with 3D active electronically scanned array radar, 16 vertical launch system cells in the forward section, a 76-mm naval gun in the primary position, a close-in weapon system turret in the aft section, and up to eight anti-ship missile launchers amidships. [https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/sea/hyundai-launches-first-118-m-corvette-on-order-for-philippine-navy]

The BRP Miguel Malvar should symbolize Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s “desire to instill the Korean value of ‘Indomitable Spirit’ or ‘bulguleui jeongsin’ within the Armed Forces of the Philippines.” [“PH’s 1st missile corvette launched in S. Korea,” https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1227388]

General Miguel Malvar was one of the most recognized leaders of the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War (born on 27 September 1865) and whose 159th birth anniversary was marked in the Municipality of Malvar, Province of Batangas. [Proclamation No. 661, August 08, 2024] This historical touch-stone came in the wake of the 45th National Reservist Week (“Linggo ng Laang-Kawal Pilipino”), a celebration capped with capability demonstrations last September 14 in Camp Aguinaldo, pursuant to Proclamation No. 627 of August 11, 1995.

Thus, we hail the Malvar-ites and the Reservists and we share anecdotes on General Miguel Carpio Malvar garnered from my interviews with Paula Malvar Comcom and Expedito Malvar Leviste:

1. The General was devoted to Saint Francis of Assisi, had no vices, and cared for roosters bred for cockfights, but never indulged in cockfighting.

2. The Hero introduced a fruit (later called “Malvar orange”) but the 1911 Taal eruption destroyed the species of this plant.

3. The Republican loved nature, went to mass but never submitted himself for confession, and diligently recited the Angelus.

4. The Revolutionary was friendly with Macario Sakay, admired Artemio Ricarte (“magaling din sabi ng Tatay, hindi sumuko”), and had contacts with Teodoro Kalaw, among others. [07 March 1997, Isabel Malvar Villegas residence, Santo Tomas, Batangas]

Research for my book (Miguel Malvar and the Philippine Revolution: A Biography. With Doroteo Abaya; edited and with an introduction by Edberto Malvar Villegas. Miguel Malvar (MM) Productions, c. 1998) had also yielded the following: “While yet a boy he was already a useful hand to his father in cutting grass and raising chickens. He knew his breed so well that when a cock happened to be stolen, according to tradition, he spotted it a week after it was taken by recognizing its crowing in the house of the thief!” [Manuel, E. Arsenio, Dictionary of Philippine Bibliography, Vol. 1. Quezon City: Filipiniana Publications, 1955, pp. 268-274]

1. “When news of the ‘Cry of Balintawak’ reached Santo Tomas in August 1896, Malvar, leading a small force of patriots, assaulted and captured the Spanish garrison in Talisay, Batangas. In retaliation, the Spanish authorities arrested his father and threw him in jail. With his friends and relatives, he rescued his father on January 10, 1897 after a bloody hand-to-hand combat with his Spanish captors.” [Gregorio F. Zaide. Great Filipinos In History: An Epic of Filipino Greatness in War and Peace. Manila: Verde Book Store, 1970, pp. 305-310]

2. “Generals appointed by Bonifacio in May 1895 at the society’s headquarters at the corner of Magdalena and Trozo Streets were summoned to the meeting posthaste. Mariano Llanera and Manuel Tinio of Nueva Ecija; Canuto Villanueva, Pio Valenzuela and Maestrong Sebio of Bulacan; Santiago Villanueva, Genaro Galvez of Cavite; Aurelio Tolentino of Morong (now the province of Rizal); Valentin Diaz of Zambales; Vicente Fernandez of Laguna; Miguel Malvar of Batangas, and in the City of Manila were Emilio Jacinto and Guillermo Masangkay who were at that time with Bonifacio, represented the eight provinces that answered the nation’s clarion to arms.” [Arturo Ma. Misa, “Living Revolutionary Recalls Freedom ‘Cry’,” The Saturday Mirror Weekend, August 24, 1957]

Snappy salute to the brave and bold Batangueno: “After the capture of Emilio Aguinaldo and the surrender of other Filipino generals, Miguel Malvar assumed full command of the revolutionary forces. General Malvar’s valor, resilience and patriotism serve as inspiration to our fellow Filipinos. As a matter of policy, the BSP commemorates significant events and heroic Filipinos in our country’s history through the minting of coins, medals or overprints on our banknotes.” [https://www.facebook.com/BangkoSentralngPilipinas/photos/bsp-issues-new-limited-edition-miguel-malvar-commemorative-cointhe-bangko-sentra/984305638299932/?locale=tl_PH]

1. Known for being among the last to surrender at the end of the Philippine-American War, Miguel Malvar is remembered in this documentary by his descendants and historians — Miguel Malvar: Sa Dulo ng Digmaan (Miguel Malvar: At the End of War), NHCP Official, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWUnqM8PtjE

2. Miguel Malvar infographics — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1PR3L6upbA

One more lesson from our hero: food security = national sovereignty. “The political officials of towns, zones and provinces, will take steps to see that an abundance of rice, corn, sweet potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes, beans and other agricultural products are planted, in the first case for the good of all, but more particularly for the national defense; punishing all vagabonds and those who disobey these instructions.” [“General Orders And Instructions Issued By General Miguel Malvar Upon Assuming Command Of Southern Luzon,” Published by the Hong Kong Junta, April 28, 1901]