MARAGONDON, Cavite — The local government here has announced that classes in all levels in both public and private schools will be suspended on Friday (Sept. 7) in view of the town-wide celebration of the 154th Birth Anniversary of their local hero, Gen. Emiliano Riego de Dios.
In his Executive Order No. 18 series of 2018 dated Sept. 3, Mayor Reynaldo Rillo underscored the need for the people of Maragondon, Cavite’s upland town and birthplace of Gen. de Dios, to celebrate their local hero’s 154th birth anniversary with fitting ceremonies on Sept. 7.
Rillo said the celebration is an auspicious occasion to pay tribute to Gen. de Dios “as an outstanding military leader during the struggle for freedom and democracy.”
“Magbibigay-pugay po at mag-aalay ng bulaklak sa bahay ni Gen. Riego de Dios sa umaga, kasama ang ating butihing alkalde Reynaldo Rillo, Vice Mayor Ireneo Angeles at mga konsehales kasama ang inyong lingko (our good Mayor Reynaldo Rillo, Vice Mayor Ireneo Angeles and the town councilors including myself will be paying tribute and offer flowers at the ancestral house of Gen. Riego de Dios on Friday morning),” Maragondon SK Federation President Neil Magallanes said.
Historical accounts of the town reveal that de Dios was born on Sept. 7, 1864 to couple Jorga Loyola and Sotero Riego de Dios, both residents of Barangay Poblacion in this town.
A revolutionary leader, Gen. de Dios served as secretary-general of the “Asociacion de los Veteranos de la Revolucion” and a leading member of the “Katipunan” established by Andres Bonifacio.
A staunch “Katipunero,” De Dios fought during the Philippine Revolution in 1896 with his two brothers General Mariano and Col. Vicente. The three brothers played vital roles in the Katipunan.
He was later nominated as Minister of War during the Tejeros Convention of March 22, 1897. He was also appointed as the Military Governor of Cavite in 1898 and was Vice President of the Filipino Junta in Hong Kong in Nov.1898. De Dios died on Feb. 14, 1926. (Dennis Abrina/PNA)
