KAWIT, Cavite – The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) will hold a gathering of local government and church officials, as well as descendants and representatives from the local education, police and Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) to mark the 149th birth anniversary of Magdalo Faction Leader, Baldomero Aguinaldo on Feb 26.
The commemorative rites will have the Philippine Navy as military host, and will be highlighted with a celebratory mass, flag raising and wreath laying ceremonies at the museum named in Baldomero Aguinaldo’s honor.
Born in 1869 in the town of Binakayan, Cavite el Viejo (now Kawit), Baldomero’s accomplishments were not highlighted much in history but his most famous attribute was being a cousin of the First Republican President General Emilio Aginaldo, according to Museo ni Baldomero Aguinaldo curator Ahzel P. Miral.
Several publications by various historians delved deeper in the life of Capitan Berong, a Bachelor of Laws graduate from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) who held various offices even before the Revolution broke out in August 1896.
Baldomero served as “Directorcillo” (Secretary of the Gobernadorcillo) and “Registrat de Titulos (Registrar of Deeds) and “Juez de Paz” or Justice of the Peace.
It was Baldomero who first suggested the formation of a revolutionary government during the assembly in Imus City, the country’s Flag Capital, in 1896.
His knowledge of the legal administrative procedures earned him a seat in different cabinet positions, as Director of Finance in the first assembly of revolutionary leaders in Naic, Cavite on April of 1897, and as Auditor de Guerra (Judge Advocate General) during the court-martial of Andres Bonifacio and his brothers, Ciriaco and Procopio.
As a member of the revolutionary cabinet, Baldomero contributed to the drafting of the Biak-na-Bato Constitution on Nov 1, 1897, and served as one of the signatories of the Pact on Dec. 14 and 15 of the same year.
He joined General Emilio Aguinaldo in voluntary exile to HongKong on Dec. 27, 1897 and when a cabinet was formed in Bacoor, Cavite on July 15, 1898, Baldomero was appointed Secretary of War, and Public Works, a position he held on during the Mabini Cabinet from January 2 to May 7, 1899.
As the conflict between the Filipinos and Americans ended, Baldomero Aguinaldo retired to a private life, and spent his time cultivating a coconut plantation he acquired in Silang, Cavite sometime after he married.
A man close to the people, he welcomed frequent visits from residents seeking for advice and recommendations for work.
In 1912, the Asociacion de los Veteranos de la Revolucion (Association of the Veterans of the Philippine Revolution) was created by President Emilio Aguinaldo.
The association secured pensions for its members and helped them buy land and named Baldomero as its president during its inception, and he served as such until his death on Feb 6, 1915 just weeks before he reach his age of 46, due to heart failure and rheumatism. (Gladys Pino/PNA)
