Editors’ Note: This article was first posted on February 11, 2022 in the Facebook page of Saysay Bikol which studies, explores, and retells Bikol’s past through research, publication, and instruction. Although there are no historical records that document the role Gen. Vicente Lukban played in the Balangiga Massacre, where almost all of Company C, 9th U.S. Infantry was annihilated by the people of Balangiga, Samar in the morning of September 28, 1901, the sentiment is that he must have known of the plan and “most likely encouraged and controlled the situation,” even though he was physically absent. He immediately praised the display of heroism and urged the people of other towns to follow their example.

Introduction Reference: http://www.lukban.org/vicente-lukban.php. The header image shows Gen. Lukban, 4th from left, with his revolutionary forces staff in Bicol, Leyte and Samar (image: Lukban.org)

EARLY YEARS

The revolutionary leader and politician General Vicente Lukban y Rilles was born in Labo, Camarines Norte on February 11, 1860. His parents were Agustin Lukban and Andrea Rilles. He took his early education in his hometown at the Escuela Pia Publica, then went to Ateneo Municipal de Manila and later, at University of Santo Tomas and the Colegio de San Juan de Letran for his Bachelor of Laws. Lukban then became affiliated with Marcelo H. Del Pilar and other patriots and was thereafter the official criminalista in the Court of the First Instance. Moreover, he worked as Delegado Municipal and Juez de Paz back in his hometown.

Lukban quit government service in 1896 and was inclined toward business and agricultural activities. He pioneered the agricultural society La Cooperativa Popular which aimed to promote cooperative business activities of small and medium scale producers for them to increase their income from the lands by selling their products without passing through middlemen. Some of the profits of the cooperatives were discreetly remitted to the revolutionary movement of Andres Bonifacio. Through this, it served as an effective means of spreading the ideals of the revolution. Members could move with freedom without hindrance from the Spanish authorities.

THE FIGHT AGAINST SPAIN

While Lukban was attending a meeting of the agricultural society in Manila in September 29, 1896, he was apprehended because the Spanish authorities had suspicions about his collusion with the Katipunan headed by Supremo himself, Andres Bonifacio. He was maltreated, punished, and imprisoned thereafter released on May 17, 1897, after the Governor-General Fernando Primo de Rivera granted amnesty to political prisoners. Later, Lukban appended to the company of General Emilio Aguinaldo and was given authority in making defenses and gathering resolutions for the revolutionists. Having earned the confidence of General Aguinaldo, Lukban became a member of the close circles of revolutionary leaders. He was one of the signers of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato in December 1897 and was among the Filipino leaders who went on exile to Hong Kong in the same month. He stayed in Hong Kong from December 29, 1897, to July 3, 1898. He had no doubts the fight against Spain would be renewed and instructed Antonio Guevara to prepare the soldiers of Lukban so that when he arrived in the Philippines, they could begin operations according to the instructions of Aguinaldo. While still in Hong Kong, he also foresaw the impending conflict with the Americans.

When Lukban returned to the Philippines in 1898, he reinstituted himself with the revolutionists with the rank of Colonel. He was appointed Comandante Militar of the Bicol Region by General Aguinaldo on October 29 the same year. Furthermore, he assembled the local militia and settled political disputes for the revolutionary government which resulted to his promotion as General of Samar and Leyte in the same year. There he aimed to unite the inhabitants to achieve the common good and subsequently took over the command in Leyte where he circulated proclamation Compoblanos Samareños y Leyteños in 1899.

THE WAR AGAINST THE AMERICANS

In February 1899, Lukban regrouped the inhabitants of Samar to fight for freedom amidst the Filipino-American war. The odds of victory against a well-armed enemy were not to his advantage. But despite the ominous possibility of defeat, he established munitions in the mountains of Catbalogan, Catubig and Catarman. The Americans placed a five-thousand-peso bounty on Lukban and had the province blockaded for two years. Despite the efforts of the Americans, Lukban did not stop his resistance against them. He even ordered Claro Pimentel to scrutinize the reported surrender of the Filipino military chief in Masbate and revitalize the resistance in Leyte after Governor Ambrosio Mojica surrendered to the Americans.

Meanwhile, Captain H.L. Jackson and his men of the First United States Infantry tracked-down Lukban’s garrison along the Catarman River which led to an encounter that left Lukban wounded. Although Lukban managed to escape, his family and other revolutionists were apprehended. This happened on August 18, 1901.

On September 28, 1901, Filipino rebels successfully attacked the Americans in the port town of Balangiga, Samar. Forty-eight US soldiers perished during the surprise attack. There were speculations that Lukban helped organize the attack but there was no sufficient evidence to support these claims. Under the command of General Jacob Smith, the Americans had a speedy retaliation to apprehend the Filipino revolutionists including Lukban. The latter reiterated that he would only concede until the Americans withdraw from the Gandara Valley.

LATTER YEARS

His superiors like General Miguel Malvar had all praises for him and approved of everything he had done for the country. He even sought the cooperation of the Mindanao Muslims. Chariman Galicano Apacible of the Comite Central Filipino in Hong Kong recommended his appointment as Lieutenant General and Military Commander of Visayas and Mindanao. On February 18, 1902, Lukban was eventually captured by the troops of American Lieutenant Strebler. Lukban was imprisoned in Talim Island in Laguna de Bay until July 15, 1902, after he took an oath of allegiance to the United States.

Lukban was again imprisoned due to sedition charged on them by the Manila Secret Police in 1904 with two of his brothers, Justo and Cayetano. Furthermore, due to the lack of circumstantial evidence, they were acquitted by the Supreme Court. Thus, with a peaceful and civil government established, Lukban engaged in business activities.

Lukban subsequently had a political affiliation with the Nacionalista Party in 1912. He triumphed as an elected governor of Tayabas province and was re-elected in 1916 for another term in office, which he was not able to finish because of illness. General Vicente Lukban eventually died on November 16, 1916.

REFERENCES:

• Agoncillo, Teodoro A. History of the Filipino People 8th Ed. Quezon City: Garotech, 1990.
• Dr. Reynaldo Imperial, LEYTE, 1898–1902, The Philippine-American War, 2;40
• Dr. Reynaldo Imperial, SAMAR, 1898–1902, The Revolutionary Career of Gen. Vicente R. Lukban
• National Historical Commission of the Philippines. 2015. Vicente R. Lukban (1860-1916). Accessed 24 April 2021. 
• https://nhcp.gov.ph/resource/filipinos-in-history/martyrs/.
• Quirino, Carlos. Who’s who in Philippine History. Manila: Tahanan Books, 1995. Who’s Who in Philippine History, National Historical Institute
• Jose Calleja Reyes, BICOL MAHARLIKA, 21;281
• Zaide, Gregorio F. Great Filipinos in History. Manila: Verde Bookstore, 1970.