Martín Teófilo Delgado

Martin Teofilo Delgado (November 11, 1858 — 1918), was a Visayan military leader during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War. Born to Don Jacinto Delgado and Gabriella Bermejo, he completed his schooling at the Santa Barbara Parochial School and later at the Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer in Jaro and Ateneo Municipal in Manila.

At 25, he was appointed teniente mayor of his hometown and cupitun municipal, positions under the Spanish Government in the Philippines. During this period he was conferring in secret with other Visayan revolutionaries, in preparation for the liberation of the Philippines from Spanish rule.

Chronology of events

On October 28, 1898 Tan Martin (Martin Teofilo Delgado) marched into Santa Barbara and took over the municipal building. On the same day, uprisings were held simultaneously in towns across Iloilo. On November 17, 1898 Martin Delgado was promoted to lieutenant general. On December 24, 1898 the Spanish forces under the command of General Diego de los Rios evacuated Iloilo and the Filipino flag was raised on Christmas Day. December 28, 1898 General Marcus P. Miller leading the American force arrived to conquer Panay. Assisted by warships from Admiral George Dewey, they lowered the Filipino flag and hoisted the American one, signifiying American control.

General Delgado encouraged rebel troops to revive their nationalist cause. As the military governor of the province and General-in-Chief of the army, he challenged the American forces led by General Hughes using guerilla tactics. Eventually, leading citizens of Iloilo wrote a circular urging General Delgado to surrender for the benefit of "the victims of useless resistance."

On February 2, 1901 General Delgado formally surrendered in Jaro. Up to the time of his surrender, Delgado was heralded as the chief insurgent leader on the island of Panay. He was recognized by the Americans as "the ablest leader" on the island and honored him with the appointment of the First Governor of Iloilo province upon the establishment of the Civil Government in May, 1901.

He spent his last few years in peace on the Island of Culion.

References

• Quirino, Carlos. Who's who in Philippine History. Maynila: Tahanan Books, 1995.
• "National Historical Institute. Historical Markers: Regions V-XII. Maynila: National Historical Institute, 1993.