(Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


What if Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez told you that Philippine Independence Day should be celebrated today, May 18, and not June 12 as we were taught in schools? “We should correct an important part of our history: the misleading celebration of independence of the Philippines from Spain," Rep. Alvarez, a former House Speaker, said in a statement Thursday, May 18. "It is not true that we gained independence on June 12, 1898. Noong nangyari yan, habang nagwawagayway ng bandila si [Emilio] Aguinaldo, tuloy pa yung digmaan. Hindi pa sumusuko Espanya (While that was happening, while Aguinaldo was waving the flag, the war was still ongoing. Spain was yet to surrender)," he said. "We only gained and complete independence from them on May 18, 1899, following the surrender of the last Spanish general Diego de los Rios to Filipino revolutionary general based in Zamboanga," pointed out Rep. Alvarez. The ex-House leader was referring to General Vicente Alvarez, who was born in April 5, 1862 in Magay, Zamboanga City. General Alvarez is one of the generals in Philippine revolution during the Filipino-Spanish war who was assigned in Sulu. He was merited for bringing peace to the people of the island by settling the dispute among the heirs of the Sultanate, thereby giving him the title “Datu Tumanggung” with all the privileges and the authority to rule over the subjects of the sultan in Zamboanga and Basilan. On May 14, 1899, General Alvarez was conferred the rank of General of the Philippine Revolutionary Forces in Malolos, Bulacan, to join the fight against the Spaniards and the impending Americans. Further, on May 18, 1899, the general made a conquest in Zamboanga and liberated Fort Pilar from the control of Governor-General Diego de los Rios, who at that time, was the highest Spanish general and official in the Philippines. General Alvarez declared: “La Republica Independiente de Zamboanga,” signalling the surrender of the Spaniards to the Filipino revolutionaries. On that date, the last Spanish flag in Fort Pilar – a symbol that proudly flew and reminded Filipinos that they were colonized for more than three centuries – was finally lowered and surrendered to General Alvarez. Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez 9999 (Rep. Alvarez's office)


As such, Alvarez, the lawmaker, is advocating for the correction of the country’s Independence Day from Spain, moving it from June 12, 1898 to May 18, 1899 instead. He said this will rectify the historical injustice brought by years of neglect that other national heroes, born outside of Luzon, have long endured – including the late Zamboangueño general. The ex-House leader said not much has been mentioned about General Alvarez in existing history books, many of which focus on heroes from Luzon. “We should give credit where it is due. We also have to recognize and give honor to those who have fought and actually won against the Spaniards during that era. General Alvarez of Zamboanga must be etched in the echelon of heroes that freed our country from the shackles of Spanish colonizers. “We could not just ignore historical facts and be prisoners of our own ignorance," he said. A sequel to the book about the life of General Alvarez is presently being researched and written by Earl Parreno, a journalist and author of several biographical books. On July 03, 2008, the City Council of Zamboanga passed Ordinance No. 334 in honor of General Alvarez’s heroism for liberating Zamboanga City from last remaining Spanish colonizers on May 18, 1899.