Artemio Ricarte
Encyclopedia
Artemio Ricarte y Garcia (October 20, 1866 — July 31, 1945) was a Filipino
general during the Philippine Revolution
and the Philippine-American War
. He is considered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines
as the "Father of the Philippine Army". Ricarte is also notable for never having taken an oath of allegiance to the United States
government, which occupied the Philippines from 1898 to 1946.
to Faustino Ricarte and Bonifacia García. He finished his early studies in his hometown and enrolled at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran
where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. At the University of Santo Tomas
and then at the Escuela Normal, he prepared for the teaching profession. He was sent to the town of San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias) to supervise a primary school. While there, he met the likes of Mariano Álvarez
, another school teacher and surviving revolutionary of the 1872 Cavite Mutiny
. Ricarte then joined the ranks of the Katipunan
under the Magdiwang Council
, where he held the rank of Lieutenant-General. He adopted the nom-de-guerre "Víbora" (Viper).
on August 31, 1896, Ricarte led the revolutionists in attacking the Spanish garrison in San Francisco de Malabon. He crushed the Spanish troops and took the civil guards as prisoner. At the Tejeros Convention
Ricarte was elected Captain-General and received a military promotion to Brigadier-General in Emilio Aguinaldo
's army. He led his men in various battles in Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas. Aguinaldo designated him to remain in Biak na Bato, San Miguel, Bulacan
to supervise the surrender of arms and to see to it that both the Spanish government and Aguinaldo's officers complied with the terms of the peace pact.
started in 1899, he was Chief of Operations of the Philippine forces in the second zone around Manila
. In July 1900 he was captured in Manila and deported to Guam
together with Apolinario Mabini
.
pulled in to Manila Bay
, both were asked to take the oath. Mabini, who was ill, took the oath but Ricarte refused. Ricarte was set free but banned from the Philippines
. Without setting foot in the Philippines
, he was placed on the transport "Galic" and sailed to Hong Kong
.
In December 1903, Ricarte returned to the Philippines as a stowaway on board the "Wenshang". Ricarte planned to reunite with former members of the army and rekindle the Philippine Revolution
. Upon meeting with several former members and friends, he discussed his general plan and the continuation of the revolution. After said meetings, some of these members turned on Ricarte and notified the Americans, specifically ex-General Pio del Pilar
. A reward for US$10,000 was then issued for Ricarte's capture, dead or alive. In the following weeks, Ricarte traveled throughout central Luzon trying to drum up support for his cause.
In early 1904, Ricarte was stricken by an illness that put him at rest for nearly 2 months. Just as his health was returning, a clerk from his outfit, Luis Baltazar, turned against him and notified the local Philippine Constabulary
of his location at Mariveles
, Bataan
. On March 29, 1904, Ricarte was arrested and jailed. He would spend the next six years at Bilibid Prison. It should be noted, Ricarte was well received and respected by both the Philippine and American authorities. He was frequently visited by old friends from the Philippine war as well as U.S. government officials, including the Vice-President of the United States under Theodore Roosevelt
, Charles W. Fairbanks
.
Due to good behavior, Ricarte served only 6 of his 11 year sentence. On June 26, 1910 he was released from Bilibid Prision. But upon his exit he was detained by American authorities and taken to the Customs-House in Bagumbayan. He was again ordered to pledge his oath of alligence to the United States. He still refused to swear allegiance and within the hour of the same day, he was again put on a transport and deported to Hong Kong. His name was repeatedly brought to light whenever any type of uprising occurred in the Philippines. To get away from false propaganda, he and his wife moved to Yokohama
, Japan
where they lived in self exile. While in Japan, Ricarte opened a small restaurant, Karihan Luvimin, and returned to teaching. His book, “Himagsikan nang manga Pilipino Laban sa Kastila” (The Revolution of Filipinos Against the Spaniards) was published in Yokohama in 1927.
Just as Ricarte's life was fading away in to obscurity, World War II began and Japan invaded the Philippines. The Japanese flew Ricarte back to the Philippines to help them pacify the Filipinos. In December 1944, Ricarte was forced to establish the Makapili
, a pro-Japanese organization during World War II which was used to root out guerrillas.
Near the end of World War II, Ricarte again found himself taking flight from American and Filipino forces. It is stated by Colonel Ota, that he ask Ricarte to evacuate the Philippine island but Ricarte refused, stating "I can not take refuge in Japan at this critical moment when my people are in actual distress. I will stay in my Motherland to the last." Due to the hardship and difficulties from evading American and Filipino attacks, Ricarte became ill and suffered from debilitating dysentery. On July 31, 1945 at Hungduan, Mountain Province,Ifugao, Ricarte died at the age of 78. His grave was found 9 years later in 1954 by treasure hunters. Ricarte's body was exhumed and his tomb now lies in Manila
at the Libingan ng mga Bayani
(Cemetery of Heroes).A landmark too was inaugurated by Mr. Ambet Ocampo of The National Historical Institute, and Mrs. Teodoro, granddaughter of Artemio Ricarte, on April 2002, the same place where he died.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
general during the Philippine Revolution
Philippine Revolution
The Philippine Revolution , called the "Tagalog War" by the Spanish, was an armed military conflict between the people of the Philippines and the Spanish colonial authorities which resulted in the secession of the Philippine Islands from the Spanish Empire.The Philippine Revolution began in August...
and the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
. He is considered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
as the "Father of the Philippine Army". Ricarte is also notable for never having taken an oath of allegiance to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government, which occupied the Philippines from 1898 to 1946.
Early life
Ricarte was born in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
to Faustino Ricarte and Bonifacia García. He finished his early studies in his hometown and enrolled at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran
Colegio de San Juan de Letran
The Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Letran College, or simply Letran is a private Roman Catholic institution of learning located in Intramuros, Manila, in the Philippines. The college was founded in 1620. Colegio de San Juan de Letran has the distinction of being the oldest college in the...
where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. At the University of Santo Tomas
University of Santo Tomas
The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines , is a private Roman Catholic university run by the Order of Preachers in Manila. Founded on April 28, 1611 by archbishop of Manila Miguel de Benavides, it has the oldest extant university charter in the...
and then at the Escuela Normal, he prepared for the teaching profession. He was sent to the town of San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias) to supervise a primary school. While there, he met the likes of Mariano Álvarez
Mariano Álvarez
Mariano Álvarez was a Filipino revolutionary and politician.-Pre-war life:Álvarez was born in Noveleta, Cavite. He received formal schooling at the San José College in Manila, and obtained a teacher's diploma. He returned to Cavite and worked as a schoolteacher in Naic and Maragondon. He was...
, another school teacher and surviving revolutionary of the 1872 Cavite Mutiny
Cavite Mutiny
The Cavite Mutiny of 1872 was an uprising of military personnel of Fort San Felipe, the Spanish arsenal in Cavite, Philippines on January 20, 1872. Around 200 soldiers and laborers rose up in the belief that it would elevate to a national uprising...
. Ricarte then joined the ranks of the Katipunan
Katipunan
The Katipunan was a Philippine revolutionary society founded by anti-Spanish Filipinos in Manila in 1892, whose primary aim was to gain independence from Spain through revolution. The society was initiated by Filipino patriots Andrés Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata, Ladislao Diwa, and others on the night...
under the Magdiwang Council
Magdiwang
Magdiwang can refer to the following:*Magdiwang , a faction of the Katipunan*Magdiwang, Romblon, a Philippine municipality...
, where he held the rank of Lieutenant-General. He adopted the nom-de-guerre "Víbora" (Viper).
Philippine Revolution
After the start of the Philippine RevolutionPhilippine Revolution
The Philippine Revolution , called the "Tagalog War" by the Spanish, was an armed military conflict between the people of the Philippines and the Spanish colonial authorities which resulted in the secession of the Philippine Islands from the Spanish Empire.The Philippine Revolution began in August...
on August 31, 1896, Ricarte led the revolutionists in attacking the Spanish garrison in San Francisco de Malabon. He crushed the Spanish troops and took the civil guards as prisoner. At the Tejeros Convention
Tejeros Convention
The Tejeros Convention was the meeting held between the Magdiwang and Magdalo factions of the Katipunan at San Francisco de Malabon, Cavite on March 22, 1897...
Ricarte was elected Captain-General and received a military promotion to Brigadier-General in Emilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy was a Filipino general, politician, and independence leader. He played an instrumental role during the Philippines' revolution against Spain, and the subsequent Philippine-American War or War of Philippine Independence that resisted American occupation...
's army. He led his men in various battles in Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas. Aguinaldo designated him to remain in Biak na Bato, San Miguel, Bulacan
San Miguel, Bulacan
San Miguel de Mayumo is a 1st class, partially urban municipality located in the 3rd district of the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 138,839 people.-History:...
to supervise the surrender of arms and to see to it that both the Spanish government and Aguinaldo's officers complied with the terms of the peace pact.
Philippine-American War
When the Philippine-American WarPhilippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
started in 1899, he was Chief of Operations of the Philippine forces in the second zone around Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. In July 1900 he was captured in Manila and deported to Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
together with Apolinario Mabini
Apolinario Mabini
Apolinario Mabini y Maranan was a Filipino political philosopher and revolutionary who wrote a constitutional plan for the of 1899-1901, and served as its first prime minister in 1899...
.
Post-War Era
In early 1903, both Ricarte and Mabini would be allowed back in to the Philippines upon taking the oath of allegiance to America. Just as their transport USS ThomasUSS Thomas (1894)
USAT Thomas was a United States Army transport ship, launched as the SS Persia in 1894, having been built for the Hamburg America Line's service to New York. She was bought by the Atlantic Transport Line in 1897 because she was "practically a sister" to other Massachusetts class of ships already...
pulled in to Manila Bay
Manila Bay
Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...
, both were asked to take the oath. Mabini, who was ill, took the oath but Ricarte refused. Ricarte was set free but banned from the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Without setting foot in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, he was placed on the transport "Galic" and sailed to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
In December 1903, Ricarte returned to the Philippines as a stowaway on board the "Wenshang". Ricarte planned to reunite with former members of the army and rekindle the Philippine Revolution
Philippine Revolution
The Philippine Revolution , called the "Tagalog War" by the Spanish, was an armed military conflict between the people of the Philippines and the Spanish colonial authorities which resulted in the secession of the Philippine Islands from the Spanish Empire.The Philippine Revolution began in August...
. Upon meeting with several former members and friends, he discussed his general plan and the continuation of the revolution. After said meetings, some of these members turned on Ricarte and notified the Americans, specifically ex-General Pio del Pilar
Pio del Pilar
Pío del Pilar is a Revolutionary General of the Philippines. He was born as Pío Castañeda Isidro. To safeguard his family and prevent them from harassment, he changed his surname to del Pilar...
. A reward for US$10,000 was then issued for Ricarte's capture, dead or alive. In the following weeks, Ricarte traveled throughout central Luzon trying to drum up support for his cause.
In early 1904, Ricarte was stricken by an illness that put him at rest for nearly 2 months. Just as his health was returning, a clerk from his outfit, Luis Baltazar, turned against him and notified the local Philippine Constabulary
Philippine Constabulary
The Philippine Constabulary ' was the oldest of four service commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It was a gendarmerie type para-military police force of the Philippines established in 1901 by the United States-appointed administrative authority replacing the Guardia Civil...
of his location at Mariveles
Mariveles
Mariveles may refer to:* Mariveles, Bataan * Mariveles Mountains...
, Bataan
Bataan
Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...
. On March 29, 1904, Ricarte was arrested and jailed. He would spend the next six years at Bilibid Prison. It should be noted, Ricarte was well received and respected by both the Philippine and American authorities. He was frequently visited by old friends from the Philippine war as well as U.S. government officials, including the Vice-President of the United States under Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
, Charles W. Fairbanks
Charles W. Fairbanks
Charles Warren Fairbanks was a Senator from Indiana and the 26th Vice President of the United States ....
.
Due to good behavior, Ricarte served only 6 of his 11 year sentence. On June 26, 1910 he was released from Bilibid Prision. But upon his exit he was detained by American authorities and taken to the Customs-House in Bagumbayan. He was again ordered to pledge his oath of alligence to the United States. He still refused to swear allegiance and within the hour of the same day, he was again put on a transport and deported to Hong Kong. His name was repeatedly brought to light whenever any type of uprising occurred in the Philippines. To get away from false propaganda, he and his wife moved to Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
where they lived in self exile. While in Japan, Ricarte opened a small restaurant, Karihan Luvimin, and returned to teaching. His book, “Himagsikan nang manga Pilipino Laban sa Kastila” (The Revolution of Filipinos Against the Spaniards) was published in Yokohama in 1927.
Just as Ricarte's life was fading away in to obscurity, World War II began and Japan invaded the Philippines. The Japanese flew Ricarte back to the Philippines to help them pacify the Filipinos. In December 1944, Ricarte was forced to establish the Makapili
Makapili
Makapili was a militant group formed in the Philippines during World War II to give military aid to Japan. Organised by Benigno Ramos and Artemio Ricarte, they were born out of José P. Laurel's refusal to conscript Filipinos for Japan...
, a pro-Japanese organization during World War II which was used to root out guerrillas.
Death
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
at the Libingan ng mga Bayani
Libingan ng mga Bayani
is a national cemetery within Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, Metro Manila in the Philippines. It was established as a fitting resting place for Filipino military personnel from privates to generals, as well as heroes and martyrs...
(Cemetery of Heroes).A landmark too was inaugurated by Mr. Ambet Ocampo of The National Historical Institute, and Mrs. Teodoro, granddaughter of Artemio Ricarte, on April 2002, the same place where he died.
Memorials
- In 1972, a monument was erected at Yamashita Park in YokohamaYokohamais the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. - The birth house of Artemio Ricarte is now the Ricarte National Shrine in Batac City, PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. - For battles and deeds accomplished in Cavite, a marker was placed at PoblacionPoblacionA Poblacion or Población, literally "town" or "Population" in Spanish, is the name commonly used for the central barangay or barangays of a Philippine city or municipality. Common features of the poblacion include a town plaza, church, market, school and town hall. It is sometimes shortened to...
, General Trias, CaviteCaviteCavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
for General Artemio Ricarte.