Roman Basa
Encyclopedia
Román Basa y Esteban was a Filipino
patriot
who was a leader of the Katipunan
, the secret society which sparked the Philippine Revolution
against Spanish rule in 1896.
Basa was born to Mariano Basa and Dorotea Esteban in San Roque, Cavite
where he also completed his primary schooling. It is not known where, or if, he completed his studies but he was employed in the Comandancia de Marina in Manila
where he eventually rose to a position of responsibility.
While working in Manila, Basa lived in a boarding house where he met one of the founders of the Katipunan
, Ladislao Diwa
, who was then a law student at the University of Santo Tomas
.
On November 9, 1892, he was initiated into the secret society under the name Liwanag (Brightness). With the connivance of a crewman of a ship which made weekly trips between Manila and Hong Kong, he smuggled into the country copies of La Solidaridad
and the novels of José Rizal
which were banned by the Spanish colonial government.
In 1893, he was elected president of the secret society and introduced some changes in its operations, particularly the formation of a women's auxiliary section. But he refused reelection the following year because of a difference with Katipunan founder Andrés Bonifacio
. Their difference stemmed from Basa's refusal to induct his son Lucio into the Katipunan and Bonifacio's handling of the society's funds.
After the Katipunan was uncovered in July 1896, Basa was arrested for sedition and treason in September 1896. After being convicted by a Spanish military court, he was executed by musketry on February 6, 1897 along with Apolonio de la Cruz, Teodoro Plata
, Vicente Molina, Hermenegildo de los Reyes, José Trinidad, Pedro Nicodemus, Feliciano del Rosario, Gervasio Samson and Doroteo Domínguez.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
patriot
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
who was a leader 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...
, the secret society which sparked 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...
against Spanish rule in 1896.
Basa was born to Mariano Basa and Dorotea Esteban in San Roque, Cavite
Cavite
Cavite 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...
where he also completed his primary schooling. It is not known where, or if, he completed his studies but he was employed in the Comandancia de Marina in 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,...
where he eventually rose to a position of responsibility.
While working in Manila, Basa lived in a boarding house where he met one of the founders 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...
, Ladislao Diwa
Ladislao Diwa
Ladislao Diwa y Nocon was a Filipino patriot who was among the founders of the Katipunan that initiated the Philippine Revolution against Spain in 1896.-Early years:...
, who was then a law student 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...
.
On November 9, 1892, he was initiated into the secret society under the name Liwanag (Brightness). With the connivance of a crewman of a ship which made weekly trips between Manila and Hong Kong, he smuggled into the country copies of La Solidaridad
La solidaridad
La Solidaridad was an organization created in Spain on December 13, 1888. Composed of Filipino liberals exiled in 1872 and students attending Europe's universities, the organization aimed to increase Spanish awareness of the needs of its colony, the Philippines, and to propagate a closer...
and the novels of José Rizal
José Rizal
José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda , was a Filipino polymath, patriot and the most prominent advocate for reform in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. He is regarded as the foremost Filipino patriot and is listed as one of the national heroes of the Philippines by...
which were banned by the Spanish colonial government.
In 1893, he was elected president of the secret society and introduced some changes in its operations, particularly the formation of a women's auxiliary section. But he refused reelection the following year because of a difference with Katipunan founder Andrés Bonifacio
Andres Bonifacio
Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro was a Filipino nationalist and revolutionary. He was a founder and later Supremo of the Katipunan movement which sought the independence of the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule and started the Philippine Revolution...
. Their difference stemmed from Basa's refusal to induct his son Lucio into the Katipunan and Bonifacio's handling of the society's funds.
After the Katipunan was uncovered in July 1896, Basa was arrested for sedition and treason in September 1896. After being convicted by a Spanish military court, he was executed by musketry on February 6, 1897 along with Apolonio de la Cruz, Teodoro Plata
Teodoro Plata
Teodoro Plata was a Filipino patriot, and a co-founder of the Katipunan, the secret society which sparked the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule in 1896....
, Vicente Molina, Hermenegildo de los Reyes, José Trinidad, Pedro Nicodemus, Feliciano del Rosario, Gervasio Samson and Doroteo Domínguez.