5-FEATURES: Brig. Gen. Simeon A. Ola: The last of the generals
Balita News
By Ex V. Rieza
LEGAZPI City, June 4 (PNA Feature) -- On Sept. 2, 1990, a saber
was turned over by the Office of American Affairs to the town of
Guinobatan, Albay.
The saber's scabbard has these engravings: Recuerdo al Colonel
Bandholtz por Gnrl. Simeon A. Ola. Albay ( A souvenir to Colonel
Bandholtz from Gnrl. Simeon A. Ola. Albay).
The saber was owned by Brig. Gen. Simeon A. Ola, now being
referred to by many as the last revolutionary general to surrender to
the American forces during the Filipino American War.
The occasion of the turn over was the commemoration of the brave
general's 125th brithday. The story of Ola's saber, is the story of
his life. It is in effect, the story of Bicolano heroism.
In the campaign against Ola alone, the American government spent
more than $6 million, a hefty sum at that time, in 11 major and 36
minor encounters harnessing the talent of three American Field
Commanders; Col. David J. Baker, Major Jesse S. Garwood and Colonel
Harry Hill Bandholtz.
Records obtained from the Legazpi City Museum said Ola was
promoted three times during the war by Gen. Vito Belarmino, first to
captain and then as major in 1889; and to colonel in 1901.
On the same year he was again promoted, this time by Gen. Miguel
Malvar, to brigadier general and over-all commander of the
revolutionary forces in Bicol.
Before the aging Gen. Belarmino's surrender in July 1901, he was
to reiterate Malvar's order for Ola to assume as Commander of the
Revolutionary Forces in Bicolandia.
Ola was born in Guinobatan, Albay on Sept. 2, 1865 of parents
Vicente Divinagracia Ola and Apolonia Ondevilla Arboleda. His first
marriage, to Brigida Gustolo bore no child. His second marriage with
Trinidad Matias Ostria bore four children, one of them is still
surviving, Tomas.
He left his studies in the Seminary-College of Naga, Ambos
Camarines organized by the Felipino Legion of Volunteers to defy the
Spanish Government.
Ola joined the revolution afterwards, and signed his oath with
blood with the Katipunan before Andres Bonifacio's emissary to Bicol,
Jose Glicerio Delgado, and became "Teniente de Cuadrillos".
In 1889, Ola, along with other Katipuneros delivered to Gen.
Mariano Trias in San Francisco de Malabon (now Gen. Mariano Trias
town) war funds amounting to P42,000, all in silver coins, contained
in 42 kerosene cans.
On January 23, 1900, Ola had had his baptism of blood. He was
wounded at the Battle of Legazpi but captured American soldiers,
among them Dubose, Russell, William Victor, Fred Hunter and Garth
Shores.
On February 23 to 24 of the same year, he fiercely fought in the
defense of his hometown Guinobatan, where he earned his promotion to
Major.
This was followed by "successful" raids led by Ola against
Constabulary and Scout Detachments in Oas, Macabugos and Lipata,
Libon, Albay.
On Oct. 3, 1902, Ola was offered P10,000 silver coins for his
surrender by Major Garwood, among others. He retorted angrily: "Una
bala de mis fuciles no se puede comprar por todo el oro del mundo" (A
single bullet from my guns could not be bought by all the gold in the
world).
He then continued his raids against US military detachments in
Jovellar, Polangui in Albay and in Buhi and Ragay, in neighboring
Camarines Sur.
Finally, saddled by mounting pressures from all sectors having
been the only remaining field commander fighting the Americans in the
Bicol Region, Ola surrendered to Col. Bandholtz in Sept. 25, 1903.
During his surrender, he presented a horn called budyong and a
saber to Col. Bandholtz, in its scabbard inscripted the dedication
"Recuerdo al colonel Bandholtz por Gnrl. Simeon A. Ola. Albay".
He would later hold important post in Guinobatan as Municipal
President (Mayor)-1910 to 1913 and 1916 to 1919; provincial warden in
1936; municipal councilor in 1938.
On February 14, 1952, a St. Valentine's Day, Ola died. His remains
were buried at the Roman Catholic Church Cemetery in Guinobatan town.
When Ola's saber came home in 1990 via a diplomatic pouch and
turned over in a simple ceremony to officials of Guinobatan town, his
war story was completed.
He is, still, remembered fondly by Bicolanos and not only as a
hero, but as the last Filipino general to surrender during the
Filipino-American War.
But Philippine history books has yet to acknowledge that. (PNA)
JV/lam/EVR/TMA
PNA 06041129