Post by paopadd on Dec 12, 2008 7:26:38 GMT -5
THE LIFE AND LOVES OF HENERAL TERIO
By: REMIGIO H. BALDOVINO
Barangay 5, Poblacion
Calaca, Batangas
Calaca a typical town in this province has been blessed with its own hero an outstanding general during the Fil-Hispano War in the person of Eleuterio Gomez Marasigan, popularly known as “Heneral Terio” Being a legitimate son of Calaca; he is our contribution to the pedestal of heroes that made our country’s freedom a reality.
As Calaca observes the birthday anniversary of this man whose life was shaped as a shining example of humility and power, dynamic spirit of leadership and unconditional devotion to duty as a citizen, it is but fitting and proper to recall, even briefly, his role as a patriot.
“Heneral Terio” is ELEUTERIO GOMEZ MARASIGAN. It was a pleasant twenty-third day of May 1866 when he saw the first light of a beautiful morning to the indescribable joy of his parents, Don Rufino Marasigan or Kabesang Dinoy and Donya Paula Gomez or Kabesang Paula. After three days, he was baptized. His parents were both natives of Calaca and belonged to the middle class family.
At an early age, Terio had shown love for birds and fowls, so much so that when he accidentally caught a parrot, which could not fly, because of small wound beneath its left wing, he hurriedly made a bamboo cage and kept the poor bird in it after applying herbal medicine on the wounded part. He treated and took good care of his pet until it gained its strength. Many times, he would leave his playmates in the yard to see to it that his parrot was still in the cage. Moreover, one afternoon he got mad when he discovered that pet had flown away when somebody in the house had left the cage door open. Even if he did not cry aloud, his refusal to eat his meal showed that he was so sad over the loss of the parrot. For several days, he would sit by the window and would nail his eyes at the branches of a lone Chico tree opposite their kitchen hoping that he would find again his lost pet. It took several days to forget the parrot, but occasionally, he would glance at the empty cage hanging in the balcony of their house.
Even at any early age, Terio had learned the value of a budgeted time. He himself set the time strictly for work and for play. Even when his playmates came to his yard to play with him, he made polite excuses to continue his work in the house previously assigned to him by his parents. He would only play with them after the assigned task was finished. In contrast, however he would not leave his playmates in the yard and the game they were playing just because either of his parents was calling to the top or his or her voice for an errand or for a work assignment, In short, he played to his satisfaction during playtime, and worked diligently and continuously during work period.
His boyhood was colorful. He fought with other children especially when his playmates were involved. Most of his fight were not of his playmates were not of his own making but just for the sake of companionship. In addition, even when his playmates were at fault, he would challenge all the boys of the opposite group in the defense of his group. Such was the nature of young Terio. He would not allow his rivals to outfight his playmates, and his group took pride in having Terio as their leader.
Terio was not spared in the craze for serenades during his manhood days; he loved to go with young sters in the neighborhood to serenade young “dalagitas” in the nearby barrios. He sang in the “haranas”. On several occasions, he would then court the young ladies his “barkadas’ had serenaded. And more often than not, he would always emerge triumphant, partly, his love affairs won for him true and faithful companions.
Educationally successful, Terio could not be considered one, although he had the opportunity to study in several schools of higher learning. This could be attributed to the fact that the growing political difference between the Spanish colonizers and the freedom loving Filipinos had reached the crucial point and revolution was inevitable. Anger with the abusive Spanish officials made the Filipinos more vigilant. Time had come for the Filipinos to defer educational profits until such time that abuses committed by the Spaniards were put to an end, not thru peaceful negotiations but to the point of the sword.
Locally, young Terio was not spared. He too had decided to take up arms against the Spaniards. With the handful loyal followers and sympathizers, he organized the battalion “Maluya” Strict adherence to the belief that the Filipinos never” turned their backs against the wall, he led his loyal men to start the flight against the Spaniards in the local scenario.
As if God was always with him and his men, his encounters with the Spanish forces were triumphantly undertaken. Consecutive victories had been earned and consequently, the Spanish force experienced a great set back in the organization.
However, General Terio’s troop almost fell into a trap of uncertain future due to lack of welfare materials. Circumstances demanded that they had to give up the fight, because he understood that it would be very impossible to always rely on the economically well-off citizens. Despite the many victories he won in the campaign against the Spaniards, he realized that his ally in the struggle to liberate the masses in the local scene was not the Spanish-oriented intelligentsia or the wealthy but the common person. When great desperation about the condition of General Eleuterio’s battalion almost reached its peak, and then suddenly came the unexpected support from Donya Gliceria Marella, a wealthy woman from Taal who was greatly impressed by the remarkable triumph of his force.
She unconditionally sent financial and material support to General Terio’s men. She obligated herself to see to it that the troop was properly clothed and equipped with enough ammunition to ensure additional victories for the rebels. This self-imposed obligation was not exclusively done for General Eleuterio’s troop but was also extended to other known troops in the province struggling to end Spanish abuses.
After the Luzon campaign, he joined the expeditionary forces for the Visayas. He saw action in the province of Capiz, Antique and Iloilo. While undertaking the campaign against the Spaniards in these places, another foreign enemy entered the revolutionary scene. This time they had to face the American forces. However, their strength was no match against the Americans, later the expeditionary force surrender to the American authorities. They were sent back to Batangas, but upon reaching the port. They were not freed right away. There were held captives in a concentration camp because the American soldiers feared General Eleuterio and his men might join General Malvar’s force who at the time of negotiations continued his stubborn resistance against the Americans.
Finally, General Terio and his men were freed and were allowed to go home. Unfortunately, Donya Gliceria Marella or Ka Eryang was placed under house arrest. American soldiers heavily guarded her house.
General Eleuterio Gomez Marasigan was married to Nathalia Sale. They had three children, namely Mariano Gabriel and Remidios. Mariano died while young. He was eldest. Gabriel the second son was a dentist and was married to Socorro Agoncillo, a close relative of the wife of General Emilio Aguinaldo. Remedios, the youngest, was married to former Calaca Elementary School teacher Mr. Vicente Rosales.
Out of wedlock to another woman, the general had another son who was named Felix Marasigan.
General terio died on February 8, 1911 t the age of forty-five. In recognition of his heroic exploits, a major street in Calaca was named after him. A monument erected in his honor during the incumbency of the last Alcalde under the Commonwealth government, Dr. Bernado Macatangay.
General Eleuterio G. Marasigan is dead but his town mates will never forget his greatness. His fruitful life continues to dwell in the hearts of the people of Calaca whom he had loved and served so well.
By: REMIGIO H. BALDOVINO
Barangay 5, Poblacion
Calaca, Batangas
Calaca a typical town in this province has been blessed with its own hero an outstanding general during the Fil-Hispano War in the person of Eleuterio Gomez Marasigan, popularly known as “Heneral Terio” Being a legitimate son of Calaca; he is our contribution to the pedestal of heroes that made our country’s freedom a reality.
As Calaca observes the birthday anniversary of this man whose life was shaped as a shining example of humility and power, dynamic spirit of leadership and unconditional devotion to duty as a citizen, it is but fitting and proper to recall, even briefly, his role as a patriot.
“Heneral Terio” is ELEUTERIO GOMEZ MARASIGAN. It was a pleasant twenty-third day of May 1866 when he saw the first light of a beautiful morning to the indescribable joy of his parents, Don Rufino Marasigan or Kabesang Dinoy and Donya Paula Gomez or Kabesang Paula. After three days, he was baptized. His parents were both natives of Calaca and belonged to the middle class family.
At an early age, Terio had shown love for birds and fowls, so much so that when he accidentally caught a parrot, which could not fly, because of small wound beneath its left wing, he hurriedly made a bamboo cage and kept the poor bird in it after applying herbal medicine on the wounded part. He treated and took good care of his pet until it gained its strength. Many times, he would leave his playmates in the yard to see to it that his parrot was still in the cage. Moreover, one afternoon he got mad when he discovered that pet had flown away when somebody in the house had left the cage door open. Even if he did not cry aloud, his refusal to eat his meal showed that he was so sad over the loss of the parrot. For several days, he would sit by the window and would nail his eyes at the branches of a lone Chico tree opposite their kitchen hoping that he would find again his lost pet. It took several days to forget the parrot, but occasionally, he would glance at the empty cage hanging in the balcony of their house.
Even at any early age, Terio had learned the value of a budgeted time. He himself set the time strictly for work and for play. Even when his playmates came to his yard to play with him, he made polite excuses to continue his work in the house previously assigned to him by his parents. He would only play with them after the assigned task was finished. In contrast, however he would not leave his playmates in the yard and the game they were playing just because either of his parents was calling to the top or his or her voice for an errand or for a work assignment, In short, he played to his satisfaction during playtime, and worked diligently and continuously during work period.
His boyhood was colorful. He fought with other children especially when his playmates were involved. Most of his fight were not of his playmates were not of his own making but just for the sake of companionship. In addition, even when his playmates were at fault, he would challenge all the boys of the opposite group in the defense of his group. Such was the nature of young Terio. He would not allow his rivals to outfight his playmates, and his group took pride in having Terio as their leader.
Terio was not spared in the craze for serenades during his manhood days; he loved to go with young sters in the neighborhood to serenade young “dalagitas” in the nearby barrios. He sang in the “haranas”. On several occasions, he would then court the young ladies his “barkadas’ had serenaded. And more often than not, he would always emerge triumphant, partly, his love affairs won for him true and faithful companions.
Educationally successful, Terio could not be considered one, although he had the opportunity to study in several schools of higher learning. This could be attributed to the fact that the growing political difference between the Spanish colonizers and the freedom loving Filipinos had reached the crucial point and revolution was inevitable. Anger with the abusive Spanish officials made the Filipinos more vigilant. Time had come for the Filipinos to defer educational profits until such time that abuses committed by the Spaniards were put to an end, not thru peaceful negotiations but to the point of the sword.
Locally, young Terio was not spared. He too had decided to take up arms against the Spaniards. With the handful loyal followers and sympathizers, he organized the battalion “Maluya” Strict adherence to the belief that the Filipinos never” turned their backs against the wall, he led his loyal men to start the flight against the Spaniards in the local scenario.
As if God was always with him and his men, his encounters with the Spanish forces were triumphantly undertaken. Consecutive victories had been earned and consequently, the Spanish force experienced a great set back in the organization.
However, General Terio’s troop almost fell into a trap of uncertain future due to lack of welfare materials. Circumstances demanded that they had to give up the fight, because he understood that it would be very impossible to always rely on the economically well-off citizens. Despite the many victories he won in the campaign against the Spaniards, he realized that his ally in the struggle to liberate the masses in the local scene was not the Spanish-oriented intelligentsia or the wealthy but the common person. When great desperation about the condition of General Eleuterio’s battalion almost reached its peak, and then suddenly came the unexpected support from Donya Gliceria Marella, a wealthy woman from Taal who was greatly impressed by the remarkable triumph of his force.
She unconditionally sent financial and material support to General Terio’s men. She obligated herself to see to it that the troop was properly clothed and equipped with enough ammunition to ensure additional victories for the rebels. This self-imposed obligation was not exclusively done for General Eleuterio’s troop but was also extended to other known troops in the province struggling to end Spanish abuses.
After the Luzon campaign, he joined the expeditionary forces for the Visayas. He saw action in the province of Capiz, Antique and Iloilo. While undertaking the campaign against the Spaniards in these places, another foreign enemy entered the revolutionary scene. This time they had to face the American forces. However, their strength was no match against the Americans, later the expeditionary force surrender to the American authorities. They were sent back to Batangas, but upon reaching the port. They were not freed right away. There were held captives in a concentration camp because the American soldiers feared General Eleuterio and his men might join General Malvar’s force who at the time of negotiations continued his stubborn resistance against the Americans.
Finally, General Terio and his men were freed and were allowed to go home. Unfortunately, Donya Gliceria Marella or Ka Eryang was placed under house arrest. American soldiers heavily guarded her house.
General Eleuterio Gomez Marasigan was married to Nathalia Sale. They had three children, namely Mariano Gabriel and Remidios. Mariano died while young. He was eldest. Gabriel the second son was a dentist and was married to Socorro Agoncillo, a close relative of the wife of General Emilio Aguinaldo. Remedios, the youngest, was married to former Calaca Elementary School teacher Mr. Vicente Rosales.
Out of wedlock to another woman, the general had another son who was named Felix Marasigan.
General terio died on February 8, 1911 t the age of forty-five. In recognition of his heroic exploits, a major street in Calaca was named after him. A monument erected in his honor during the incumbency of the last Alcalde under the Commonwealth government, Dr. Bernado Macatangay.
General Eleuterio G. Marasigan is dead but his town mates will never forget his greatness. His fruitful life continues to dwell in the hearts of the people of Calaca whom he had loved and served so well.
