Ambrosio Flores

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Ambrosio Flores
Governor of Rizal
In office
1901–1904
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byArturo Dancel
Governor of Manila
In office
August 10, 1898 – 1899
Personal details
Born(1843-03-20)March 20, 1843
Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines
DiedJune 24, 1912(1912-06-24) (aged 69)
Pasig, Rizal, Philippine Islands
NationalityFilipino
EducationUniversity of Santo Tomas
OccupationSoldier, writer, politician
ProfessionLawyer
Military service
Allegiance First Philippine Republic
Branch/serviceSeal of the Philippine Army (1897).svg Philippine Revolutionary Army
Years of service1896–1900
RankBrigadier General
Battles/warsPhilippine Revolution
Philippine–American War

Ambrosio Flores (March 20, 1843 – June 24, 1912) was a Filipino general in the Philippine Revolution and the first governor of the province of Rizal.[1]

Biography[]

Ambrosio Flores was born on March 20, 1843 in the Philippine capital Manila. His parents were Ignacio Flores, a corporal in the Spanish army, and Josefa Flores. He studied Latin with a private tutor. He later studied philosophy at the University of Santo Tomas. After some time, he changed his studies and went to study medicine.

In 1860, following his father's example, he enlisted in the Spanish army. He served in Mindanao fighting the rebellious Muslims in the region. His military career for more than three decades included flag bearer of Jolo Regiment No. 6. He was also a defensor de oficio (lawyer for the defense) in military courts until 1894. He then held the rank of first lieutenant. Soon after, he opened an elementary school in Quiapo, Manila.

Flores was active in the Progaganda Movement and in 1894 traveled through the country with Faustino Villareal to spread the work and ideas of José Rizal. Two years earlier, he had become a Freemason because of his hatred of the abusive Spanish friars in the Philippine colony. In April 1892, he became the first master of the lodge Solidaridad and in-charge of Bathala II. In 1893, he became the Grand Master of Gran Consejo Regional.

When the Philippine Revolution broke out, Flores was arrested and held captive for 17 months. After his release, he joined the revolutionary troops and was appointed general. He became one of the confidants of Emilio Aguinaldo. He later resigned from the revolutionary army. On August 10, 1898, he was appointed governor of Manila Province, a position he held until February 1899.

Shortly afterwards, he was again drafted into the revolutionary army and made a brigadier general. Flores fought in the battles of Polo and Calumpit in Bulacan.[2] After the death of General Antonio Luna, Flores became Commander in Chief of the Philippine Army and Secretary of War in the Philippine government of Aguinaldo. However, the U.S. military proved too strong for the Philippine troops. The victory of U.S. military forced Flores to go to Tarlac with the remnants of the revolutionary army and his family. He saw that further resistance was futile and in 1900, along with several other generals and leaders, including Francisco Macabulos and Pantaleon Garcia, surrendered to the U.S. General Arthur MacArthur in Nueva Ecija.

While governor, which lasted until 1904, he was active in the "pacification" of the Philippines. The so-called "Ladrones" (revolutionaries who refused to surrender)[3] were imprisoned during his term. This made Flores unpopular with the population as governor. After his governorship, he completed a law degree and passed his entrance exam for the Philippine Bar at the age of 62. In July 1, 1911, he was appointed Justice of the Peace in Pasig.

References[]

  1. ^ INQUIRER.net (2019-03-20). "DID YOU KNOW: 100th birth anniversary of Ambrosio Flores". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  2. ^ "Ambrocio Flores was born in Manila March 20, 1843". The Kahimyang Project. 2012-03-19. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  3. ^ Weber, Benjamin D. (August 2018). "Fearing the Flood: Transportation as Counterinsurgency in the US–Occupied Philippines". International Review of Social History. 63 (S26): 191–210. doi:10.1017/S0020859018000287. ISSN 0020-8590.

Sources[]

  • Arsenio Manuel, Dictionary of Philippine Biography, Volume Three, Filipiniana Publications, Quezon City (1986)
  • Carlos Quirino, Who's Who in Philippine History, Tahanan Books, Manila (1995)
  • National Historical Institute, Filipinos in History, Vol. 1-3 , Manila, NHI (1992)
  • Hector K. Villaroel, Eminent Filipinos, Textbook Publishers, Quezon City (1965)
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