MARCELINO AURE (1863-1930)
It was in the battle of Talisay, Batangas, about the end of September 1896 that Marcelino F. Aure, whose symbolic Katipunan name was Alapaap (Cloud) and commander of some 30 bolomen from Mendez, Cavite, that he gained distinction for bravery and amazing magical power to ward off bullets. Standing in the middle of the road leading to the Talisay convent, Aure caused the Spaniards to concentrate their attacks on him, thus enabling his soldiers to break through enemy defense and capture their target.
It was also in this battle that General Emilio Aguinaldo, assisted by Generals Pio del Pilar and Vito Belarmino, scored his second biggest military victory since the beginning of the Revolution. So impressed was Aguinaldo by Aures performance in the Battle of Talisay that he promoted the latter from captain to colonel, skipping one or two ranks. Other people said that Aure was given the rank of brigades general, hence he came to be known as Heneral Alapaap.
The eldest of the children of Kapitang Pedro Aure and Ursula Fenol, Marcelino was born in Indang, Cavite, on February 12, 1863. The elder Aure was a founder of the town of Mendez, a former barrio of Indang. The young Marcelino showed an inborn talent while studying in the private school of Maestro Basa of Indang. Learning the alphabet, arithmetic, and Tagalog poetry in a remarkably short period of time. When Mendez was converted into a municipality, the elder Aure made his son the chief clerk although he was only 16 years old.
Marcelino Aure was married at the age of 21 to Juanita Roman of the town of Cavite. The wife died a few years later, followed by their two kids. He married a second time, his new wife being Maria Aloangue, a native of Indang. The couple begot seven children, two of whom died in their infancy. The five surviving children were Miguel, Corazon, Rafael, Gabriel, and Baraquiel.
It was during his second marriage that Marcelino Aure experienced great hardships under Spanish officials. He therefore signed up the Katipunan secret society. Because of his exceptional bravery Marcelino was given the rank of captain. Known to possess anting-anting (amulet), Aure was believed to be capable of walking through a flood. He also had a magical powers to deflect rain drops, ward off enemy bullets, and make coconut trees bend to his thirsty soldiers so that they could get fruits and drink.
Aure’s second wife died in the early period of American occupation, so he married for the third time. A young girl named Margarita Vidamo, a native of Mendez, became his third wife. The couples were blessed with 14 children, but only seven of them grew up to adulthood. They were Pacita, Ignacio, Aurea, Antonio, Marcelino, Jr., Miguel, and Ursula. Under the American regime Aure became a notary public, then municipal president of Mendez, Alfonso, and Bailen when the three were merged into one municipality under Public Act 747 passed by the Philippine Commission, and finally member of the provincial board of Cavite.
Aure died on February 4, 1930, at the age of 67.
(Source: Talambuhay ng Magigiting na Lalaki ng Kabite, Jimanez collection.)