PLACIDO N. CAMPOS (1867-1937)

 

 

 

LIKE General Emilio Aguinaldo, Placido N. Campos was a captain municipal at the outbreak of the Philippine revolution. It was he who led the town of Dasmariñas Cavite, in the uprising against the Spaniards shortly after the “First Cry of Cavite” on August 31, 1896. Armed only with bolos and sibat (pointed stick), Kapitan Idong, as he was fondly called by the people, and his followers attacked the Spanish garrison and the town’s convent, liberating Dasmariñas from Spanish rule. The Spaniards fled to Silang but were later overtaken by Campos’ men. In the ensuring battle the Filipino insurgents captured many prisoners, including a Spanish priest, Fr. Toribio Matao.

Kapitan Idong was one of the first native officials in Cavite to respond to Aguinaldo’s proclamation of august 31, 1896 inviting all capitanas municipal and countrymen to “join in rising against Spain and break the chains that have bound us with her all these hundred years. “Once freed from the Spaniards, the town of Dasmariñas was placed by Kapitan Idong under the jurisdiction of the Magdalo Council or government whose headquarters was located in Imus.

Born in Dasmariñas on October 5, 1867, to a prominent middle class couple, Valerian Campos (Kapitan Valle) of Alba Bacoor, and Julia Nave, a native of Bayang-Luma, Imus, Placido Campos first learned the Kastila under a private tutor, Eugenio Ambalada. Afterwards he studied for four years in the local Catholic school under good musician. He could play the clarinet and flute with considerable finesse.

After the revolution against Spain, Kapitan Idong also led his men during the war against the Americans. It was, however, a futile undertaking, the Americans being far superior in men and material. Filipino resistance was crushed. In October 1901, in the first municipal election under the American regime, Placido Campos was elected president of Dasmariñas. Francisco Barzaga, his constant companion in the Revolution, became his secretary. Together they ran the affairs of the municipality, restoring peace and order and promoting the well being of the townspeople.

The population of Dasmariñas was considerably reduced as a result of the revolution and the Philippine-American War. Consequently Dasmariñas was merged with Imus and Bacoor. The municipal government of the merged municipalities was located in Imus. In 1917, during the administration of Governor General Francis Burton Harrison, Dasmariñas regained its status as a separate municipality. In the municipal election that followed, Placido Campos was again elected municipal president of the town.

Campus was married twice, his first wife being Isabel Sayoto, daughter of Francisco Sayoto and Eusebia Alcantara of Dasmariñas, by whorn he had five children.  On May 15. 1898, Isabel died. The following year Campos was married to a schoolteacher, Marcelina Ilano, a widow, who bore him four children.

In his desire to promote progress of Dasmariñas, Campos joined the Nacionalista Party under they leadership of President Quezon, Sergio Osmeña, and Antero Soriano, governor and later representative of Cavite. He was elected president of local chapter of the Nacionalista Party. It was through his effective cooperation with the national officials that Campos was able to secure much needed facilities, including a muni9cipal building, a public market, an industrial arts building, and a water system.

Campos died on December 23, 1937, at the age of 70, after a lingering illness. [Sources: 1 Mini  - biography written by Jose S. Campos for a historical committee composed of Dasmariñas public school teachers, SY 1925 – 1935; and (2) Biography of “Kapitan Idong’, by Mrs. Cecilia Ramirez.]

 

 

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