MARIANO
TRIAS Y CLOSAS (1868 – 1914)
MARIANO TRIAS Y CLOSAS was the first of three
politico-military governors of Cavite during the Philippine revolution against
Spain. He was holding this position
when General Emilio Aguinaldo, a few weeks after the proclamation of
Philippines independence in Kawit, appointed him as secretary of finance in his
cabinet with headquarters in Bacoor.
Prior to holding the position of politico-military
governor, Trias had been voce-president of the first revolutionary government
established during the Tejeros Convention of March 22, 1897, and vice-president
of the Biak-na-Bato republic set up on November 1, of the same year. Trias retained the position of secretary of
finance in the council of government (cabinet) formed by Apolinario Mabini on
January 2, 1899. When the Mabini
cabinet fell in early May, Trias was appointed secretary of war in the cabinet
of Pedro Paterno, Isabela, he decided to surrender to the American under
general Baldwin.
Trias held the distinction of being the first civil
governor of Cavite (1901 – 1905) during the American regime. It was during his terms that he was
designated member of the Philippine delegation to the St. Louis (Missouri)
Exposition of 1904.
Born on October 12, 1868 (another source says 1869)
in San Francisco de Malabon (now gen. Trias), Trias was the fourth member of a
family of six children of Balbino Trias, landowner, and Gabriela Closas,
Balbino was a cabeza de barangay and
later a justice of the peace during the Spanish regime. Aside from Mariano, the other children were
Maximino, Pedro, Martina, Eugenia, and Felina.
After
finishing his early studies in his hometown, Trias went to Manila and enrolled
at the San Juan de Letran College where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
degree. Then he transferred to the
University of Sto. Tomas to take up medicine, but he did not finish the course
because of the outbreak of the Revolution.
A
leading member of the Katipunan, Trias became the fiscal of the Magdiwang
Council in San Francisco de Malabon.
When the Council was reorganized under the leadership of Andres
Bonifacio, the Haring Bayan (King),
and Mariano Alvarez, Pangalawang Haring
Bayan (Vice-King), Trias was designated minister of grace and justice.
Bonifacio and Trias were nominated for
the presidency of the revolutionary government in the Tejeros Convention, but
General Emilio Aguinaldo, who was elected in absentia, defeated both. Nominated
again for vice-president of the new government, Trias licked Bonifacio who was
later elected director of the interior.
When Bonifacio, after a heated argument with Daniel Tria Tirona,
nullified the results of the convention, in his capacity as chairman, Trias
decided to part ways with the Katipunan Supremo. Accordingly, Aguinaldo and
Trias were sworn into office as president and vice-president, respectively, of
the revolutionary government in a simple ceremony in the convent of Sta. Cruz
de Malabon (now Tanza).
Trias
was the founder of the Nacionalista Party chapter in Cavite. He supported the
candidacy of Rafael Palma as assemblyman, representing the lone district of
Cavite in 1907. In the general elections of 1912, Trias was responsible for the
election of Antero S. Soriano and Florentino Joya as Governor and
Representative, respectively, of Cavite.
Trias
died at the Philippine General Hospital on January (another source says
February) 22, 1914 he left a widow, Maria Ferrer Trias, sister of the late
Cavite Governor Luis Ferrer, Sr., and six children; namely, former Governor
Rafael Trias, Sr., and Atty. Miguel F. Trias, Sr. (both deceased), Dr. Soledad
T. Vda. De Sanchez, Clara T. Salvanera (deceased), Constancia T. Viniegra
(deceased), and Gabriel F. Trias, Sr. The Filipino nation expressed its
gratitude to General Trias, when the town of San Francisco de Malabon was
renamed after him by virtue of Act No. 2880.
(Sources: (1) John R. M. Taylor, Philippine Insurrection Against the United States. Hereafter to be called Taylor, Philippine Insurrection. 5 vols. (Pasay City, Eugenio Lopez Foundation, 1971.) Vol.3, Exh. 62, pp. 163-166; (2) E.A. Manuel, A Dictionary of the Philippine Biography, Vol. 2; (3) Prominent Caviteños in the Philippine History. Copyright by Esteban A. de Ocampo, 1941; (4) Ang Liwanag ng Cavite. August- September 1973; (5) Eminent Filipinos. (Manila National Historical Commission, 1965); and (6) Leon S. del Rosario, “ general Mariano Trias: Vice-President of the First Philippine Republic,” Philippine Free Press, June 12, 1965).