JOSE
SALAMANCA (1863-1924)
JOSE SALAMANCA was
another duly elected delegate to the Malolos Congress representing Cavite
Province. He was a colonel in the Philippine Revolution. He was taking up
pharmacy in the University of Sto. Tomas when the Revolution broke out, forcing
him to stop his studies. He later joined the revolutionary forces.
Born on January 21,1863,
in San Roque, Cavite, Jose was the son of Angel Salamanca and Antonia Molina y
Cosca, owners of the Farmacia Ballesteros in the same town. To prepare him for
his pharmaceutical career, Jose’s father enrolled him in the Ateneo de Manila,
after which he transferred to the University of Sto. Tomas.
Salamanca was one of the
signers of the Malolos Constitution, which was promulgated on January 21, 1899.
when the Congress was convened again in Tarlac, Tarlac,
In July of the same year he was
designated one of the delegates from Cavite. This Congress continued its
session until shortly before November 12, when General Aguinaldo disbanded the
regular Philippine Army and launched an all-out guerilla war against the
Americans.
Salamanca was
evidently still engaged in rebellious activities even after the end of the
Philippine American War, causing the American authorities to order his arrest
and imprisonment in Corregidor. After his release he returned to Cavite and served
as secretary of the provincial board. He also served as councilor of San Roque,
and later edited the Cavite Press, 1910-1912. A man of many talents, he
was a linguist, poet, playwright, and composer of no mean ability.
He was married
to Cresencia Diaz of Intramuros, Manila, by whom he had three daughters,
namely, Efigenia, Olivia, and Socorro. Olivia was the one of the first Filipino
women physicians in the Philippines. Salamanca died on July 15, 1924. His
remains were interred at the Manila North Cemetery.
[Sources (1) Prominent
Caviteños in History. Copyright by Esteban A. de Ocampo, 1941 and (2)
Gregorio F. Zalde, The Philippine Revolution. Manila, Modern Book
Company, 1968.]