JOSE IGNACIO PAWA (856-1922)
A CHINESE foundry man, Jose Ignacio Pawa was born in Lamua, China, circa 1856. He spent he most fruitful years of his life in the Philippines fighting for the country independence. He is considered a Caviteño by reason of his marriage to Antonia Jamir of Binakayan, Kawit, reportedly as a cousin of General Emilio Aguinaldo.
That Pawa was at the bottom of his heart as a true Filipino, perhaps better than many native Filipinos, is the fact that during his last years he used to say, “I want to live up to independence Day to enjoy the sight of the Philippine flag flying alone in the breeze.”
Aside from maintaining a foundry shop in Binakayan manufacturing lantakas (small cannon) and other arms, Pawa actually fought in several important engagements, eventually earning the rank of brigadier-general. He figured the attacked of the Spanish forces in Imus, Cavite; he commanded a large force revolutionists in the battle of Sta. Cruz, Laguna, against the Americans headed by General Lawton; and he conducted military operations in the Bicol peninsula, driving out the English planters and confiscating Spanish Property.
A trusted man of Aguinaldo, Pawa was with the group of Col. Agapito Bonzon when the latter stormed Bonifacio’s citadel in Limbon, Indang and arrested the Katipunan Supremo and his brother Procopio for counter-revolutionary activities. Pawa was also among the 26 companions of Aguinaldo when the latter went on exile to Hongkong in accordance with the Pact of Biak-na-Bato.
Returning from the British Crown Colony, Pawa was assigned to solicit funds for the First Philippine Republic in the Bicol Region. In Tayabas (now Quezon) Province Pawa was able to collect P220, 000.00 for the Malolos government. Following Aguinaldo’s capture in Palanan, Isabela, on March 23, 1901, Pawa surrended to the Americans.
It was during his assignment in the Bicol region in 1899 that Pawa contracted a daughter, Josefa. Pawa died in May 1922, still hoping to live long enough to see the Filipinos achieve their independence.
[Sources: (1) E. A. Manuel, Dictionary of Philippine Biography. Manila, 1973; and (2) Crisologo Villacarlos, “Gen. Jose Ignacio Pawa,” Prominent Caviteños in Philippine History, Copyright by Esteban A. de Ocampo, 1941.]