VICENTE RIEGO DE DIOS (1866-1938)
TWO YEARS younger than Emilio, his
eminent brother-diplomat, Vicente Riego de Dios was born on April 5, 1868. He
obtained his early education in private school run by Sister Potenciana
Villafranca, after which he continued his studies in Manila, eventually getting
the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy from University of Sto. Tomas.
Vicente
and his two brothers, Emilio and Mariano, led the revolution in Maragondon. His
nom de guerre was Taong Aguila (Eagle Man). He rose to the
rank of colonel in the revolution.
It was Vicente who headed the first
commission from Tejeros to notify General Emilio Aguinaldo of his election as
president of the newly established Revolutionary Government. But Aguinaldo could
not leave the frontline to take his oath of office, so Vicente returned to
Tejeros Convention empty handed. At this point General Crispulo Aguinaldo,
elder brother of Emilio, was dispatch the Pasong Santol, in Salitran
Dasmariñas. Crispulo take over the command of Pasong Santol from his brother so
that the latter could be inducted into office. This prove to be the costliest
oath-taking in history because the enemy, upon learning of Emilio’s departure
from the front, mounted a big offensive, taking the strategic Pasong Santol
over Crispulo’s “dead body”.
Vicente took charge of the Maragondon
troops under the command of his brother, Emiliano, when the latter and brother,
Mariano, went to different places in Southern and Central Luzon to direct the
struggle against the Spaniards.
He died at the age of 72 on April 29,
1938. His body was buried in the Philippine Independent Church cemetery in
Maragondon.
[Source. Biodata furnished by his
daughter, Mrs. Pilar Riego de Dios Castor, wife of Atty. Servillano Castor,
member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan
of Cavite, through her cousin, Judge Juan R. Narvaez of Maragondon.]