ARISTON
V. VILLANUEVA (1851-1918)
A FORMER gobernadorcillo of Noveleta, Cavite, before the enactment of the Maura Law in 1893, Ariston V. Villanueva joined the Katipunan chapter in his town upon its inception. When this chapter was later merged with that of San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias), Villanueva was elected minister of war. The first president of the Magdiwang Council or Government was Mariano Alvarez, the capitan municipal of Noveleta.
Villanueva retained the position of minister of war when the Magdiwang Council was reorganized after the arrival of Andres Bonifacio in Cavite in December 1896. Bonifacio became the Haring Bayan (King) of the Magdiwang Council, and Mariano Alvarez, the original president, was “demoted” to Pangalawang Haring Bayan (Vice King).
As minister of war Villanueva participated in the three-day Battle of Dalahican (also called Battle of Calero) on November 9-11, 1896, which was under the overall command of Santiago Alvarez, the captain-general of the Magdiwang Council. Generals Artemio Ricarte and Luciano San Miguel assisted Alvarez.
General Ricarte, in his Memoirs, recounts how Minister Villanueva took “forcible measures” to compel well-to-do families in Magdiwang territory to give war contributions to finance the operation of the Magdiwang government.
Son of Salustiano Villanueva and Aleja Valerio, Villanueva was born on March 2. 1851 (another source says 1846) in Noveleta. He was the cousin of General Emilio Aguinaldo, whose mother was Trinidad Famy y Valerio, a native of Noveleta. Villanueva was married to Leonarda Pantaleon of the old town of Cavite, by whom he had three children; namely, Engracia, Andres, and Felipe. After the death of Leonarda he married again, his second wife being Nazaria (another source says Cesaria) Fojas of sta. Cruz de Malabon (now Tanza).
Villanueva died on March 3, 1918, and was buried in the Tanza Catholic Cemetery.
[Source: (1) Biodata furnished by Leni Villanueva, granddaughter of the revolutionary general. Her father was the late Major Andres Villanueva; and (2) Talambuhay ng Magigiting na lalaki ng Kabite, Jimenez Collection.]