WENCESLAO
F. VINIEGRA (1874-1948)
PERHAPS to prove to the members of the Magdiwang Council that they committed a grievous error when they ordered the execution of his father, Eugenia Viniegra, capitan municipal of San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias) for allegedly being “very anti-Katipunero…and an enemy of the revolutionary cause,” Wenceslao F. Viniegra, 22, medical student at the University of Sto. Tomas, unconditionally joined the Revolution, fighting side by side with his distinguished uncle, General Emilio Aguinaldo. The young Wenceslao was wounded twice in one battle against the Spaniards, but after recovering from his wounds he continued fighting, his morale never showing any sign of flagging.
Starting as a captain in the revolutionary army, Wenceslao steadily rose in rank to colonel. So impressed was General Aguinaldo with his bravery that he appointed the young officer as military governor of Zambales during the first year of the Philippine-American War. A few months later Wenceslao was transferred to a bigger province, Camarines, in the Bicol region. Wenceslao’s rank was raised to brigadier-general. Unfortunately, while serving in Camarines he was captured by Colonel Louis Van Schaick, who later became military governor of Cavite (1905-1907).
Born on September 28, 1874, in barrio San Isidro (Bacao), San Francisco de Malabon, Wenceslao was the son of Eugenio Viniegra and Canuta Famy, first cousin of General Aguinaldo. The outbreak of the revolution in 1896 forced Wenceslao to stop hi medical studies at the University of Sto. Tomas and return to his hometown. He fought continuously under Aguinaldo. He signed the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, and then joined Aguinaldo in his exile to Hongkong.
On April 23, 1898, in the British Crown Colony, Wenceslao and 42 other Filipino revolutionary leaders signed a joint statement refuting the calumny against Aguinaldo concerning the P400, 000 Spanish indemnity given to him, saying that the amount was intact and was being “reserved for the service of the country”. In fact, the amount was expended later on to purchase arms and ammunition abroad for the resumption of the revolution against Spain.
General Viniegra died on July 28, 1948 at the age of 74. He left a widow, the Eugenia C. Trias, sister of General Mariano Trias, and two sons, Atty. Carlos T. Viniegra, former wartime assembly man of Cavite and private secretary to them Senate President Quezon, and Atty. Fernando T. Viniegra, Sr., former judge of the Court of First Instance of Nueva Ecija.
[Sources: (1) Biodata furnished by General Viniegra’s grandson, Romulo T. Viniegra of General Trias, Cavite; (2) Memoirs of general Artemio Ricarte. Manila, National Historical Commission, 1963; and (3) Emilio Aguinaldo, Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan. Copyright by Cristina Aguinaldo Suntay, 1964.]