(1869 - 1956)
Pio
Valenzuela was born in Polo, Bulacan on
After
he was tutored at home, he was brought to
In
July 1892, when he was a medical student and the Katipunan was barely a week
old, he joined this secret organization. He became a close friend of its
founder, Andres Bonifacio, and was godfather to the Supremo’s and Gregoria de
Jesus’s first child. After their house
burned down, Bonifacio and his family lived with Valenzuela in the latter’s
house.
Even
before he was conferred the medical degree, he was elected physician of the
society in January 1895 and fiscal general in December.
In
On
He
suggested the name Kalayaan for the society’s organ, which Bonifacio and Emilio
Jacinto approved. The latter took charge
of editing it and upon Valenzuela’s suggestion; Marcelo H. del
Pilar’s name was printed as editor with
Because of the lack of many
printing types, he and Jacinto had to secure them. For each type that was
stolen by the four employees of the printing press of Diaro de Manila,
Valenzuela paid a peso. Aguedo del Rosario and
Apolonio de la Cruz gave him types free of charge.
A thousand copies of the
first issue of Kalayaan dated
He distributed copies of
this paper in his province, Bulacan. After its distribution to other parts of
He considered the
publication of Kalayaan as the most important accomplishment of the Secret
Chamber of the Katipunan. This body, composed of only three members, Valenzuela,
Bonifacio and Jacinto, was organized in Valenzuela’s Lavezares house in early
1896. In one of its meetings in July 1896, it decided the assassination of the
notorious Fray Mariano Gil, parish priest of Tondo who discovered the existence
of the Katipunan. Dr. Valenzuela and Bonifacio attempted to execute this plan
but failed. Then they distributed at various places letters implicating wealthy
Filipinos in the Katipunan movement.
He was a member of the
Katipunan committee which met with the Japanese Admiral named Canimura and
handed to him a memorial to be delivered to the Emperor of Japan beseeching him
for help in the Filipinos’ emancipation struggle. He was a signer of this
memorial.
He administered the
Katipunan oath of membership to Isidro Torres, Feliciano Jocson and three
others who all proved loyal to the organization. He also organized many
branches of the Katipunan in various municipalities of Morong and Bulacan. In
April 1896, Valenzuela in the company of Bonifacio and his brother Procopio and
Jacinto organized the Katipunan branch in Kawit.
He did not neglect his
profession. He gave free medicine to the poor.
At the secret general
meeting called by Bonifacio on the night of
Accopanying the blind
Raymundo Mata, who was supposed to consult Rizal, and Rufino Mugos, he left for
Dapitan on
Upon his return to
In preparation for the
eventuality that the Katipunan was discovered, Bonifacio assigned him to
procure at least 2000 bolos.
When the Katipunan was
discovered, he fled to Balintawak on
He was detained, tried and
deported to
He returned to the
To suppress in agreesive
leadership upon his release, he was made municipal president of Polo. From 1902
to 1919, he served as president of the military division of his district. From
1919 to 1925, he served the people of Bulacan for two terms as provincial
executive. As governor, he was uncompromising against graft and corruption in
the government.
After he retired from
politics, he wrote his memoirs on the revolutionary days. He also practiced his
medical profession, but only for philanthropic purposes. He was married to Marciano Castry by whom he
had seven children. Early in the morning of