MARIANO TRIAS LIFE
SLIDE ONE
Good afternoon everyone, I am Angel Marbella.
I came from one of the provinces that symbolizes the eighth rays of the sun in our flag.
Welcome to the historical province of Cavite.
Have you ever heard whispers of a Filipino leader, a man deeply entrenched in the
revolution, who chose a path of peace and collaboration when others cried for bloodshed?
A man whose name echoes through the halls of Philippine history, yet remains shrouded in
a veil of forgotten stories?
I want to introduce to all of you a certain hero that was most heard in my city and yet almost
forgotten in our country. His name was General Mariano Trias and his journey offers a
fascinating glimpse into the complexities of the Philippine Revolution.
Now that's a controversial statement to say, right? You will all learn later as the discussion
begin.
SLIDE 2
some of you may not know him but as an introduction,
Mariano trias is a revolutionary general and a CAVITENO through and through. He was born
in San Francisco de Malabon which is the town of CAVITE now called after him. He was
nicknamed as LABONG in his letters and writings which came from the word ‘Malabon’ or
bamboo shoots.
During the Philippine Republic government run under American colonization he was
appointed first civil governor by William Howard Taft in June 11, 1901.
And during the TEJEROS convention meeting, he was appointed the nation's first vice
president besides the then-president Emilio Aguinaldo.
SLIDE 3
For a short biography,
His full name is Mariano Trias y Closas and was born on October 12 1869.
He was the son of Balbino Trias and Gabriella Closas. He was the 5th son out of 9 siblings.
His father during the Spanish Revolution was known as a cabeza de barangay, better known
as a barangay captain. Balbino Trias later became a landowner after the Spanish
colonialization.
His mother on the other hand was related to FR. Mariano Gomez THAT one of the three
famous martyr priests from the Gomburza trio.
The general was also known as one of Katipunan's bravest generals. He was there from the
very spark of the Katipunan uprising fighting alongside Emilio Aguinaldo in Cavite. This
wasn't some fleeting act of rebellion either. He held crucial military positions, leading men,
strategizing, and demonstrating his commitment to pushing back against Spanish rule.
SLIDE 4
During his early years, he studied under a local teacher in Cavite under the name Eusebio
Chavez and Cipriano Gonzalez. By the time he reached his teenage years, he went to San
Juan de Letran and took up a bachelor of arts then attended the University of Santo Tomas
to pursue a medical program. He was unable to finish the program as he was pushed into
the battleground early and was named general on February 4 1899 serving the country
against American invasion in the battle of Manila.
He led the first cry of cavite on August 31 1896 at 10:00 AM in the morning with Diego
Mojica and Nicholas Portilla in the place of PASONG KALABAW, now known as Santa Clara.
SLIDE 5
At the same time he was named general, he was also named by Aguinaldo as the southern
supreme civilian and military leader when the war began at the same day. He also served
as Mabini's cabinet secretary of treasury.
When Aguinaldo, with the bitterness of defeat at the hands of the Spaniards, made his pact
with Spain in 1897, Trías journeyed with him to exile in Hong Kong. He was a trusted
confidant, a man close to the center of power. He knew the sting of exile, the frustration of
seeing a revolution seemingly snuffed out.
Fast forward to 1898, the Americans arrived, victorious over the Spanish fleet in Manila
Bay. Aguinaldo spurred by the whispers of independence and fueled by American
encouragement returned to the Philippines. Trias came back too but something had shifted
within him. He saw the futility of continuing the fight, the impossible odds against achieving
true independence. His loyalty had been shaken and he believed in a new path, a
collaboration with the Americans.
He wrote his second in command General Miguel Malvar expressing his opinion that
obtaining independence through armed conflict was now extremely difficult if not
impossible. Thus he decided to turn himself in, to the Americans in order to pursue
independence by lawful and peaceful means.
While Aguinaldo declared himself President of the Revolutionary Government and Mabini
penned pronouncements of absolute independence, Trías embraced a different vision. He
was named Vice-President, but his true calling lay in fostering peace and transition. He saw
the potential for progress under American guidance, a chance for the Philippines to rise
from the ashes of conflict and build a stable, prosperous future.
Trías stood as a beacon of reason in a swirling cauldron of Filipino dissension. He urged
Aguinaldo to temper his demands and to negotiate a peaceful transition to American
sovereignty. He believed in working within the system, in utilizing American support to lay
the foundations for a better future.
However, his voice was drowned out by the fiery courage of Mabini and the war party at
Malolos. Aguinaldo, caught between the opposing forces of war and peace, ultimately
sided with Mabini.
Trías, disillusioned and seeing the inevitable path toward conflict, formally resigned his
position in November 1898.
SLIDE 5
Looking further into his personal life he was married to Maria Concepcion Ferrer with whom
he had three children. He also founded the NACIONALISTA PATRY CAVITE chapter, this
organization was initially created to support Philippine independence until 1946 when the
American government let the Philippines gain its sweet freedom.
He died from an appendectomy surgery due to complications in PGH dated to February 22
1914.
While history remembers Aguinaldo and Mabini for their unwavering pursuit of
independence, Trías stands as a testament to a different kind of courage. He had the
bravery to lay down his arms, to embrace a path many Filipinos deemed treacherous. He
recognized the limitations of armed rebellion, the dangers of unleashing a force incapable
of achieving its GREAT FEATS.
It's not because he doesn't believe in his fellow Filipinos…. but because he was just a
human being. I think he truly embodies what a normal human being acts like when put into
a situation where his life is on the line. No one wants a war. No one wants to fight
carelessly. He may be a general but deep down he is still a human. And that's just the
beauty in it that most people doesn't understand.
Being in the battleground, risking your life, saving everyone in danger, and freeing your
mother country from colonization seem like it's the best way to die. Because dying like
means you are a hero.
but I think most, if not all people in this room would not have the capability to think their
actions through, just so they can save everyone in danger. It's not selfishness to preserve
one's life it's just how survival feels works.
If we could solve everything through talking and maintaining peace then why do we need to
fight violently?
Trías embodies the complexity, the internal struggle between the ideals of absolute
freedom and the pragmatism of collaboration. I believe that he was a wise person capable
of thinking rationally instead of swaying his hands left and right.
he was able to conclude and suggest peaceful collaboration towards enemies. He serves
as a reminder that even amidst the clamor of revolution, there are those who choose
peace, collaboration, and the difficult, often unpopular, path of building a future from the
ashes of conflict.