Every November 30 in the Philippines, Filipinos commemorate the life of national hero Andres Bonifacio and his birth. Little did many know that on the same day, in the province of Bulacan in Central Luzon, there is another hero being honored because of his death anniversary. He's General Anacleto "Etoy" Enriquez—remembered as a youth leader and a true nationalist.
Unlike many Filipinos during the Spanish colonization, Anacleto was born in a wealthy family in San Nicolas, Bulakan, Bulacan. He's a nephew of another Philippine hero Marcelo del Pilar and cousin of General Gregorio "Goyo" del Pilar.
Anacleto Enriquez
Vicente "Bong" Enriquez, one of the grandchildren of Anacleto's brother Colonel Vicente, shared that the abundant life of the Enriquez family gave his grandfathers a lot of privileges.
"Mayaman sila, super rich that's why ang mga magkakapatid na lalaki ay sa Ateneo pinag-aral. During that time, kapag nag-aaral ka sa Ateneo kahit paano may kaya ka," Bong said in a phone interview.
Yet, the privileges did not stop Anacleto from opening his eyes to the injustices in his country. His opportunity to meet the man he admired, Jose Rizal, in the Hotel de Oriente, Manila sparked his courage to fight for the Filipinos.
The young hero's resistance
According to Antonio Valeriano, a local historian in Bulacan, Anacleto joined the Katipunan in 1895. He was just 19 years old but his age didn't hinder him from standing with the Filipinos fighting for freedom.
Together with his brother Vicente, he quit studying in 1896 to go back to his hometown, eventually founding a group of Katipuneros there, as commanded by Supremo Bonifacio. Doroteo Karagdag, Anacleto and his brother Vicente established the Balangay Uliran in Bulakan, Bulacan, and he became the vice president. His mastery in shooting earned him the codename "Matanglawin".
Amid different fights against Spaniards around Bulacan, Balangay Uliran was merged with Hen. Isodoro Torres's Balangay Apuy in Malolos. The united organization was later on called Sangguniang Apuy. Anacleto became the vice president of the new group, ranking as general at the age of 20. Later on, he gained the reputation of being one of Bulacan's most dangerous military leaders.
General Anacleto led winning and losing battles against the invaders until tragedy befell him on November 30, 1896 at the San Juan de Dios Church in San Rafael, Bulacan. On that fateful day, a powerful group of Spanish military faced the troops of Anacleto which forced them to hide.
Anacleto turned the San Rafael church as his hideout with his hundreds of subordinates, but Spaniards discovered them. The battle inside the church became the bloodiest fight in the history of San Rafael as approximately 800 people died, including the 20-year-old general. The blood in the church after the battle reached ankle-deep. Since he was one of the formidable opponents of the Spaniards during that time, Anacleto's death was published in El Diario de Manila.
Painting of the Battle of San Rafael. Courtesy: Isabelo Santos
"Sina Lolo Etoy, mayaman sila pero ang tanong is bakit lumaban pa sila [kung] pwede naman silang hindi na lumaban... they can even go abroad," Bong said. "Tinalikuran ang marangyang buhay para magsilbi."
Bong also shared that when Anacleto's cousin Goyo learned the news, he immediately asked Vicente the reason for his death.
"Ang exact words na sinabi ni Goyo from the book of Teodoro M. Kalaw, ‘An Acceptable Holocaust: Life and Death of a Boy-General' ay: ‘How was Anacleto armed when he fell in battle? I shall also know how to die for our country as he did.' ‘Yon na ang umpisa ng Goyo, ng pagsasanay niya sa Katipunan," he said.
Bulacan's preservation of Anacleto's heroism
San Juan de Dios Church in San Rafael, Bulacan shared that they will hold a mass and dedicate flowers for the hundreds of people who died in the said battle on November 30 this year. Aside from painting, mini sculptures, and bust reliefs of the young hero Anacleto in some parts of Bulacan, his hometown conducts a program every year to commemorate his death. Bong Enriquez is an annual invitee to the event as a representative of Anacleto's descendants.
"Palagi kong sinasabi na kailangang ituro sa elementary pa lang ang kabayanihan, not only of Anacleto. Kasi ‘yong formation age ng mga estudyante sa mga bata pa lang dapat nai-inculcate na sa mind, na may mga bayani tayo na dapat tularan, na dapat ma-inspire tayo sa kabayanihan nila," Bong expressed.
From left to right. Mini sculpture and bust relief of Anacleto Enriquez located in Bulakan and City of Malolos. Courtesy: Bulacan History and Heritage FB page
Bong also said that Anacleto is one of the heroes not recognized a lot by the present generation but the life of Anacleto must be learned by many, especially by the youth.
Anacleto's heroism teaches a lesson that everyone should learn: that young age is not a hindrance to help and serve; your privilege shouldn't shield your eyes from seeing the suffering of others. --CONTRIBUTED
The author, Mary Joy, is an intern at Inquirer Mobile. She's fond of writing stories that could catalyze a good change in the life story of others. She also loves reading novels and non-fiction books about life as well as being a mother to her two dogs and three cats.