Ishikawa: the caviteno who became a Japanese

Title

Creator

Misa, Arturo Ma.

Language

English

Source

The Cabletow III (3) January 1961

Year

1961

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

e5An Unsung ^ero ISHIKAWA:TheCaviteno Who Became a Japanese ARTURO MA MISA IN Pandacan, Manila stands a neg lected plaza that arouses curiosity be cause of its name: Plaza Ishikawa. Ihat plaza was not named alter a Japanese but alter a Filipino here, Jose Altai leto Ramos, a Caviteho. Jose Anadeto Ramos was born in San Roque, Cavite, of Filipino par entage. He grew up in Manila, where his parents had a lucrative business in Intiamuros. then the city’s coinmer< ial district. He studied at Santo To mas and later was sent to London, where he took a business course at the College of Saint Marv. Upon his return to Manila, he took O\er his lather s bazar, which he re named "I.a Cran Bretaha. When he had accumulated enough cash, he re turned to England to by a good print ing press which he could use for pro paganda work. Back in the Philip pines, lie <et up a printing company known a> "La Ymprenta Nueva." which teas to publish many propagan da pamphlets. The Spaniards tried to Pace the source of the subversit e pamphlets but had no inkling that the bazar “I.a (•ran Brelana" was the focal distribu tion point. Ramos’ friendship with M. II. del Pilar was to draw him into intensive propaganda work: his wide circle of friends included Rizal, who was a fellow student of his at Santo 'Fomas. Contrary to Common belief, the "Noli Me Tangere’’ was not published en tirely in Spain. A few chapters of Rizal's controversial masterpiece were printed clandestinely in the compos ing room of "La Ymprenta Nueva” in Intiamuros, under Ramos superviWlien the Kalipunan was founded. Ramos helped raise funds for the new Society. At a meeting in Quiapo at tended by Dr. Bonifacio Arevalo, Doroteo Cortez, Pedro Casimiro and oth er Kalipunan leaders, the problem of where to secure arms for the secret society was discussed. Ramos suggest ed that they puchasc arms from Ja pan and that he be sent to that coun try to negotiate the purchase. At that time, Jose Altai leto Ramos’ activities were no longer secret; the Spanish au thorities knew that he was one of the leading minds of the propaganda movement in Manila and his establish ment had been raided several times. The members of the Kalipunan present at that meeting approved Ra mos’ suggestion. Forthwith, Jose Anacleto Ramos buried his papers seals, arms and other documents and boarded a ship for Japan. This was in 1895. 77 In Yokohama When he set foot in Yokohama, the Japanese, who were sympathetic to the Philippine cause, welcomed him with open arms. Ramos discussed his mis sion with the Japanese officials and they helped him purchase arms for the Kalipunan rebels. Jose Anacleto Ramos sent these arms to the Philip pines in an ingenious way; he had them packed in such a way that the crates seemed to contain only chrysan themums; under the flowers were the guns that would one day be used in the fight against Spain. While in Japan, the indefatigable Caviteho turned with renewed vigor to the writing of fiery articles assail ing Spanish rule in the Philippines, which he signed James A. Robertson and published in the “Japan Daily Advertiser.” His propaganda activities ceased only when he learned with dis may that Spanish rule had ended in the Philippines, only to be replaced by American domination. In 1900, he wrote his friends that his work was finished, that he was homesick and wanted to return. His friends advised him not to return home because the American authori ties knew that he was a rebel at heart and could make life hard for him. It was then that Ramos decid ed to apply for Japanese citizenship and to assume the surname Ishikawa so that the American could not touch him. Another important motive that prompted him to swear allegiance to Japan was his desire to manifest his gratitude to the Japanese people and government for the assistance they had given him for four years. On October 24, 1921, 21 years af ter he came home and lived peaceful ly under the American flag, the Ca viteho who became a Japanese passed away at the Mary Chiles Hospital. Shortly thereafter, a tract of land in Pandacan, where he had spent his boyhood and early manhood days, was turned into a plaza named alter him by the municipal council of Manila, a fitting tribute to a great man whose contributions to the Revolutionary cause deserve the admiration and gra titude of all patrotic Filipinos. A A NEWS & NO TES Roy Reyes Baban, son of Bro. Nicolas P. Baban of Iloilo-Acasia Lodge No. 11 and Sis. Florencia Reves Baban of the Order of Eastern Star in Iloilo City, romped away with the second prize in the sixth annual oratorical contest on Rizal held at the Far Eastern University audito rium on December 4, I960. Young Baban, a high school stu dent at Central Philippine Universi ty in Iloilo City, bested the orators from San Beda College and Ateneo de Manila. He also defeated the ora tors of the Bicol, Northern, Central. Southern Luzon, and Eastern Visa yan regions. Baban lost only to the orator of Mindanao after the Board of Judges broke a tie for the first place in fa vor of the latter. Baban’s winning piece “The Vision of Rizal” won him a one-ycar scholarship amounting to P300.00 and a commemorative plaque for the High School Dept, of Central Philippine University. (It should be added that Bro. Ramos was one of the first few Filipinos who joined Masonry in England. He was initiated, passed and raised in a lodge the Master of which was tho Prince of Wales, later King Eduard VI. Ed.) 78 THE CABLE TOW January, 1961

pages

77-78

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