Eulogy for General Emilio F. Aguinaldo

Title

Creator

Virata, Emilio P.

Language

English

Year

1964

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

Eulogy For General Emilio F. Aguinaldo By MWB EMILIO P. VIRATA Many years ago, in Kawit, Cavite, a Filipino patriot was born. When he died last February G, at the age of 95, he was given a hero's funeral. That Filipino patriot was General Ernilio Aguinaldo, our brother Mason. Tonight, we arc gathered in a Lodge of Sorrow to render homage to the venerable soldier and sincere Mason whose honorable anil glorious life was an inspiration to all freedom-loving peoples of the world. T he death of the General's lather forced him to abandon his studies at Leiran to help his mother sup port the family. lie engaged in business. Using a small sailing boat with a crew of lour men for water transportation he bought and sold merchandise, larin products and work animals in the islands of Min doro, Romblon and Panay, and the province of Batangas. Later, he sought the appointed office of “gober nadorcillo,” or Municipal Mayor ol Kawit to escape compulsory mili tary enlistment in the Spanish army. The office which he assumed on January 1, 1895, offered him a gol den opportunity to be a Mason and make Masons, and gave him a good chance to become a leading “kalipuncro” and recruit soldiers of thc Revolution. Thus, began General Aguinaldo’s service to God and the Fatherland. He served God by being a useful and helpful citizen. He served the Fatherland by fight ing two powerful nations to free the Philippines from foreign domination and make his countrymen happy. To Bonifacio's City of Balintawak on August 26, 1896, Aguinaldo res ponded with action in Cavite. The action started on the morning ol .August ."I, 1896, in San Francisco de Malabon, now General Trias, where the enemy was surprised, followed al noon of the same day in Novclcta where the first enemy casualty was registered, and repealed late in lhe afternoon in Kawit where Generals Aguinaldo and Tirona (C) personal Iv subdued the civil guards. Aguinaldo led the Revolution against Spain from 1896 lo 1899 and lought America from 1899 lo 1901. At the head of soldiers who were barefooted and in rags, poorly armed and hungry, lie won lhe Revolution, proclaimed Philippine Independence and inaugurated the first Philippine Republic. Among the terms of the Biak na-Bato Peace Treaty between the Philippines and Spain signed December 10, 1897, were expulsion of the Friars from the country, se paration of church and slate, polili cal reforms and payment of indem nities by Spain. In lhe meanwhile, General Aguinaldo wiili a few others consented to be exiled to Hongkong. But when Spain failed May 1964 373 in her Treaty commitments Aguinal do hurried back from Singapore and with the aid of the American navy continued the Revolution. He com menced on May 28, 1898, with an important victory in Alapan, Imus, Cavite. Soon thereafter, the Filipino Revolutionary flag waved trium phantly in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. At last, complete inde pendence we longed for was realized. But in February of 1899, serious mis understanding which developed in the relations between the Filipinos and the Americans caused a declara tion of the Philippine-American war. The former allied became enemies. The war between them lasted two years. It ended when disloyal sol diers of Aguinaldo betrayed him to the enemy at Palanan, Isabela, where he was captured by Colonel Funston of the U.S. army. That was on March 22, 1901, the General’s birthday. At the beginning ol the Revolt! lion many significant persons were indifferent to thc cause of the Eman cipatory Movement. After inde pendence General Aguinaldo used their talents in the conduct of the affairs of state of the Republic by giving them high positions in the government. With such wise move not only unity was attained, but also the success of ihc government of thc Republic was assured. Wc are proud of thc recorded fact that thc first Philippine Republic sur vived the test and succeeded in es tablishing a democratic form of gov ernment with liberty and justice for all concerned. It was greatly strenghtened by a Constitutional provision which made church and state separate. To all of which Aguinaldo’s Masonry and the Ma sonry of his Cabinet as well as the Masonry of the influential members of lhe Malolos Congress, contributed It has been truly said that the en during monument of General Agui naldo — patriot, hero, liberator ol his country, man of steel and Ma son to the core - is the Republic which he won in the Revolution ol 1896 which America restored in 19-16 and which we now enjoy with honoi and with pride. I pray to God that wc keep it for this, our generation, and generations yet unborn. For giving his country freedom and independence General Emilio Agui naldo was elected President of the Revolutionary Government which was formed in Tejero, General Trias, Cavite, on March, 22, 1897. to substitute thc “Katipunan" at thc youthful age of 27; President of the Biak-na-Bato Republic which was established in San Miguel de Mayuo, Bulacan, on November 1, 1897, at the young age of 28; and President of the first Philippine Republic which was inaugurated in Malolos, Bulacan, on January 23, 1899, in thc flower of his manhood at the age ol 30. He lived to the ripe age of 95 and enjoyed for more than half a century the fruits of his labors and the benefits of his achievements. As a highly respected gentleman farmer and deeply revered Filipino hero during his life lime, General Aguinaldo was a host most sought for by foreign visitors. He was thc most famous Filipino, too. His na turally modest and courteous man ners and his admiringly democratic and simple ways made his callers feel at home in his mansion. He was careful not to offend anybody and he never spoke ill of anyone, be he present or absent. To be Turn to pige 393 374 The Cabletow THE LIGHT OF FREEMASONRY. . . (From PaS. 375) And finally, Fraternity. Anywhere in the world a Mason goes, he is welcomed by his brethren regardless of race, creed or color. It is a brother hood not necessarily by blood, but by the kinship of ideals; a brotherhood bound by spiritual ties that cannot be torn asunder by discord, jealousy or selfishness. Truth, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity — these are the attributes that make Masonry great. These, to a Mason, are changeless and unchanging. So, brethren, let us keep on with our good work, using the tools of Masonry in our forward march in the years to come for greater achievements, that Ma sonry will be a powerful force for good in this valley. We may not be here fifty years from now, but we have faith and confidence that the future is bright, with greater happiness, pride, and humility that so much will have been done with more still to be done. I am confident that from here on, the Spirit of truth, liberty, equality, and fraternity will continue to permeate the lives of all of us Freemasons and will pervade and spread out into the lives of the members of our families, the better to lead them ever onward. In closing, let me read to you a very beautiful thought for you to ponder. Most of you must have read this. It appears in a recent issue of our Cabletow; very significant for us, Masons. "I would not give much for your Masonry unless it can be seen. Lamps do not talk, but they shine. A lighthouse sounds no drum, it beats no gong, and yet, far over the water its friendly spark is seen by the mariner. So let your actions shine out your Masonry. Let the main sermon of your life be illustrated by your conduct, and it shall not fail to be illustrious." EULOGY FOR GEN. EMILIO. . . (From page 374) helpful lie would not hesitate to go out of his way. He was, indeed, an honor and a pride of the Fraternity. While in his hospital bed with death hovering around day and night for six long years Aguinaklo’s mind, thought and heart and soul, were always with his country and people he loved so dearly and served so well. Not long before he passed away he donated to them his kawit mansion and relics of the Revolution as a lasting heritage lor posterity to pre serve and thc youth of thc land to profit. As his last will and testa ment General .Aguinaldo wanted his conrades-in-arms — his old veterans — taken cared of and made happy to their last days bv thc grateful peo ple of his beloved Philippines. Our Revolutionary hero is now gone, forever gone to comply with the summons of lhe Divine Ruler of thc Universe. Never again shall we heat; of his patriotism and his heroism. Our liberator has departed to heed thc call of his Maker. Never more shall we profit by his love and by his solicitude. Our redeemer has retired lor a well earned rest. For ever we shall miss his leadership and his friendliness. May the great Filipino that is Gen eral Emilio Aguinaldo, and thc big man that is our hero, repose in eler nal peace with God, our Heavenly Father and Supreme Grand Master. He will ever live in the hearts ol his countrymen. May 1964 393

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