Filipino Martyr: CANUTO SEGOVIA

 CANUTO SEGOVIA
(d. 1897)
Revolutionary Martyr from Capiz
Canuto Segovia, a leader of the Katipunan in Capiz, was among the province’s 19 martyrs
to the Philippine Revolution.
With the outbreak of the revolution in Luzon in August 1896, the Katipunan supremo
ordered its two loyal members, Francisco del Castillo and Candido Iban, who were from Capiz, to
establish the secret society and spread the revolution in Panay.
Around Christmas of 1896, the two men arrived in Batang, Capiz and at once contacted its
prominent residents, consisting of Albino Rabaria, Teodorico Motus, Cornelio Delfin, Gabino
Sucgang, Simplicio Reyes, Isidoro Jimenez, and Valeriano Dalida. As the first members of the
Katipuneros in the province, they were designated as chiefs of the organization, tasked with
inducting recruits from the barrios of Ochando, Kawayan, Tambak, and Lagatic.
When the Katipunan spread to the towns of Jimeno (now Altavas), Balete, Kalibo,
Malinao, Lezo, and Ibajay, Del Castillo and Iban contacted other members. They formed another
group, which included Canuto Segovia, Pedro Pamintuan, and Isidoro Madayag. With the help of
the first group of Katipuneros, they inducted men from those towns in secret blood-compact rites
in the barrios of Nalook and Mabilo. At the same time, they drew up plans for the start of
hostilities against Spanish rule in Panay.
All in all, Del Castillo, who had designated himself as general, and Iban, whom he had
given the rank of colonel, were able to recruit a total of about a thousand men since their arrival on
the island. This newly formed Katipunan army was, however, acutely lacking in arms. Aside from
bamboo lances and bolos, it only had Del Castillo’s revolver and a handful of rifles.
Hostilities erupted on March 17, 1897 following the discovery by the authorities of the
Katipunan’s existence on the island. The rebels suffered serious reverses after Del Castillo was
killed in his attempt to storm the headquarters of the civil guards in Kalibo, and Iban was captured
in Malinao.
Leaderless and demoralized, Segovia and the other minor rebel chiefs surrendered on
March 19 to 22 with the offer of amnesty by Col. Ricardo Monet, the commander of Spanish forces
in the Visayas. Instead of being set free, however, he and the others were imprisoned and tortured
to reveal the names of their comrades and the strength of the Katipunan in Panay. He was singled
out with 18 others, all of whom were taken later to a warehouse on Amadeo Street on the night of
March 23. They were subjected to more physical abuses before they were finally shot to death. The
following morning, their bodies were paraded around the town, displayed in the plaza, and then
dumped in a common, unmarked grave.
References:
Gwekoh, Sol. “The Nineteen Martyrs of Aklan.” Hall of Fame. Manila Times. 1966.
Historical Calendar. National Historical Commission. Manila: 1970
Sonza, Demetrio. Illustrious Ilonggos Volume 1. Iloilo City: Iloilo Provincial Historical Society,
1972.
Zaide, Gregorio F. “The Nineteen Martyrs of Aklan.” Philippines Free Press. March 22, 1952.