Filipino Martyr: JOSE R. CORONEL

 JOSE R. CORONEL 

(1868-1939) 

Revolutionary Officer 

Revolutionary officer and member of the Malolos Congress, Jose Coronel y Rosal was born on May 7, 1868 in Indang, Cavite. His parents, Elias Coronel and Eufracia Rosal, belonged to prominent families of Indang. 

Coronel has his early education in the town of his birth, at the school conducted by Juan Peñaflor, Indang’s maestro municipal. He continued his studies in Manila, at the Colegio de San Juna de Letran, where he completed the equivalent of a secondary education. He then enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas for a course in philosophy, but he was unable to complete it because he got married early, to a lass from his hometown named Maria Lopez. His wife eventually gave him four sons. Ernesto, German, Tirso, and Artemio. 

With the outbreak of the revolution against Spain in August 1896, Coronel joined the forces of the Katipunan under Baldomero Aguinaldo who led the Magdalo faction of the organization. He saw action in many battles against the Spaniards, especially in Talisay, Batangas and Dalahican, Noveleta, Cavite in which he distinguished himself. His bravery and courage in the face of the enemy caught the attention of General Emilio Aguinaldo. Gradually, Coronel rose in the revolutionary ranks, until he became a colonel. There were instances when he acted as secretary of war in the absence of Baldomero Aguinaldo. 

Coronel was one of the Filipino leaders, which included Mariano Trias, Severino de las Alas, Emiliano Riego de Dios, and Santiago Rillo, who arranged for the general meeting of leaders of the revolution at the friar-estate house in Naik, Cavite in 1897. During which it was agreed that a Philippine Republic be established. 

Coronel’s name does not appear in the list of delegates to the Malolos Congress who signed the Republic’s Constitution at Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan on January 21, 1899. However, it appears in the list of delegates to the Revolutionary Congress in Tarlac on July 7, 1899. Coronel was an appointed delegate representing Amburayan, Ilocos Sur. Since the Revolutionary Congress was both a constituent and legislative assembly, Coronel must have participated in the deliberations and passage of laws by that body. 

There is no information available on the role of Coronel during the Filipino-American War. 

After the war, Coronel returned to Indang, Cavite, where he retired to the quiet life of a simple farmer. 

References: 

Manuel, E. Arsenio. Dictionary of Philippine Biography Volume 4. Quezon City: Filipiniana Division, 1955. 

Malolos Congress. Manila: Philippine Historical Committee, 1963. 

Calairo, Emmanuel. Liping Kabitenyo: Talambuhay ng mga Kilala at Di-kilalang Kabitenyo. Dasmariñas: De La Salle University Press, 1999.