Filipino Martyr: RAYMUNDO MELLIZA

 RAYMUNDO MELLIZA

(1854 – 1945)

Aguinaldo’s Running Mate

A revolutionary leader from the Visayas during the second phase of the Philippine

Revolution, Raymundo Melizza, born on March 15, 1854, was a native of Molo, Iloilo. He was the

son of Capitan Cornelio Melizza, a wealthy landowner in the town. He was educated at the Royal

College of Madrid and at the University of Seville both in Spain where he befriended Filipino

propagandists.

In March 1898, when he learned that the revolution began by Andres Bonifacio in 1896

and taken up by General Emilio Aguinaldo in 1897, was gaining support among patriotic Ilonggos,

he joined Francisco Villanueva, founder of the Conspirator’s Committee, to prepare the plan for the

uprising in Iloilo. The Spanish garrison in the city, however, had withdrawn to Zamboanga. Thus,

the Filipino rebels occupied it without a fight. They then established a revolutionary government

there in compliance with the order from General Aguinaldo.

When the Council of State for the Visayas was formed on December 12, 1898, Melizza was

initially named to it as a member, representing Leyte. Later, he became its president, succeeding

Roque Lopez.

When the Visayan provinces were organized into a federal state under the central

government in Luzon, Melizza assumed the governorship of Iloilo succeeding Delgado.

It was at this time that the American expeditionary forces under General Marcus Miller

tried to take control of the province. However, the Filipino revolutionists, led by Melizza, did not

allow them to land. Sensing their resistance, Miller sent one of his officers, Henry Du R. Phelan, to

confer with Melizza and his council. Later, the Americans succeeded in winning the support of the

Visayans.

Under the American colonial administration, Melizza was appointed as the first governor

of Iloilo serving from 1904 – 1906. One of his achievements as provincial governor was the

capture without bloodshed of a notorious bandit, Dionisio Papa, alias “Papa Isyo.”

In the national election of 1934, which paved the way for the establishment of the

Commonwealth government, Melizza ran as the vice-presidential teammate of General Aguinaldo,

who sought the presidency. Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña Sr. defeated them.

Melizza passed away on November 11, 1945, leaving behind his wife, Germana Conlu. They

had no children.

 References:

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

Filipiniana Publications, 1955.

Quirino, Carlos. Filipinos at War. Philippines: Vera-Reyes Publishing, 1981.