Filipino Martyr: CAMILO JACOB

 CAMILO JACOB

(d. 1897)

Revolutionary Martyr from Bicol

Camilo Jacob was one of the 11 Bicolanas who were executed at Bagumbayan on January 4,

1897 as martyrs to the Philippine Revolution. He was a native of Polangui, Albay.

The outbreak of the revolution in the Tagalog provinces in August 1896 raised fears among

the Spanish authorities that the conflict might spread to the Bicol region. They began persecuting

liberal-minded Bicolanos whom they suspected not of holding separatist views but, worse, of

advocating the overthrow of Spanish authority in the Philippines. These included businessmen

and professionals, particularly adherents of Masonry, as well as members of the clergy.

Shortly after the outbreak of the revolution, the authorities arrested Vicente Lukban, who

belonged to the Masonic lodge La Luz Oriente. He headed one of its chapters, called Triangulo

Bicol, whose members were from the Bicol region. Upon interrogation, Lukban implicated Jacob

as one of the active supporters of the Katipunan.

At that time, Jacob, a professional photographer, was running a fairly successful business

in Albay and Nueva Caceres. Aside from maintaining a photographic studio in Naga, he traveled

around the towns of Bicol to ply his trade. Since photography was still a novelty and a luxury, most

of his clients were families of government officials and businessmen who wanted their portraits

taken.

On September 19, 1896, Jacob was arrested by the authorities in Naga. He joined others

accused of rebellion and sedition against Spain, like Tomas Prieto, Leon Hernandez, Ramon

Abella, Mariano Araña, Mariano Ordenanza, Macario Valentin, Cornelio Mercado, and Fathers

Inocencio Herrera, Manuel Subarbano, Severo Estrada and Severino Diaz, who were all arrested

that same day. They were beaten up, starved and insulted. Intermittently, they were individually

hung by their thumbs of fingers and beaten some more to force them to name their supposed

accomplices. They were given false promises of freedom if they did.

Later, Jacob and his fellow prisoners were taken to Manila on the steamer Isarog. Upon

their arrival in the city, they were brought to the old Bilibid, where they received more

maltreatment.

On December 29, 1896, Jacob and 14 others faced a military court for rebellion and

sedition against Spain. The only evidence the prosecutors could present against them was their

avowed desire to end Spanish oppression in the country. Of the 14, Jacob and 10 others accused of

being sympathizers or bonafide members of the Katipunan, were sentenced to death. Two others,

Ramon Abella and Mariano Araña, were ordered deported to Fernando Po Island in Africa. One,

Mariano Ordenanza, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

On January 4, 1897, Jacob and 10 fellow Bicolanos were shot at Bagumbayan.

References:

Galang, Zoilo M. Encyclopedia of the Philippines. Manila: 1935.

Insurreciones y Rebelliones. Bundle No. 62.

Quirino Carlos, Eminent Filipinos. Manila: National Heroes Commission, 1961.

Reyes, Jose Calleja, Bikol Maharlika. Quezon City: 1992.