Filipino Martyr: DOMINGO T. FRANCO

 DOMINGO T. FRANCO

(1856-1897)

Bagumbayan Martyr

Born on August 4, 1856 in Mambusao, Capiz, Domingo Franco was the third among the six

children of Juan Franco and Ciriaca Tuason. His father worked as procurador judicial, or

solicitor, in the local justice of the peace court. His mother was born to a family of successful

realtors residing in Quiapo, Manila.

Franco spent most of his growing years in Manila. He studied at the Ateneo Municipal in

Intramuros where he obtained a perito mercantil diploma. He studied to become a notary public

at the University of Santo Tomas, where he struck close friendships with Numeriano Adriano,

Apolinario Mabini, and Jose Rizal. Later, Rizal -whom he admired deeply - was to task him with

the organization of La Liga Filipina.

In 1881, Franco married Concepcion Gonzales, a daughter of a captain of the Spanish

Guardia Civil. They first resided on Ylaya Street and then settled down in a house on Nagtahan

Street, close to the Pasig River. There, the Francos had as neighbors other notable Filipino

reformists, like Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Moises Salvador, and Benedicto Nijaga. Apolinario

Mabini lived just across the street from them.

To support his family, Franco engaged in the purchase and cutting of tobacco leaves for the

making of cigars and cigarettes. He later became one of the main suppliers of such large tobacco

companies as La Flor de Isabela, La Yebana, and La Insular. With his keen business sense, he

soon earned the business community’s respect.

The outbreak of the French Revolution greatly influenced some liberal Spaniards, who

organized Masonic societies in the Philippines with “liberty, equality and fraternity” as a rallying

cry. These attracted many young men. Domingo Franco was initiated in the Nilad Lodge.

Afterwards, he transferred to the Balagtas Lodge, a branch of El Gran Oriente Español, and the

mother organization in Madrid. He became “venerable master,” and was conferred the 18th degree,

then the highest rank attained by Filipino Masons in the Philippines during those times. Most of

the Filipino propagandists who were seeking reforms from Spain during that time were Masons.

Franco and Rizal wrote each other regularly while the latter was taking his licentiate in

medicine in Spain. Whenever Rizal was in the country, the two of them would meet to discuss the

current affairs of Philippine society. When Rizal formulated the guiding principles of La Liga

Filipina in Hongkong, he entrusted Franco with the document containing these for safekeeping

and dissemination in Manila.

On July 3,1896, La Liga Filipina was formally organized in the house of Doroteo Onjungco

on Calle Ylaya in Tondo. In that gathering, its Supreme Council, headed by Franco, was created.

The other members were Numeriano Adriano, Apolinario Mabini, and Moises Salvador.

Franco chose “Felipe Leal” as his alias in the Liga – the name that fellow Liga member

Apolinario Mabini used when referring to him in his letters to Marcelo H. del Pilar.

Franco lived up to his assumed name. He remained loyal to the reformist cause until his

death on January 11, 1897 at Bagumbayan Field where, together with 12 others, a squad of Filipino

soldiers shot him. These patriots were to be remembered only as “Los trece martires de

Bagumbayan”.

References:

Guerrero, Leon Ma. The First Filipino. Manila: National Historical Institute, 1979

Kalaw, Teodoro M. Philippine Masonry. Translated into English by Frederick H. Stevens

and Antonio Amechazurra Manila: McCullough Printing, 1956.

Laurel, Celia Diaz. Domingo Franco (1856-1897) Patriot and Martyr Commemorative

Booklet, September 1992.

Manuel, E. Arsenio. Dictionary of Philippine Biography Volume II. Q.C.: Filipiniana

Publications, Inc. 1970.

Photo: Domingo Franco (commemorative booklet, NHI library)