The Nineteen Martyrs of Capiz, [1] more commonly known anachronistically as the Nineteen Martyrs of Aklan [lower-alpha 1] refers to a group of Filipino revolutionaries in Panay who were executed for advancing the cause of the Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution against Spain. All individuals were native to towns in Capiz, which are now in the modern province of Aklan.
Former Filipino migrant workers Francisco del Castillo and Candido Iban won a lottery while there were in Australia. They returned to Manila in the Philippines in 1894 or 1895 to join the Katipunan, a revolutionary group seeking independence of the Philippines from Spain. They donated part of their winnings to help fund the a printing press that would be used for the publication of Kalayaan, the Katipunan's newspaper. The first issue was released in March 1896. [1]
The two were later directed by Andres Bonifacio to establish a chapter of the Katipunan in the Visayas. Del Castillo died in a fight on March 17, 1897 which led to the increase of pro-revolution sentiment in Capiz (in an area which now forms part of modern-day Aklan). The remaining revolutionaries were promised of amnesty by the Spanish colonial government but were imprisoned and tortured instead. They were executed on March 23, 1897. [2]
The Nineteen Martyrs of Aklan consists of natives of the modern-day Aklan province; eleven hailed from Kalibo, three from Malinao, five from Lagatik (now New Washington). [3]
The nineteen martyrs are commemorated annually every March in the Kalibo in the modern-day province of Aklan. The Aklan Freedom Shrine was built in the town in their honor. [4]
The martyrs were subject of a 2019 full-length documentary film titled Daan Patungong Tawaya (lit. 'Road to Paradise'). In the film, the martyrs were portrayed as having been empowered by anting-anting . [2] [5]
Panay is the sixth-largest and fourth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total land area of 12,011 km2 (4,637 sq mi) and has a total population of 4,542,926 as of 2020 census. Panay comprises 4.4 percent of the entire population of the country. The City of Iloilo is its largest settlement with a total population of 457,626 inhabitants as of 2020 census.
Aklan, officially the Province of Aklan, is a province in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Its capital is Kalibo. The province is situated in the northwest portion of Panay Island, bordering Antique to the southwest, and Capiz to the southeast. Aklan faces the Sibuyan Sea and Romblon province to the north.
Western Visayas is an administrative region in the Philippines, numerically designated as Region VI. It consists of six provinces and two highly urbanized cities. The regional center is Iloilo City. The region is dominated by the native speakers of four Visayan languages: Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, Aklanon and Capiznon. The land area of the region is 20,794.18 km2 (8,028.68 sq mi), and with a population of 7,954,723 inhabitants, it is the second most populous region in the Visayas after Central Visayas.
Malinao, officially the Municipality of Malinao, is a 4th-class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 24,517 people.
Kalibo, officially the Municipality of Kalibo, is a first-class municipality and capital of the Province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 89,127 people.
Balete, officially the Municipality of Balete, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 30,090 people.
Banga, officially the Municipality of Banga, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 40,318 people.
Lezo, officially the Municipality of Lezo, is a 5th class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. It is the smallest municipality in the province both by population and by land area, and even by revenue. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 15,639 people.
Makato, officially the Municipality of Makato, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 29,717 people.
Malay, officially the Municipality of Malay, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. It is the richest municipality in the province in terms of revenue. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 60,077 people making it the second most populated town in Aklan.
Numancia, officially the Municipality of Numancia, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. Because of its proximity to the Capital Town of Kalibo, majority of its baranggays are classified as urbanized making the municipality the second most densely populated municipality in the province with 1,200 inhabitants per square kilometres. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 35,693 people.
The Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite were Filipino patriots in Cavite, Philippines who were executed by musketry on September 12, 1896, for cooperating with the Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution against Spain. The de facto capital city of Trece Martires in Cavite is named after them.
The Aklanon people are the ethnolinguistic group who lived in the province of Aklan. They are part of the wider Bisaya ethnolinguistic group, who constitute the largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group.
The Archdiocese of Capiz is a Latin Church metropolitan archdiocese the Catholic Church in the Philippines. The archdiocese covers the entire province of Capiz on the island of Panay in the Visayas, central Philippines, and has its see in Roxas City. Its current archbishop is Victor Barnuevo Bendico, who was installed on May 3, 2023.
This is a list of notable events that happened in the Philippines in the year 1897.
1896 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 1896.
The Fifteen Martyrs of Bicol were Filipino patriots in Bicol, Philippines who were executed by firing squad on January 4, 1897, for cooperating with the Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution against Spain.
The Thirteen Martyrs of Bagumbayan were Filipino patriots in the Philippines who were executed by musketry on January 11, 1897, for cooperating with the Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution against Spain.
Ángelo Fernández is one of the Nineteen Martyrs of Aklan, Filipino patriots who were executed by musketry in Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines on March 23, 1897 2: a.m, for cooperating with the Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution against Spain.
Roman Selorio Aguirre is one of the Nineteen Martyrs of Aklan, Filipino patriots who were executed by musketry in Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines on March 23, 1897 at 2 a.m, for cooperating with the Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish Empire.