Miguel Malvar comes from a wealthy family who lives in Batangas. He was elected gobernadorcillo in 1890. He joined the rebel movement in their quest for independence and fought alongside Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.
Malvar appeared on the annals of history because of Aguinaldo’s success in liberating Cavite against the Spaniards. The troops of Aguinaldo were even able to penetrate some parts of Batangas, where rebellious movements are weak. It was then that Malvar decided to join Aguinaldo and liberate the town of Batangas from the Spaniards.
When Aguinaldo was captured in 1901, Malvar took over and declared that he is the commander of all liberating forces. When he sat into power, he brought the revolution into the ranks of the peasants to achieve a broader support base.
Malvar’s reputation as a soldier was legendary. The people believed that he has an amulet or anting-anting that could repel bullets.
Even when the Americans implemented the “scorched earth” policy – wherein the food supplied by the Americans to the towns that are believed to be supporters of the rebels were cut-off – Malvar and his men refused to surrender.
But by 1902, talks about unity, reform and amnesty became too tempting for most of the rebels to resist. Most of them surrendered. Malvar’s hideout was discovered. He and Emilio Aguinaldo were exiled in Hong Kong. But they returned to the Philippines after the Pact of Biak-na-Bato was signed.
