Vito Belarmino

{{Short description|Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and Philippine–American War}}

{{More citations needed|date=October 2022}}

{{family name hatnote|Belarmino|Loyola|lang=Spanish}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Vito Belarmino Loyola

| image = Vito Belarmino.webp

| birth_date = {{birth date|1857|6|15}}

| birth_place = Silang, Cavite, Captaincy General of the Philippines

| death_date = {{death date and age|1933|7|14|1857|6|15}}

| death_place = Insular Government of the Philippine Islands

| parents = Severino Belarmino, Damiana Loyola{{Cite web|url=https://www.oocities.org/collegepark/pool/1644/belarmino.html|title=Vito L. Belarmino|website=An Online Guide about the Philippine History}}

}}

Vito Belarmino y Loyola (June 15, 1857 – July 14, 1933) was a Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution. During the revolution, he was codenamed "Walang Gulat" by fellow Katipuneros.{{Cite web|url=https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/technological-university-of-the-philippines/readings-in-philippine-history/vito-belarmino-history/71017951|title=Readings in Philippine History (GEC-2)|website=studocu|publisher=Technological University of the Philippines}} He was placed by Emilio Aguinaldo in command in the province of Albay. There, he established a republican government.{{Cite web |title=SOUTHERN LUZON and BICOL, Philippines Unsung Heroes |url=http://msc.edu.ph/centennial/hero/bicol/page5.html |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=msc.edu.ph}} He was a Major general.{{Cite book |last=Linn |first=Brian McAllister |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-5WOrmt_VxcC |title=The U.S. Army and Counterinsurgency in the Philippine War, 1899-1902 |date=2000-12-01 |publisher=UNC Press Books |isbn=978-0-8078-4948-4 |language=en}}

Military career

File:Vito Belarmino NHCP historical marker - 1.jpg

He joined Aguinaldo in the assault against Infantry Battalion No. 72 of the Spanish Army stationed in Talisay, Batangas. In this encounter, Aguinaldo left to him the leadership of the successful attack on the convent and church and on the Spanish guards.{{Cite web |title=geocitiessites |url=http://geocitiessites.com/sinupan/BasaJM.htm |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=geocitiessites.com}}

On April 2nd of 1898, he led a battle along with Simeón Ola, Glicerio Delgado and other Filipino revolutionaries at Camalig in Albay province. This Battle is known as Battle of Camalig.

During the Philippine–American War, he would be given command of Albay to establish a local republican government. He and General José Ignacio Paua defended Legazpi, Albay against American forces led by General William August Kobbé.{{Cite web|url=https://philippines-islands-lemuria.blogspot.com/2012/06/15-june.html?m=1|title=Today in History|publisher=Jesusa Bernardo}}

On July 4, 1901, due to lack of ammunition, he surrendered to the American forces.

Personal life

After the war, he retired into private life in his province. He lost his vision in 1929, and died in July 14, 1933, of cerebral attack.{{Cite book|url=https://search.library.wisc.edu/catalog/999618178802121|title=Prominent Caviteños of Philippine History|last=de Ocampo|first=Esteban|year=1941}}{{Cite web|url=https://m.pinoyedition.com/talambuhay-ng-mga-bayani/vito-belarmino/|title=Talambuhay ni Vito Belarmino|website=Pinoy Edition}}

Belarmino studied in Colegio de San Juan de Letran, although his parents discontinued it after the widespread pandemic of Cholera at that time.

At 19 years old, he became involved in politics in Silang, Cavite. During his political career, he became a teniente mayor, Cabeza de barangay, Gobernadorcillo and a secretary to the tribunal.{{Cite web|url=https://museodesilan.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/177/|title=Kasaysayang Bayan ng Silang}}

References

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