León Kilat

Background

León Kilat was born on July 27, 1873 in Bacong, Negros Oriental, Philippines. He was the son of Policarpio Villegas and Ursula Soldi.

Education

León Kilat did not receive much schooling. As a boy, he employed himself as a servant to the Spanish priest of Tolong by the name of Fr. Angel who taught him how to read and write and to recite prayers. When the priest sailed for Manila, he brought Kilat along with him, but due to ill-treatment, received later, the boy deserted his master.

Career

León Kilat began his career in Cebu. Kraffen Bauer, the owner of Botica Antigua, saw him and took him in as a houseboy. After serving for about two years to Bauer's satisfaction, he was employed in the branch office of the Singer Sewing Machine Co. in that city, probably at the recommendation of his former employer. He must have done his duties well enough, for he was selected to accompany the manager to Manila where he got introduced to the Katipunan organization which he soon joined. It was at that time, that he adopted the name Leon Kilat. He must have been in Manila at the outbreak of the Revolution, for he was arrested and imprisoned. Escaping from his cell, he joined the revolutionary camp in Cavite after becoming known to Emilio Aguinaldo who was so impressed by his bearing that he was immediately designated to lead the uprising in the Visayan Islands.

It was in connection with the execution of his assigned task that he returned to Cebu in the last quarter of 1897. His first move on that island was to acquaint local officials and citizens of the objectives of the Katipunan and his mission. This was a delicate undertaking indeed. For this purpose, he approached the then municipal captain of Cebu, Don Andres Abellana. But this official suspected him to be a spy. Awakened in spirit and realizing the import of Kilat's objectives, Capitan Abellana brought him to a prominent citizen, Don Candido Padilla, and then to Florencio Gonzalez, but all distrusted him.

Later he was introduced to Mariano Hernandez who confirmed the assertions of Kilat as Hernandez had received a previous communication on the subject from Aguinaldo. His identity now duly established, preparations for the uprising on that island were immediately discussed and arranged. The leaders had their rendezvous and meetings in the house of Uy Ma Yan, a wealthy Chinese merchant who was doing business at Labangon in the municipality of San Nicolas, very close to Cebu.

It appears that the leaders did not pay any attention to the peace talks being negotiated in Luzon, or they were not aware of such negotiations, for even after the signing of the Pact of Biyak-na-bato and the Revolutionary leaders had exiled themselves in accordance with the terms of the agreement, the planners in Cebu continued with their program of action. Andres Abellana himself was assigned to lead in San Nicolas, and Luis Flores and Florencio Gonzalez in Cebu. The date agreed upon to start hostilities was on Good Friday, upon the proposal of Catalino Hernandez, the precise moment to be signaled by a rocket. But this plan could not be carried out because of the premature arrest of several suspects among whom were Teopisto Cavan, Prisco Ambrio and Gonzalez, an event that altered the original plan and precipitated immediate action.

On April 1, the group under Kilat entered and took the town of Talisay, some eleven kilometers from Cebu, with little opposition from the Spanish hunters and civil guards. Alarmed military governor of Cebu, Don Adolfo Montero, gathered his troops and volunteers to quell the uprising. But the insurgents were gaining ground. They had already occupied San Nicolas and made the church their headquarters.

In the afternoon of April 3, a detachment of the Spanish forces under Captain Monfort, Captain Gutierrez and Isidro Iboleon clashed with the rebels but this was routed, leaving seven Spanish soldiers and a number of native soldiers killed. The insurgents, lead by Kilat, Flores and Padilla then entered Cebu the following day, Monday, and drove the Spanish forces into the Fort of San Pedro without much resistance. They attacked and entered the provincial jail and freed the prisoners who joined them. The Audiencia and Tabacalera edifices were sacked and looted. It appears that there were only some forty Spanish soldiers left who did not dare meet the rebels outside the fort, where other members of the Spanish community, the bishop and officials shut themselves up waiting for succor.

On April 7, the fourth day the insurgents occupied Cebu, three Spanish vessels arrived with reinforcements from Manila and Iloilo. After the Spanish marines and troops were landed under the command of General Tejeiro, severe fighting followed. The insurgents lost many men and among those captured were Padilla, Capitan Olimpio Regis and his brother Capitan Emilio Regis. Kilat and Flores ordered the retreat of their men to the south. Together with other leaders like Tomas Alonzo, Troadio Galicano, Fructuoso Ramos and Solomon Manalili they decided to establish their quarters in Carcar, where they set up a sort of war council.

Two reasons determined the selection of this town: one was the presence of stores of food and supplies in the locality, and the other was that the place was not within cannon range from the seacoast. There was opposition to make Carcar the stronghold of the insurgents. Several townsmen suggested and wanted the conflict carried on in the mountains, should the last stand be made, and not in the town. But it was too soon to make alterations in the plans.

There were many loyalists and the insurgents were exhausted. Shortly after midnight, the guards of Kilat, fast asleep due to fatigue, were awakened by loud screams as their leader was being treacherously murdered by enemies after he was given a friendly and warm reception a few hours before. There was no good reason for allowing his guards to be withdrawn.

The following morning three other companions were shot. One of them, Rufo by name and a baker by occupation, exhibited remarkable spirit. Upon being fired upon four times, he challenged his executioners by shouting "More!" after each volley until he fell and expired. In the afternoon of Good Friday at five o'clock, the four bodies were transported in a cart and thrown into a pit outside the Catholic cemetery. When this happening became known, the revolution started afresh with more vigor than ever before and spread, shaking the whole length and breadth of the island.

The remains of the four brave insurgents were dug up on August 2, 1926, and those of Kilat bespoke of the inhumane outrage he received from his betrayers.

Achievements

• León Kilat, also known as Pantaleón Villegas y Soldi, was a notable Filipino patriot, mostly recognized as a Revolutionary leader. He became famous when he led a revolutionary group in Panay and Negros Islands and the uprising on April 1, 1898, in Cebu.
  
  The town of Bacong in Negros Oriental has honored Villegas with a statue, erected in the town plaza in 1926. On July 27, 2008, the 135th anniversary of Kilat's birth, the Philippine National Historical Institute turned over a historical marker in honor of Villegas to local and provincial officials in his hometown.

Connections

Father:

Policarpio Villegas

Mother:

Ursula Solde

References

• Dictionary of Philippine Biography A book by E. Arsenio Manuel.
  1970