General Vicente S. Alvarez, a first and foremost Zamboangueño revolutionary hero was born on April 5, 1862 in Magay, Zamboanga City. His mother was Isadora Solis and his father was Alejo Alvarez.
His early education started at the Liceo de Zamboanga inside the fort and later went to Ateneo Municipal de Manila. With a scholarship from the government, he enrolled at the Spanish Military Academy.
He joined the Katipunan in 1892 because he saw the brutalities on the Filipinos by the Spaniards that he wanted to help free his country from the oppression. His membership to the organization was later exposed to the authorities. As a punishment, he was sent to Sulu to pacify the warring loyalties.
In two years (1895-1897) of great diplomatic efforts in Sulu, the people learned to respect and love him. As a reward for his success, he was conferred the honorary title "Datu Tumanggong" which means "Royal Marshall of Camp."
In 1989, the Zamboangueños organized the Revolutionary Council wherein Alvarez was unanimously appointed general of the revolutionary force. The formidable group able-bodied men-Christian and Muslim including the convicted and condemned fought a common enemy, first, the Spaniards and then the Americans.
On May 14, 1899, four days before the fall of the Fort Pilar, a delegation was sent from the Malolos government headed by Baldomero Aguinaldo, arrived in Zamboanga carrying the confirmation of Gen. Alvarez's rank as General of the Revolutionary Force of the Philippines.
The siege of the Fort lasted for more than a month. After a protracted but fierce fighting, Spanish Governor-General Diego delos Rios surrendered to the revolutionary forces on May 18, 1899.
On November 4, 1942, weakened in body by his unending struggle but unbowed in his dream to liberate the Zamboangueños, the general died. He was 80 years old.
Very few are aware of what he actually did. In strong words, he repeatedly said: "We will never surrender Zamboanga and we will fight any foreign invader to the last man."
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