Tiburcio de León

General Tiburcio de León y Gregorio was a Filipino freedom fighter who served as general of during the 1896 Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War. He first served under Andrés Bonifacio in the Katipunan, and then, reluctantly, under the revolutionary Government set up by Emilio Aguinaldo.

"Heneral Tibo", as he was often referred to while alive, is credited for having established the Katipunan in the towns of Polo, Obando, Marilao, Meycauayan, Bocaue, Santa Maria, and San Juan del Monte in Bulacan, and of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas in Bataan. His forces were the only unit of the Katipunan which survived the death of Bonifacio on the orders of Aguinaldo.

When Aguinaldo later asked him to commit his forces to the First Philippine Republic, de León was reluctant to do so, being loyal to Bonifacio. He eventually agreed, saying he was doing so only for the sake of the country. He is also known for his role in the Battle of Tullahan River during the Philippine-American War--a battle which enabled the forces of the Aguinaldo Government to flee to Northern Luzon.

Early life

Tiburcio was born in 1862 to Pedro de León and Florencia Gregorio in Polo (now Valenzuela), Bulacan.

Memorials

On February 18, 1968, the Sangguniang Nayon (Villiage Council) of Torres Bugallon signed into law the renaming of their community after Hen. Tiburcio de Leon "bilang karangalan nito sa pagiging bayani ng himagsikan sa panahon ng pamahalaang Kastila" (in recognition of his role as a hero of the revolution during the time of the Spanish Government). After the change in terminologies during the reign of President Marcos, this community is now known as Barangay Hen. Tiburcio de Leon, Valenzuela, Bulacan. The Hen. Tiburcio de Leon Elementary School is also named after him. A stone monument was raised by his comrades (Veteranos de la Revolución) in memory of Heneral Tibo in the town of Timog, Bulacan.

Sources

*cite paper
first = Edmundo
last = Nicolas
author = Edmundo V. Nicolas
authorlink =
title = Ang Kasaysayan ng Mabagang Paaralan ng Hen. Tiburcio de Leon
version =
publisher = Barangay Government, Barangay Hen. Tiburcio de Leon, Valenzuela, Bulacan
date = 8 October 1984
url =
format =
accessdate =
*cite paper
first = Mar
last = Arenas
author = Fr. Mar DJ Arenas
authorlink =
title = Valenzuela: Ang Bayani at ang Bayan
version =
publisher =
date = 1997
url =
format =
accessdate =
*cite paper
first = Simplicio
last = de los Santos
author = Dr. Simplicio de los Santos
authorlink =
title = Maikling Talambuhay ni Heneral Tiburcio de Leon ng Himagsikan ng 1896 (A Short Biography of General Tiburcio de Leon of the Philippine Revolution of 1896)
version =
publisher = Barangay Government, Barangay Hen. Tiburcio de Leon, Valenzuela, Bulacan
date = January 1999
url =
format =
accessdate =
*Citation
first = Teodoro M.
last = Kalaw
authorlink = Teodoro M. Kalaw
title = An Acceptable Holocaust: Life and Death of a Boy - General
place = Manila
publisher = National Historical Institute
year = 2003
location =
volume =
edition = Third Printing
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = 971-538-021-2