Simeón Ola

Simeón Ola y Arboleda (September 2, 1865 – February 14, 1952) is a hero of the Philippine Revolution and was the last general of the Philippines to surrender to the American forces after the Philippine–American War.[1][2][3]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ola and the second or maternal family name is Arboleda.
Simeón Ola
Last Filipino General to surrender to the American forces
Municipal President of Guinobatan, Albay
In office
1904–1908
Personal details
Born
Simeón Ola y Arboleda

(1865-09-02)September 2, 1865
Guinobatan, Albay, Captaincy General of the Philippines
DiedFebruary 14, 1952(1952-02-14) (aged 86)
Guinobatan, Albay, Philippines
Organization Katipunan
 Philippine Republic

Early life

Simeón Ola was born on September 2, 1865, to Vicente Ola and Apolonia Arboleda. He enrolled in Mater Salutis College Seminary and studied Philosophy, but did not graduate.

Revolutionary

He joined the local branch of the Katipunan in his hometown province of Albay and later became its leader. With the help of a parish priest he was able to acquire arms to support his men. He was promoted to the rank of captain after the battle of Camalig in Albay, 1898 and to the rank of major after an ambush mission that led to the capture of three Americans. He was the leader of the subsequent attacks on Oas, Ligao, and Jovellar. He later surrendered on the condition that his men would be granted amnesty. He was put on trial and convicted of sedition. He was sentenced to thirty years in prison. In 1904, he was given a pardon and returned to his place of birth and became the municipal president. The regional police command in Legazpi City was named after him.

Controversies

At least two potential problems surrounded Ola as the last general to surrender to the American forces.[4] First, he had surrendered earlier on July 5, 1901, as an officer (major) of Vito Belarmino.[5] Second, his role as a zone commander is not mentioned in Miguel Malvar's statement on the condition of his command that he provided in December 1901.[6] Nor was any documentation of his commission as general preserved.[7]

Death

Simeon Ola died on February 14, 1952, and was interred at the Roman Catholic Cemetery of Guinobatan. In 2003 his remains were transferred to the Ola Shrine.[8]

References
  1. ":: Welcome to Manila Bulletin Online ::". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 2007-12-20. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  2. Umali, Justin (September 23, 2019). "Simeon Ola Was the Last General to Surrender to the Americans". Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  3. "Who was Simeon Ola?". Bicol Standard. Archived from the original on 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  4. Owen, Norman G. (1999). The Bikol Blend: Bikolanos and Their History. New Day Publishers. ISBN 978-971-10-0551-1.
  5. Annual Reports of the War Department, p346. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1902.
  6. Annual Reports of the War Department, p267. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1902.
  7. May, Glenn Anthony (1991). Battle for Batangas: A Philippine Province at War. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-04850-6.
  8. "Simeon Ola". Retrieved September 23, 2009
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