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On August 27, 1855, General Licerio Geronimo was born in Manila. Unable to pursue formal education, Geronimo worked as a farmer along with his father in Montalban (now part of Rizal Province). He eventually found his way to serve as a member of the Guardia Civil Veterana, an elite law enforcement unit in the Philippines.

Geronimo, who supposedly joined the Katipunan as early as 1892, would later become the president of the Katipunan council centered at Barrio Wawa in Montalban. He also helped organize Katipunan councils in San Mateo and Marikina. During the first phase of the Philippine Revolution, he was elected in October 1896 as brigadier general.

Later on, Geronimo successfully led Filipino troops to victory against around 2,000 Spanish soldiers under Lieutenant Colonel Felipe Dujiols at Mount Puray on June 14, 1897, aiding in the process the journey of General Emilio Aguinaldo and his forces to Bulacan. It was also in Geronimo's encampment where the revolutionary forces organized the Departmental Government of Central Luzon, which elected Pedro Dandan as president and Anastacio Francisco as vice president. At around the same time, Geronimo was designated as division general along with Sinforoso de la Cruz, Melecio Carlos, and Hermogenes "Baras" Bautista.

A year later, in 1898, he became a major general in charge of the San Mateo area. At the outbreak of the Filipino-American War on February 4, 1899, Geronimo was called from the farming fields to the battlefield as he was tasked to command Filipino troops east of Manila (3rd Zone). His forces were among those organized by General Antonio Luna in the Filipino counterattack against United States forces at Caloocan starting February 22, 1899. Geronimo and allied forces managed to reach as far as Binondo, Sampaloc, and Tondo before having to retreat to their pre-battle lines. By August 12, 1899, seven American companies under Brigadier General Samuel Young and Captain James Parker captured San Mateo. Despite being able to defeat Geronimo, the Americans nonetheless abandoned the area due to their inability to maintain a garrison.

Perhaps Geronimo's finest hour as a revolutionary commander came at the Battle of San Mateo on December 19, 1899, which saw the death of the highest ranking American officer to have been killed during the course of the Filipino-American War. American troops under General Henry Ware Lawton marched from the north, aiming to take Marikina and San Mateo on the way to Manila in hopes to sever enemy communication lines and smash Filipino forces still operating near the capital.

Preparing to face them in San Mateo were around 1,000 Filipino troops led by General Licerio Geronimo, who entrenched themselves along the Marikina River. Apparently, the civilian population gave them important intelligence of the American movement. Thus, they waited all night of December 18 for the American offensive, missing the tradition of "Simbang Gabi" or Midnight Mass. One of Lawton's known tactics was using nighttime for his attacks. However, American soldiers would only appear by the next morning in the area which would today be Batasan Hills.

The fierce Filipino resistance initially repulsed the American attack, compelling Lawton to personally lead the troops himself in the front line. Perhaps confident of his earlier successes since his arrival in the Philippines, he did not seriously consider the possibility of him being targeted, which the sharpshooters (tiradores de la muerte) with Geronimo did. The person who landed the fatal shot was Private Bonifacio Mariano. Despite Lawton's death, the Americans found a way to maneuver around the Filipino troops by sending cavalry through the Montalban area. The Filipinos would eventually retreat from their lines, but it proved to be a costly affair. The Americans reported 24 casualties, including the slain general.

The Americans would further report 165 casualties on the Filipino side, including Private Mariano. Some sources, however, indicate that Mariano would remain alive until the end of the war and would receive American amnesty. B. Mariano Street, located in the vicinity of the Battle of San Mateo, was named in his honor. Plaza Lawton in Manila, meanwhile, has been renamed as Liwasang Bonifacio in 1963.

Geronimo, on the other hand, fought until his surrender on March 29, 1901. Surrendering with him were Captain Jose Reyes, Lieutenant Antonio Raymundo, Engineer Aniceo Soriano, Lieutenant Estanislao Valerio, and some 40 more Filipino troops bearing 49 rifles. This decision was reached at Barrio Guinayang in San Mateo, after a Marikeño committee led by Former Malolos Congress Member Arturo Dancel met with Geronimo's camp.

Notably, Geronimo did not wish to be compensated for the surrender. Instead, he believed his surrender would help in the freedom of his imprisoned colleagues. Shortly after his surrender, Geronimo was integrated as an inspector in the Philippine Constabulary (predecessor organization of the Philippine National Police), where he was instrumental in dealing with Filipino resistance in Marikina and Diliman. Despite his work as an inspector, the Americans doubted Geronimo's loyalty. By 1904, he was no longer part of the Philippine Constabulary. Geronimo died on January 16, 1924. In his honor, Republic Act No. 11296 renamed the Hilltop Rizal Philippine National Police (PNP) Command as Camp General Licerio Geronimo. General Licerio Geronimo Memorial National High School in Montalban, Rizal Province was also named after him.

Learn more about the Filipino-American War: https://history-ph.blogspot.com/

Credit to Filipino Historian Fb Page

Matagal na pangarap ng mga nanunungkulan at mamamayan ng Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal na magkaroon ng Public High School. Pebrero 20, 1990 nasakatuparan ang pangarap na ito ng mga magulang at mag-aaral na nabibilang sa mahirap at katamtamang uri ng pamilya sa Rodriguez, Rizal. Isang dating subdibisyon na ang mag-aaral ay kamag-anak ng yumaong Angelito Manuel, na may sukat na 8,000 sq.m. ang nabili ng pamahalaan ng bayan ng Rodriguez sa tulong ng Pamahalaan Panlalawigan sa Brgy. Geronimo sa halagang Php. 1,200.00. Napakiusapan at binarayan ang ilang naninirahan dito kaya nabili ang lupang inilaan sa Public High School.

Marso 20, 1990 sa bisa ng kapasyahan blg. 29 napagkasunduan ng sangguniang bayan, kapasyahang nagpatibay sa pangalang G.L.G.M.N.H.S ang paaralang itatayo.

Ipanangalan sa bayaning dinadakila ng mga taga Rodriguez noong ikalawang digmaang Pandaigdig si Gen. Licerio Geronimo, Abril 17, 1990.

Ang kapasyahang Blg. 34 ay napagkasunduan ng sanguniang bayan ng Rodriguez na humiling sa kagawaran ng Edukasyon, Kultura at Sports sa pamamagitan ng Pansangay na Tagapamanihala ng mga Paaralan. Dr. Roxanne Salem, na bigyang pahintulot na magbukas ang kauna-unahang Municipal High School sa Rodriguez. Isinaayos ang mga kakailanganing papeles sa pangunguna ni Gng. Liticia A. Bautista, District Supervisor, Mayor Angelito Manuel Sangguniang Bayan.

Nagbukas ang klase noong Hunyo 4, 1990, inaprobahan ng kalihim ng edukasyon, Isidro Cariño ang kahilingan na makapagbukas ng paaralang sekundarya sa Rodriguez. Binuksan ang first year Curriculum 1990-1991 at ang local na pamahalaan ang sasagot sa lahat ng gastusin at pangangailangan ng paaralan hanggang sa panahong ang pamahalaang nasyonal ay mayroon ng mailalaan at aprobadong pondo rito. Matapos ang pangwalong sulat, natanggap ni Gng. Bautista noong Agosto 6, 1990, ang permiso na makapagbukas ng paaralan a siyarin ang officer in-charge sa makapagtalaga ng isang punong guro.

Agosto 1990, ang unang araw ng pasukan sa G.L.G.M.N.H.S., 299 ang mag-aaral.

Isang gusaling may tatlong kuwarto (Bagong Lipunan Type) ang ginamit ng 4 na seksyon na may tig-50 mag-aaral. Nanghiram ng isang silid sa Geronimo Elem. School para sa pang-apat na seksyon. Anim na guro ang nagturo, sila ay sina Gng. Cristina Camarse, Bb. Relita V. Reyes, Gng. Arlene Selando Calvin, Gng. Evelyn Flores De Ruedo , Gng. Arlene Selando Calvin, Gng. Evelyn Flores De Ruedo, Gng. Clarita Nocon at G. Ricardo Vergara sila ay pinasweldo ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan at makalipas ang isang taon ay nilipat sa Pamahalaang Nasyonal.

Buong araw ang klase upang mabayaran ng Hunyo at Hulyo na tumagal hanggang Disyembre 1990. Sa kabila ng kakulangan ng mga panturong kagamitan, aklat at pasilidad at paaralan. Naging mabunga ang taong ito sa mga guro at mag-aaral.

Noong sumunod na taon binuksan ang pangalawang antas at nagdagdag ng tatlong guro, sila ay sina Gng. Zenaida S. Palileo, Gng. Evelyn T. Dancel at Gng. Helena H. Agana. Taong 1992-1993, 6 na guro pa ang tinanggap at pinasahod Special Education Fund (SEF) ng local na pamahalaan silang mga sumusunod. Gng. Gemma A. Amadore, Bb. Emily L. Estanislao, Gng. Rosita E. Calderon, Gng. Rowell Camrse.

Taong 1993-1994 ay mayroong 28 na guro ang paaralan at 23 pangkat ng mga mag-aaral, 9 na unang antas, 6 na ikalawa at tig-apat na ikatlo at ikaapat na antas. Ang karagdagadang 14 na guro at pinasahod lahat ng local na pamahalaan ng Rodriguez, Rizal.

Matapos ang termino ni Gng. Bautista noong 1995, pitong punongguro ang sumunod sa kanya. Sila ay sina G. Jose A. Dela Paz (1995-1997). Gng Cleotilde D.R. Mosqueda (1997-1998), Gng Ma. Cristina C. Camarse (1998-2000). Gng. Maria A. Barrameda (2000-2002), G. Geoncio L. Gervacio (2002-2006), G. Marado B. Digma (2006-2007) at si Gng. Loida R. Alcantara (2007-kasalukuyan).

Ang G.L.G.M.N.H.S. ang maituturing na pinaka-matandang paaralang sekundarya dito s Rodriguez. Naging Annexes niya ang lahat ng mga paaralang naitayo dito, bago ito nakapagsarili at magkaroon ng kanya-kanyang punongguro. Ang mga sumusunod na paaralang sekundarya sa Rodriguez. Kailan ito naitago at ang kanilang punongguro sa kasalukuyan. Montalban Heights NHS (1998) – Gng. Carmelita Dlesco Macabud NHS (1999) – G. Vivencio A. Felix, Kasiglahan NHS (2000) Gng. Clarita C. Nocon, San Jose NHS (2002), Gng. Elvira Q. Pahati, Burgos NHS (2002), Gng. Cristina C. Camarse, San Isidro NHS (2002), Bb. Relita V. Reyes at ang Mascap NHS (1996) pinamahalaan ni Gng. Zenaida S. Palileo ay may dalawang annexes ngayon, ang Puray NHS at Macailangan NHS.

Samantala ang WAWA NHS (2002) at Manggahan NHS (2006) ay ganap na ring nagsarili as pagbubukas ng taong panuruan 2008-2009 matapos maaprobahan ang hiling na ito’y maihiwalat s Licerio noong Pebrero 2008. Sa kasalukuyan sina Bb. Nemencia S. Cayetano at Gng. Aurora B. Chinilla ang gurong namahala sa nasabing mga paaralan.

Mula isang gusali (BOD) na may tatlong silid noong 1990, ito pa ang nadagdag kabilang ditto ang Principal Lea Building pinasinayaan sa ilalim ng panunugkulan ni Gng. Loida R. Alcantara. May mahigit 85 na faculty members and staff ang pawang pinapasweldo ng nat’l fund at mula sa 200 na mag-aaral ay may kabuuang 2974 ang nagpa-enroll mula na hanggang ika-apat na antas ngayong taon. (Noon)

Nalaon nang naisakatuparan ang pangarap ng mga taga Rodriguez noon. Malaki na rin ang pagbabago ng paaralan. At ito’y naisagawa sa tulong ng kagawaran ng edukasyon pamahalaang bayan, mga punongguro, mga guro at mga magulang na patuloy na nagtataguyod sa kahalagahan ng edukasyon.

Ang panahon ay lilipas ngunit nananatili ang pang-alaalang Mataas sa Paaralang Gen. Licerio Geronimo, ang pangalang Angelito C. Manuel at Liticia A. Bautista ay hindi mabubura sa kasaysayan ng paaralan.

-MEDO 2009

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