Miguel Malvar
was a Filipino soldier who fought in the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War. Malvar unofficially served as President of the First Philippine Republic, preceding Macario Sakay, the self-appointed president of the Tagalog Republic that was a revolutionary government.
Miguel Malvar
1865 – 1911
1865 – 1911
Like Sakay, Malvar was one of the original Katipuneros. When the revolution against Spain broke out in 1896, Malvar rose from leading a 70-men army to becoming military commander in Batangas, later coordinating offensives with General Aguinaldo and Paciano Rizal (brother of the Philippines’ national hero, Jose Rizal). Malvar fought alongside General Edilberto Evangelista and later assumed Evangelista’s position as general when the latter was killed in a battle.
Malvar continued to rise in the ranks during the Philippine-American War. He and his forces continued to participate in guerilla warfare against the US even after Aguinaldo’s capture. He assumed the unofficial position as President that began on April 1, 1902. But his tenure proved to be brief, as Malvar surrendered himself to the American forces 15 days later.