Fifteen Martyrs of

Bicol

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A monument dedicated to "Ang Quince Martires ng

Bicol
The Fifteen Martyrs of Bicol (Spanish:
Quince Martires del Bicolandia) were
Filipino patriots in Bicol, Philippines who
were executed by firing squad on January
4, 1897, for cooperating with the
Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution
against Spain.[1]

The Martyrs
11 of the 15 were executed at the Luneta
in Manila.

Rev. Inocencio Herrera - a native of

Pateros, Rizal, he grew up in the Bicol
Region and enrolled in the seminary of
Nueva Caceres (now Naga City). He was
a brilliant young man and had always
topped his class. Gifted with a good
voice, he became the choir master of
the Metropolitan Cathedral of Nueva
Caceres. He was only 30 years old when
the Spaniards executed him.
Rev. Gabriel Prieto - He demonstrated
unusual wit and intelligence. He was a
consistent scholar at the seminary of
Nueva Caceres, where he studied for the
priesthood. After his ordination, he was
appointed by Msgr. Herrera as his
adviser and confidential secretary.
Father Prieto was denounced by the
Spanish friars for his liberal and
independent ideas.
Rev. Severino Diaz - He was born in
Bulan, Sorsogon of poor but
hardworking parents. He was a model
student at the seminary and later as
parish priest of Nueva Caceres. He
attended to his flock with extraordinary
zeal. People remember him as the man
who rebuilt and improved the Naga
Cathedral. The Spanish friars were
jealous of him for becoming the first
Filipino Cura Paroco of Nueva Caceres.
He was 45 years old when he was
executed at the Luneta.
Manuel Abella - A native of Catanauan,
Quezon, he was better known for his
philanthropic activities among the poor
and underprivileged. He was 60 years
old when he faced the firing squad in
Bagumbayan.
Domingo Abella - A son of Manuel
Abella. Frank and outspoken, he took
every opportunity to denounce the
abuses and arrogance of the Spaniards.
He was only 25 when he was executed
at the Luneta.
Camilo Jacob - A commercial
photographer and native of Polangui,
Albay. Like Domingo Abella, he was
open-hearted. Suspected of conniving
with the revolutionists, Jacob was
tortured and starved to death in prison.
Tomas Prieto - A brother of Rev. Gabriel
Prieto. A pharmacist, he was popular
with the common people for his liberal
and progressive ideas. He was executed
at the age of 30.
Florendo Lerma - A theater owner and
playwright from Quiapo, Manila, he went
to Bicol at the age of 15 and established
the first movie house in Naga.
Macario Valentin - He was chief of the
night patrol in Naga. He took advantage
of his position by siding with the
 revolutionists, whom he supplied with
valuable information about the activities
of the Spanish militia.
Mariano Melgarejo - A native son of
Naga. In his diary, he wrote: "I look
forward to the day when Filipinas takes
her place among the free nations of the
world."
Cornelio Mercado - An employee in the
public works department of Nueva
Caceres.

The four Bicolano freedom fighters who

were either exiled or died in prison were:
Leon Hernandez - A resident of
Libmanan, Camarines Sur, who was
well-to-do and highly influential. He was
thrown into the municipal jail in Nueva
Caceres, where he was tortured to death
for denying participation in the
revolutionary movement.
Ramon Abella - Also a son of Manuel
Abella, who was executed at the Luneta.
He was a strong advocate of the
progressive and independent aspiration
of his father.
Mariano Arana - A government surveyor
who died in exile on Bioko Island (then
Fernando Po).
 Mariano Ordenanza - A clerk in the
Bureau of Public Works. He died in jail in
Manila shortly after he was sentenced
to 20 years imprisonment by the
Spanish Council of War.

Legacy
While the heroic deeds and martyrdom of
secular priests Mariano Gomez, Jose
Burgos and Jacinto Zamora are known all
over the land and familiar to history
students, the memory of the 15 martyrs of
Bicolandia is confined to Naga City, the
heart of Bicol. For more than 70 years, the
people of Naga City and nearby
municipalities have been paying tribute to
these martyrs every fourth day of January.
During the incumbency of the late
Camarines Sur Gov. Julian Ocampo, a
monument was erected in Naga City in
memory of the Quince Martires del
Bicolandia. The monument, located in the
heart of the city, was formally dedicated
on November 30, 1923.

Official recognition of the 15 martyrs of

Bicolandia came only on February 20,
1950 when the director of the Department
of Education added to the list of
significant dates in Philippine history
January 4, 1897, the day when Filipino
freedom fighters from the Bicol region
were executed.

Gallery
  

Quince Martires Monuments NHI marker

Rev P Inocencio Herrera

  

Rev P Gabriel Prieto

P Severino Diaz
  

Don Manuel Abella

Don Ramon Abella

  

Don Camilo Jacob

Don Tomas Prieto

  

Don Florencio Lerma

Don Martin Valentin

  

Don Mariano Melgarejo

Don Cornelio Mercado

  

Don Leon Hernandez

Don Ramon Abella

  

Don Mariano Arana

Don Mariano Ordenanza

See also
Philippine Revolution
References
1. http://naga.gov.ph/naga-smiles-2/bikol-
honors-its-15-martyrs-of-the-1896-
revolution

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