Mariano Álvarez

Mariano Álvarez
Mariano and Pascual Alvarez (Noveleta, Cavite Town hall)
Born	(1818-03-15)March 15, 1818 Noveleta, Cavite, Captaincy General of the Philippines
Died	August 25, 1924(1924-08-25) (aged 106) Cavite, Philippine Islands
Occupation	Teacher, General
Known for	General of the Philippine Revolution

Mariano Álvarez (Spanish: [ˈmaˈɾjano ˈalβaɾes] : March 15, 1818 – August 25, 1924) was a Filipino revolutionary and statesman.

Álvarez was born in Noveleta, Cavite. He received formal schooling at the San José College in Manila, and obtained a teacher's diploma. He returned to Cavite and worked as a schoolteacher in Naic and Maragondon. He was married to Nicolasa Virata y del Rosario in May, 1863. Their son Santiago was born on July 25, 1872 in Imus.

In 1871, he was incarcerated and tortured by the colonial authorities after insulting a Spanish soldier. The following year, he was accused of involvement in the Cavite Mutiny and was haled to Manila in chains for detention. Upon his eventual release, he returned to Noveleta, and in 1881, was elected capitan municipal, a position he held until the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution in 1896.

Mariano Álvarez and his son Santiago were active members of the Katipunan, the anti-Spanish secret society founded by Andrés Bonifacio in 1892. Mariano was Bonifacio's relative by marriage, being the uncle of his wife Gregoria de Jesús.

In early 1896, Álvarez was elected president of the Magdiwang, one of two Katipunan branches in Cavite along with Magdalo. The two branches evolved into separate factions with their own local governments, through their provincial councils.

Álvarez helped facilitate growing membership of the Katipunan in Cavite. When the revolution started in August 1896, Bonifacio at least planned to give him overall command of all the revolutionary forces in Cavite. A draft of the appointment order survives but whether it was dispatched is uncertain. In any case Álvarez led Filipino forces in several battles against the Spanish army in Cavite and held the rank of general. His efforts helped liberate most towns in Cavite from Spanish control within weeks from the start of the revolt. He was recognized as the instigator of the revolution in Cavite.