It doesn’t matter whose hero he is, for another place in the Philippines honors him to be their local hero. But for many in Negros Oriental, the revolutionary leader Leon Kilat is also their champion.
Thus, this year, local officials, townsfolk and the church paid homage to a man who became popular for leading the local revolutionaries in Cebu in the Katipunan.
A week-long celebration was held recently in Bacong, a town next to the capital city of Dumaguete in Negros Oriental, to honor Leon Kilat on his birthday on July 27.
Fr. Julius Heruela, parish priest of Bacong, said the activities were participated in by local officials led by Mayor Lenin Alviola, students, residents and relatives of Leon Kilat.
The culmination activity was held July 27 at the memorial marker of Leon Kilat in front of the municipal hall, where some of his bones are said to be buried, the priest said.
The Katipunero from Bacong is depicted riding on a horse in a bronze-colored sculpture at his memorial marker in the town plaza.
Leon Kilat, born Pantaleon Villegas on July 27, 1873, to parents Don Policarpio Villegas and Doña Ursula Soldi, with his grandfather, Don Pedro Villegas a native of Spain.
Pantaleon Villegas moved to Cebu in 1895 where he worked at a drugstore, the Botica Antigua and shortly afterwards transferred to a bakery prior to joining a circus owned by a “katipunero” that brought him to Manila.
Further accounts tell of Leon Kilat leading the rebellion against Spain in Cebu on an appointment issued him by General Emilio Aguinaldo.
Kilat was killed by his own aide-de-camp, Apolinario Alcuitas, myths of him tell.
Fr. Heruela said he hopes that many more Oriental Negrenses would recognize Leon Kilat as their very own local hero and attend the yearly tribute in his honor at his home town in Bacong.
He noted that not too many people are aware of Leon Kilat being a native of Negros Oriental.
Last Sunday, during the culmination of the activities honoring Kilat, a program was held at his statue erected at the town plaza, with various groups laying wreaths at its foot.
A Mass was also held in his honor as well as prayers offered for him at the area where his bones are buried and a re-enactment of the Katipunero’s life story.
Leon Kilat brings honor and pride to not just Bacong but the province of Negros Oriental for having fought the uprising against Spain, Fr. Heruela said. (PNA) LAP/JFP
