Saturday, April 7, 2012

Remembering León Kilat

As a child I always visited my grandfather's clothing store situated in Leon Kilat Street, Cebu City. For a long time I always believed Leon Kilat was simply that, a street name. In college I learned that he was one of the Katipuneros in Cebu whose death is still shrouded in mystery and speculation to this very day.

He was the son of Don Policarpio Villegas and Doña Ursula Soldi. Don Policarpio's father was a Europeo Español who married a daughter of the capitan municipal of Bacong, Negros Oriental.

In the anniversary of his martyrdom I wish to share his death record taken, unfortunately, with my phone with poor resolution. Still, it's clear enough to read the important data:

INTERMENT RECORD OF LEON KILAT (COURTESY OF THE MICROFILMED RECORDS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS)

(En ocho de Abril de mil ochocientos noventa y ocho sepulada en el cemeterio de ... cadaver de Leon Quilat Villegas indio soltero de natural provincia de Bacong Negros. Fallecio de muerte de asesinado por insurecto)   The burial record of Filipino hero Pantaleon Villegas, more popularly known as Leon Kilat. He was killed by men loyal to the Spanish authorities on April 8, 1898 in Carcar, Cebu. The death record states that he was assassinated for insurrection.

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