Paco Román | |
|---|---|
 Románc. 1899 | |
| Birth name | Francisco Román y Velásquez |
| Born | (1869-10-04)October 4, 1869 |
| Died | June 5, 1899(1899-06-05) (aged 29) |
| Cause of death | Assassination |
| Allegiance |  Philippine Republic Spanish Empire |
| Branch | .svg) Philippine Republican Army Spanish Army |
| Rank |  Koronel (Republican Army) |
| Conflicts | |
| Alma mater | Ateneo Municipal de Manila |
| Spouse | Juliana Piqueras[1] |
| Relations | José Palma,Rafael Palma (first cousins) |
FranciscoRomán y Velásquez (October 4, 1869 – June 5, 1899)[2] was a Filipino soldier who became a revolutionary duringPhilippine Revolution andPhilippine–American War. Roman had the rank of a colonel in thePhilippine Revolutionary Army, and served as the close aide of GeneralAntonio Luna. When Luna was assassinated inCabanatuan,Nueva Ecija, Román attempted to save him but he was also shot to death byEmilio Aguinaldo's presidential guards.[3][4]
Francisco Román was born on October 4, 1869, inAlcala, Cagayan to Pelagia Velásquez, aTagalog, and José Román, aSpanish national. Pelagia was the sister of Hilaria Velásquez, the mother ofJosé andRafael Palma. Paco's father, José, was a licensee of the tobacco monopoly system then implemented in the province. The family moved to Manila where the elder Román established a factory. Francisco then studied atAteneo Municipal de Manila and eventually pursued studies inHong Kong.[1]
Roman married Juliana Piqueras, whom he had two children, Juan and Carmen.[2]
Francisco Román assumed his father's business after the latter died and secretly donated to therevolutionary cause. Being the son of a Spanish national, he sided with the colonial government and was believed to have volunteered in the Spanish cavalry in order to not be suspected of aiding the revolutionary forces.[1] At the outbreak of thePhilippine–American War, Roman joined GeneralAntonio Luna's forces and rose to the ranks to become a colonel and Luna's aide-de-camp.
Román led what came to be known as theSecond Battle of Caloocan where his forces were able to push the invadingAmerican forces back toAzcárraga Street inManila.[1]
While setting up his mountain headquarters inBayambang, Pangasinan, General Antonio Luna received a telegram on June 4, 1899, fromCabanatuan, Nueva Ecija summoning him to a conference with thePresidentEmilio Aguinaldo. Román, together with Captain Eduardo Rusca, Majors Manuel Bernal, José Bernal, and Simeon Villa, and 25 cavalrymen, joined Luna to Cabanatuan.[2][4]
The next day, en route to Cabanatuan, a broken bridge posed to delay the entire party. Luna, accompanied by only Román and Rusca, decided to proceed immediately to the parish convent which was used as Aguinaldo's office[4] after moving thegovernment's capital fromMalolos.
At around three in the afternoon, Luna, Román, and Rusca arrived at the convent of Cabanatuan, with Luna proceeding to meet Aguinaldo. Upon hearing gunshots Román proceeded to come to Luna's aid, but was assassinated himself by Aguinaldo's personal guards fromKawit,Cavite.[4]
Román was buried together with Luna at the town cemetery with military honors. However, the whereabouts of his body was lost, as Luna's was later exhumed and transferred.[2] Aguinaldo denied any knowledge in the assassination of Luna and Román, but acknowledged his failure to persecute the people behind their deaths.[3]