(1862 - 1896)
Candido
Tirona y Mata belonged to a family of landowners of Cavite Viejo, better known
as Kawit today. He was born to Don Estanislao Tirona and Juana mata on
He
had his early education by means of learning from a private tutor before
entering the elementary school and rounding off the education with a stint in
He
joined Freemasonry and the Katipunan.
In July 1896, he accompanied Andres Bonifacio in a tour of
Hostilities
did not immediately reach
Aguinaldo's
term under the old regime expired. A new election was held. Acclaimed by a
large crowd, Tirona was made president of Cavite Viejo while Aguinaldo turned
to the field as Commander of the Katipunan Forces.
Cavite
Viejo was menaced by the Spanish guns at
To
sustain the strength of the Katipunan forces, a maestranza was established where daggers, bolos, spears and ammunitions
were made. Telegraph poles and parts of sugarcane mill machines were forged to
make cannons. This gigantic work fell under the skillful management of Jose
Ignacio Paua, a Chinese foundry proprietor who offered his services immediately
for the cause of freedom.
While
he and Aguinaldo was in Talisay, they were reached by
courier carrying the message that the Spanish Army were massing their troops
toward Binakayan. They left hurriedly. The second battery guarding the road to
Imus under the command of General Crispulo Aguinaldo was still holding.
Swiftly,
they built trenches extending from the shorelines and blocking the road to Imus
and Binakayan. The seaward defense line was under the command of Tirona; the
middle sector heavily fortified by General Aguinaldo and the right flank ably
defended by General Pio Del Pilar.
On
the morning of the tenth day of November, the Spanish bombarded the left flank
under his command. This was followed simultaneously with the landing of troops.
Heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy and the Katipunan forces held
their positions. General Ramon Blanco seeing the futility of further advance,
ordered a retreat. Taking advantage of the weakened position, Aguinaldo ordered
an attack and eventually cut down a number of Spanish soldiers in the mass
retreat.
During
the thick of fighting, Aguinaldo warned him to be careful but he called back
and said nothing would happen to him. "Take care of yourself,"
he cautioned Aguinaldo. After the smoke of battle cleared, hundreds of men lay
dead and wounded. Among them was Tirona who fell during the bayonet charge.
With him also died Simeon Lattore, The defender of Imus, and some 50 men. For a
time, his name was unsung. Some years later, on
LABANAN SA NAYON ITO
12
NOVIEMBRE
1896
SA PILING NITO
SAMPALOK AT SA MGA
KAAWAY NA KASTILA
NALUGAMI ANG BUHAY
CANDIDO TIRONA
AT
MATA
His
remains were later transferred to the Roman Catholic Cemetery of Kawit. His
children were Fidel, Margarita, married to Demetrio B. Encarnacion, Maria,
married to Dr. Cesario Sta. Ana, Gorgonia, married to Judge Francisco Arca, and
Mariano.
General
Emilio Aguinaldo said of General Tirona:
Tirona belongs to that breed of men who
leave an indelible mark in history - men whose deeds illumine the dark past of
a nation with their brilliant records and whose lives are a beacon light that
guides not only the present but the generations still unborn.