Dr.

Pio Valenzuela
(1869 - 1956)
Si Po
ay
ng Ka

Valenzuela (Hulyo 11, 1869Abril 6, 1956)

isang doktor, at bayaning Pilipino na isa sa mga pinuno
tipunan na lumaban sa mga Kastila noong Panahon ng
Himagsikan. Ipinangalan sa kanya ang Lungsod ng
Valenzuela na
matatagpuan sa
hilagang Kalakhang
Maynila.

Sinulat
niya ang kanyang mga
alaala ng
Himagsikan noong
dekada
1920, ngunit may mga
dalubhasa
sa kasaysayan ang
naging
maingat
sa kanyang
awtobiyograpiya dahil may ilang mga
hindi tugma sa kanyang bersiyon ng
mga pangyayari, partikular sa
pagpulong niya kay Jos
Rizal sa Dapitan noong 1896.
Si Valenzuela ang unang alkalde
(rehimeng Amerikano) ng munisipalidad
ng Polo (Lungsod ng Valenzuela ngayon)
mula 1899 hanggang 1900 bago naging
gobernador ng lalawigan ng
Bulacan mula 1921 hanggang 1925.

Pio Valenzuela was born in Polo, Bulacan

on July 11, 1869. His parents, Francisco
Valenzuela, a capitan mayor, and
Lorenza Alejandrino, were affluent.

After he was tutored at home, he was brought to Manila to study at San Juan
de Letran College. In 1888, he enrolled at him University of Sto. Tomas and
finished his Licenciado en Medicina in 1895. He practices his profession in
Manila and Bulacan.
In July 1892, when he was a medical student and the Katipunan was barely a
week old, he joined this secret organization. He became a close friend of its
founder, Andres Bonifacio, and was godfather to the Supremos and Gregoria
de Jesuss first child. After their house burned down, Bonifacio and his family
lived with Valenzuela in the latters house.
Because of the lack of many printing types, he and Jacinto had to secure
them. For each type that was stolen by the four employees of the printing
press of Diaro de Manila, Valenzuela paid a peso. Aguedo del Rosario and
Apolonio de la Cruz gave him types free of charge.
A thousand copies of the first issue of Kalayaan dated January 18, 1896 came
out in mid-March.Even before he was conferred the medical degree, he was
elected physician of the society in January 1895 and fiscal general in
December.
In December 31, 1895 election, he could have won the presidency of the
Katipunan Supreme Council had he not refused his compadre Bonifacios
offer to campaign for him. He was inducted together with the other elected
officials at Bonifacios residence on New Years Day in 1896.
On January 16, 1896, after spending a two-week stay in Polo, he returned to
Manila and took up residence at No. 35 Lavezares Street in San Nicolas. It
was considered a convenient place for him to live and edit the projected
Katipunan official organ. The printing press was transferred from the house of
Bonifacio and put under his management with the help of Ulpiano Fernandez,
a printer of El Comercio, and Faustino Duque, a San Juan de Letran Student,
who were both from his hometown.
He suggested the name Kalayaan for the societys organ, which Bonifacio
and Emilio Jacinto approved. The latter took charge of editing it and upon
Valenzuelas suggestion; Marcelo H. del Pilars name was printed as editor
with Yokohama, Japan as the place of publication. This was to mislead the
Spanish authorities.

This maiden issue of eight pages published a news item written by

Valenzuela under his nom-de-plume Madlang-Away entitled Catuiran?
Describing the cruelties of Spanish priest and civil guards of San Francisco
del Monte against a poor barrio lieutenant.
He distributed copies of this paper in his province, Bulacan. After its
distribution to other parts of Luzon, the Katipunan rapidly gained many
adherents and sympathizers.
He considered the publication of Kalayaan as the most important
accomplishment of the Secret Chamber of the Katipunan. This body,
composed of only three members, Valenzuela, Bonifacio and Jacinto, was
organized in Valenzuelas Lavezares house in early 1896. In one of its
meetings in July 1896, it decided the assassination of the notorious Fray
Mariano Gil, parish priest of Tondo who discovered the existence of the
Katipunan. Dr. Valenzuela and Bonifacio attempted to execute this plan but
failed. Then they distributed at various places letters implicating wealthy
Filipinos in the Katipunan movement.
He was a member of the Katipunan committee which met with the Japanese
Admiral named Canimura and handed to him a memorial to be delivered to
the Emperor of Japan beseeching him for help in the Filipinos emancipation
struggle. He was a signer of this memorial.
He administered the Katipunan oath of membership to Isidro Torres, Feliciano
Jocson and three others who all proved loyal to the organization. He also
organized many branches of the Katipunan in various municipalities of
Morong and Bulacan. In April 1896, Valenzuela in the company of Bonifacio
and his brother Procopio and Jacinto organized the Katipunan branch in
Kawit.He did not neglect his profession. He gave free medicine to the poor.
At the secret general meeting called by Bonifacio on the night of May 1, 1896
at sitio Ugong in Pasig, Valenzuela present to the body a motion to solicit
contributions to buy arms and munitions from Japan in order to carry out the
revolution as early as possible. The motion was carried on condition that it
first is submitted for approval of Dr. Jose Rizal who was in exile in Dapitan.
Since he was the most highly educated member of the society, he was
chosen as the emissary to consult with Rizal..

Accopanying the blind Raymundo Mata, who was supposed to consult Rizal,
and Rufino Mugos, he left for Dapitan on June 15, 1896 under the assumed
name Procopio Bonifacio aboard the ship Venue. Immediately after their
arrival six days later, he and Rizal discussed privately the Katipunan plan.
Rizal told him that the revolution should not be started until sufficient arms
had been secured and the support of the wealthy Filipinos had been won
over. Upon his return to Manila, many Katipuneros came to him to ask about
Rizals reply and the day set for the revolution. As this would run the risk of
exposing the Katipunan to authorties, he was advised by Bonifacio to keep
away from the streets and hide from the members. He moved to the house of
Dr. Anastacio Francisco and then transferred to that of Maximo Cecilio, a
pharmacist. He had to practice his profession at night and at daytime; he
went to towns far from Manila in disguise.
In preparation for the eventuality that the Katipunan was discovered,
Bonifacio assigned him to procure at least 2000 bolos. One of of the
company commanders, Pascual Deato Of Polo, crawled towards the enemy's
camp. About two kilometers away, Bonifacio, Jacinto and Valenzuela took
their positions on horses as the 10 companies gradually encircled it. When
the Katipunan was discovered, he fled to Balintawak on August 20, 1986.
However, availing of the amnesty offered by the August 30 decree of
Governor General Ramon Blanco, he surrendered to the Spanish authorities
on September 1.
He was detained, tried and deported to Spain when he was tried anew and
sentenced to cadena perpetua. He was imprisoned frist in Madrid, then in
Malaga, Barcelona, and still later in Manila, Africa serving his term for about
two years.
He returned to the Philippines in April 1899. In Manila, he was denounced to
the American Military authorities as a radical propagandist and once more
imprisoned up September of the same year.
To suppress in agreesive leadership upon his release, he was made municipal
president of Polo. From 1902 to 1919, he served as president of the military
division of his district. From 1919 to 1925, he served the people of Bulacan
for two terms as provincial executive. As governor, he was uncompromising
against graft and corruption in the government.

After he retired from politics, he wrote his memoirs on the revolutionary

days. He also practiced his medical profession, but only for philanthropic
purposes. He was married to Marciana de Castro by whom he had seven
children. Early in the morning of April 6, 1956, he passed away in his
hometown.