MANUEL S. TINIO - National Historical Commission of the Philippines

On the same day, he appointed Francisco Rivero Paz de Leon as temporary president of
Ilocos Sur and the following day, he ordered the reinstallation of destroyed telegraphic lines. He
gave more orders such as the inventory of the property left by the Spaniards, the establishment of a
new government in the districts of Lepanto and Tiagan and the formation of rancherias within
Narvacan up to Tagudin into towns.
As his battalions were still incomplete by November 1898, he made known his need for
volunteers between the ages of 17 to 30 who wanted to serve the revolutionary army permanently.
On November 11, 1898, he was promoted the rank of General of Division. He was only 21
years old.
When the Philippine – American War broke out on February 4, 1899, the young general
offered his services to General Antonio Luna, chief of operations north of Manila. But his request
was not granted. Undaunted, he and his men prepared for action. In cooperation with Lt. Col.
Blas Villamor, he established trenches and fortifications in strategic points in Ilocos as a means of
defense. He also distributed his 2,000 men along the more than 270 kilometer coast from
Tagudin, Ilocos Sur to Bangui, Ilocos Norte. These were accomplished before mid-March 1899.
His chance to fight the Americans came in connection with the retreat of General Emilio
Aguinaldo and his men to the north.
His soldiers totaling 285 formed the rear guard of Aguinaldo’s column in the march to
Manaoag, Pangasinan, escorting the president’s mother and son, together with the wounded and
sick soldiers. In the afternoon of November 14, on the way to Pozorrubio from Manaoag he and his
men had a surprise encounter with the enemies coming from Nueva Ecija led by Major Swigert.
The Filipinos drove them towards Binalonan, enabling Aguinaldo to continue the flight northward.
He also intercepted in San Jacinto the advance of Lloyd Wheaton who came from his military base
in San Fabian.
When the Americans disembarked in Pandan, Ilocos Sur, he fortified himself in the
mountain of Tangadan, southeast of Abra, and established his headquarters in the town of San
Quintin, about two miles from Tangadan.
On December 3, 1899, Tinio ordered his men to raid Vigan which was occupied by Colonel
Parker. The raid lasted the whole night but was not successful. They withdrew and the next day,
the small force defending Tangadan was attacked by the enemies. After a day and night of fighting,
his troops abandoned Tangadan.
On December 3, 1899, Tinio ordered his men to raid Vigan which was occupied by Colonel
Parker. The raid lasted the whole night but was not successful. They withdrew and the next day,
the small force defending Tangadan was attacked by the enemies. After a day and night of fighting,
his troops abandoned Tangadan.
With its capture by the Americans, Tinio changed his military strategy in dealing with the
enemies. He divided and organized his brigade into guerilla units and posted them along the road
and strategic locations from the rancheria of Danglas to Ilocos Norte, with instructions to ambush
the passing enemy through Tambang. By March 22, 1900, each town under Tinio’s jurisdiction
had its own columnas volantes. To facilitate the movement and maneuver of his troops, Tinio
ordered the local presidents to furnish him with detailed maps and plans of the towns.
Appraising his mission in the Ilocos region, the young Tagalog general wrote: