Aniceto Lacson

Aniceto Lacson
1st President of Negros
In office November 5, 1898 – April 30, 1901
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Melecio Severino (as Civil Governor)
Personal details
Born	(1857-04-17)April 17, 1857 Molo, Iloílo, Captaincy General of the Philippines
Died	February 3, 1931(1931-02-03) (aged 73) Talisay, Negros Occidental, Philippine Islands
Citizenship	Philippine
Nationality	Negrense
Political party	Katipunan

Aniceto Ledesma Lacson (April 17, 1857 – February 3, 1931) is a Filipino revolutionary general, sugar farmer, and businessman. He is also known as the first and only president of the Negros Republic from 1898 to 1901,^[1] and for leading the Negros Revolution alongside Juan Araneta.^[2]

A Filipino politician of Chinese-Mestizo origin,^[3] Gen. Aniceto Lacson,^[4] a member of the Lacson family, is the fifth of eight children born to Lucio Petronila Lacson and Clara Ledesma Lacson.^[5] Lucio's branch of the Lacson family relocated to Negros during the period of diaspora of wealthy Iloilo families at the turn of the 1850s.^[6][7]

Lacson began his early education under private tutelage in Molo, Iloilo, and later pursued commerce at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, where he was classmates with Juan Araneta and José Rizal.^[8] There, he also met Andres Bonifacio, with whom he allegedly shared a secret blood compact with.^[9] He was also inducted as a member of Philippine revolutionary society.^[10]

Some of Lacson's siblings also contributed to business and local history. He is the brother of Domingo Lacson Sr., the founder of Sta. Clara Estate Inc., a firm specializing in diversified real estate,^[11] and Don Mariano Lacson, who built the Lacson Ruins of Talisay City, near Aniceto's Casa Grande Mansion.^[12] Another sibling, Rosendo Lacson, was a signatory to the ratification of the brief Cantonal Republic of Negros which concluded shortly after the Negros Revolution.^[13]

Aniceto Lacson was a central figure in the Negros Revolution of 1898, leading the efforts that ultimately liberated Negros Island from Spanish rule. On November 3, 1898, Lacson, serving as the commander of the northern forces, organized a revolt alongside key leaders in Silay, including Juan Araneta, Leandro Locsin Sr., and Nicolás Gólez. ^[14]

On November 5, 1898, Lacson led his forces in a coordinated uprising that quickly spread across the island. Under his leadership, the revolutionaries in Silay successfully forced the surrender of the local Spanish garrison without resistance.^[15] The following day, Lacson's forces advanced on Bacolod City, employing a strategic bluff with makeshift bamboo cannons and wooden rifles.This tactic convinced the Spanish governor, Isidro de Castro, to surrender Bacolod without a fight.^[16]

Lacson was a key signatory of the Acta de Capitulación, the document formalizing the Spanish surrender.^[17] His leadership was instrumental in the peaceful and decisive conclusion of the Negros Revolution, marking him as a pivotal leader in the island's struggle for independence.^[18]

On November 6, 1898, the revolution in Negros ended with the surrender of Spanish forces in Bacolod. The rebels, led by Lacson and Gólez, used bamboo and wooden weapons to convince the Spanish to surrender.^[19] Mediator José Ruiz de Luzuriaga facilitated the agreement, leading to the unconditional surrender of Spanish troops and the transfer of public funds to the new government.^[20]

The Spanish signatories were Isidro de Castro, Braulio Sanz, Manuel Abenza, Ramón Armada, Emilio Monasterio, and Domingo Ureta. The Negros revolutionary signatories included Aniceto Lacson, Juan Araneta, Leandro Locsin Sr., Simeón Lizares, Julio Díaz, and José Montilla. Following the surrender, forty-seven prominent Negrenses, such as Antonio L. Jayme, Eusebio Luzuriaga, Nicolas Gólez, Agustín Amenabar, Rafael Ramos, and Rosendo Lacson, ratified a constitution to establish a new republic.^[21]

The Cantonal Republic of Negros (November 27, 1898 – March 4, 1899) was a short-lived revolutionary government established on the island of Negros in the Philippines.^[22] Following the surrender of Spanish Governor Isidro Castro to forces led by Aniceto Lacson and Juan Araneta at Bacolod on November 6, 1898, the Cantonal Republic was founded with Lacson serving as its president from November 27, 1898, until March 4, 1899, when the Negros revolutionaries surrendered to the United States General James Francis Smith. The government lasted for three months and four days.^[23]

Aniceto Lacson and fellow revolutionaries are commemorated through the Cinco de Noviembre celebration and historic landmarks in Negros Occidental.

Cinco de Noviembre celebrates the revolution led by Aniceto Lacson and Juan Araneta on November 5, 1898, which led to the peaceful surrender of Spanish forces in Bacolod.^[24] Lacson's leadership and strategic bluff with makeshift weapons were pivotal in this bloodless victory.^[25]

The day is marked annually in Negros Occidental as a special holiday. The Cinco de Noviembre memorial in Silay City, featuring a Spanish cannon donated by Claudio G. Akol Jr., honors Lacson and the revolutionaries. President Corazon Aquino declared November 5 a holiday through Republic Act No. 6709.^[26]

Situated in front of the old Bacolod City Hall, the Fountain of Justice is a historic landmark in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines that commemorates the Spanish surrender to Gen. Aniceto Lacson's forces during the Negros Revolution. It is also the location of where José de Luzuriaga's house once stood. ^[27]

On November 6, 1898, during the Negros Revolution, Luzuriaga’s house served as the site of the surrender of Bacolod by Spanish authorities to the Filipino forces led by Gen. Aniceto Lacson. He also served as a mediator between the two sides. ^[28]

Colonel Isidro de Castro, the Spanish governor of Negros, signed the surrender document on behalf of the Spanish forces.^[29]

The Fountain of Justice was a spot for recreation, political events, spiritual gatherings, and cultural celebrations. It previously served as a popular venue for rallies and protests and hosted Bacolod City's 66th Charter Anniversary celebration.^[30]

Lacson National Highway, known locally as Lacson Street, is the primary thoroughfare in Bacolod City, named in honor of Gen. Aniceto Lacson.^[31]

Originally a non-concrete road lined with vintage houses, Lacson National Highway transformed into a commercial and business center during the mid-20th century sugar industry boom. ^[32]

Notable townships and developments, including Sta. Clara Estate owned by Aniceto's brother Domingo Lacson Sr.,^[33] and Capitolville by industrialist Alfredo Montelibano Sr.,^[34] further enhanced the importance of the area.

Lacson National Highway also serves as the main road for the celebration of Masskara Festival and Bacalaodiat.^[35]

After graduating commerce from the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, Aniceto improved his father's sugar plantation in Talisay, Negros Occidental. He expanded the estate through purchases from English businessman Nicholas Loney.^[36]

On 29 August 1898, Belgian Consul Édouard André described witnessing the mistreatment of workers in Negros, where laborers on Aniceto Lacson's estate were punished with bamboo lashes, sometimes up to 100 lashes.^[37]

In 1916, Aniceto Lacson appealed to register ownership of Sicogon Island, claiming it from Ynchausti & Co. during the Spanish colonial period. He acquired it from Ramon Fontanet, but key documents were lost in fires during the Philippine Revolution.^[38] Despite opposition, Lacson secured agreements for public use. The court ruled in his favor, recognizing his long-term possession and allowing the registration of the island's agricultural areas.^[39]

Currently, Lacson’s heirs, in collaboration with developers, have established projects like La Costa Brava, Del Rio, Town and Country, and Ayala North Point. The family still holds land for future investments. Lacson's mansion in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, known as Casa Grande is owned by his descendants, the Claparols family.^[40] In the year 2002, it was declared a National Historical Landmark.^[41]

Aniceto Lacson's family was notably large, with two marriages and over twenty children, his descendants connect him with many other prominent families, further strengthening their influence in the Philippines.

Aniceto first married Rosario Araneta,^[42] Rosario is the daughter of Patricio Cabunsol Araneta and Leoncia Araneta. She is also the first cousin of Juan Araneta.^[43] Aniceto and Rosario sired eleven children. They were:

1. Jesusa, the eldest, married Jose Maria Arroyo y Pidal, her second cousin.^[44] Jesusa and Jose are the grandparents of Iggy Arroyo, and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo– husband of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.^[45]
2. Emilio, died young
3. Clotilde, died young
4. Carmen, married Ricardo Claparols, a Spaniard who's son, Dr. Jaime Lacson Claparols, later founded the JRS Express in 1960 ^[46]
5. Enriqueta, married Domingo Lacson II, son of Domingo Lacson Sr.^[47]
6. Isaac, who became governor of Negros, then congressman and senator of the Republic, married Carmen Paterno ^[48]
7. Mariano, married Lilia Montilla
8. Perfecta, married Santiago Franco
9. Jose, died young
10. Aniceto Jr., married Aurora Lacson, a cousin
11. Dominador, married Visitacion Lacson, another cousin

With his second wife, Magdalena Torres, a Spanish Mestiza, he had 10 children. They were:

1. Resureccion, married Carlos Sackermann, a German
2. Margarita, a former Miss Negros Occidental,^[49] married William Gemperle, a Swiss-German
3. Leonila, married Angel Gamboa
4. Leoncia
5. Nicolas, married Amparo Lacson– the sister of Mayor Arsenio Lacson.^[50] They are the parents of Australian-Filipino socialite,Rose Lacson,^[51] and Salvador Lacson, the chairman of LLIBI Insurance Brokers inc.^[52]
6. Juan, married Reymunda Villareal
7. Jose, married Estelita Adrias
8. Lucio, married Consuelo Flores
9. Luis, married Lily Distajo
10. Consuelo, married Sebastian Corro, a Spaniard ^[53]

• Negros Revolution
• Republic of Negros
• Fountain of Justice
• Isaac Lacson
• Arsenio Lacson
• Eugenio Jose Lacson
• Lacson Ruins
• Lacson family of the Philippines
• Ancestral Houses of the Philippines
• List of Political families in the Philippines

• Lacson Clan Website Hall of Fame
• Lacson Clan Website
• Lacson Family Tree