SEVERINO M. DE LAS ALAS
(1851-1918)
Severino de las Alas,
patriot and public servant, was born on January 8, 1851, in Indang, Cavite. His
parents were Eugenio de las Alas and Evarista Mojica. He studied at Indang and
later moved to the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He obtained a Bachelor of
Laws degree from the University of Santo Tomas but chose to teach instead. He
later
founded a branch of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Indang.
At
the outbreak of the Revolution he joined the Katipunan andtook the name Di-Kilala
seeing the growing rivalry between the two factions of the Katipunan, he
worked strongly for their unification. On March 22, 1897, he advocated and
worked for the adoption of a definite policy of government to unite both
factions of the Katipunan.
The
revolutionary assembly in Naic, Cavite elected de las Alas Director of Grace
and Justice. When Indang fell to the Spaniards, he joined the military staff of
Aguinaldo in Biak-na-Bato. He was one of the signers of the Truce of Biak-na-Bato
of 1897. He was later appointed Director of Interior of the central government
established in accordance with the Malolos Constitution.
In
1910, together with Mariano Trias and Ladislao Diwa, he returned to Indang and
surrendered to the Americans. He thought it futile to go on with the war. The
surrender was effected in Santa Cruz de Malabon (Tanza), Cavite.
After
the American civil government was established in the Philippines, de las Alas
continued his educational work. He also became municipal president for two
terms. He established a Spanish school in Indang. And he donated a school site
and a building for the intermediate school as well as for the Indang Farming
School.
He
ran in the election for governor of Cavite but lost to Gen. Tomas Mascardo.
He
died on November 4, 1918 and was survived by his wife, Agrifina Teciel and
their two children.