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.

 

 

 

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