22/10/2019
JUAN ANACLETO ARANETA (July 13, 1852 – October 3, 1924), was a pioneer sugar farmer and revolutionary leader during the Negros Revolution.
Born: July 13, 1852
Molo, Iloilo City, Iloilo Province Captaincy General of the Philippines
Died: October 3, 1924 (aged 72)
Negros Occidental, Philippine Islands
Other names: Juan Araneta
"Don Juan"
Organization: Negros Independence Movement
Early Life
Juan was born to Romualdo Araneta and Agüeda Torres in Molo, Iloilo, Philippines. The Aranetas later moved to Negros and settled there permanently.
At the age of 19, he was brought by his brother-in-law, Pedro Sarmiento, to Manila and was enrolled at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. He showed great promise in school, earning medals of merit for his endeavours. He graduated with a perito mercantil degree, equivalent to today's bachelor's degree in Commerce. His contemporaries in school included José Rizal, Jose Alejandrino, Cayetano Arellano, and Apolinario Mabini, among others.
Upon returning to Molo, he was elected Capitan del Pueblo, like his father before him. The friars in the province, however, had become suspicious of him, and only the high regard and respect of the people of Bago and the other towns in the province prevented his summary liquidation by the Spanish authorities.
In 1891, Juan went to Europe with his friend, Don Claudio Reina after his wife died. He had the opportunity to meet many of the Filipino leaders then living in Madrid, London and Paris. As a consequence, the Spanish authorities were even more antagonistic toward him upon his return. As a result, he lost the land that he and his sisters inherited from their parents. He had to take his family to the slopes of Mt. Kanlaon where they started to farm anew. He brought many gadgets to his hacienda in Dinapalan. One popular tale was his use of a telescope to supervise his laborers in the vast hacienda from afar. It became a legend among the common people that he had magical powers, but in reality, he was only able to see their actions by using the telescope.
The Negros Revolution
On November 5, 1898, (Cinco de Noviembre) a messenger from Talisay brought news that the revolutionaries and the cazadores were already engaged in skirmishes. At about 1:00 in the afternoon, the revolutionary forces in Bago started marching toward Bacolod. They had only three fi****ms among them: a Re*****on rifle, a Ma**er rifle, and a shotgun. General Araneta, who led the rebel forces, told his men to cut nipa stems or pagong, and to shoulder these as if these were rifles. In case they contact with each other, the password was to be utod (brother) in Hiligaynon.
The Spanish authorities in Bacolod, who saw the rebels marching toward the town, thought that they wanted to surrender their arms. Surprised, the Spaniards were advised by the rebels to surrender in order to avert bloodshed. The Spaniards readily agreed. It was only when Bacolod was already in the hands of the rebels, that the Spanish reinforcements from Iloilo arrived.
The Spanish Governor of Negros Island, Don Isidro Castro, surrendered to forces under Aniceto Lacson and Juan Araneta at Bacolod on 6 Nov. 1898.
The Republic of Negros
A cantonal form of government was set up in Bacolod with General Aniceto Lacson as President and General Juan Araneta serving as Secretary of War. When the Americans arrived in Iloilo, he counseled the cantonal government to submit to the American forces. This was vehemently opposed and ridiculed by his companions-in-arms. His idea was finally adopted, however, and the Americans occupied Negros without encountering hostilities.
Family
Juan Araneta was married four times to four different women:
(1) Celestina Díaz, with whom he had a child;
Emilio D. Araneta
(2) Cristeta Sarmiento, with whom he had nine children;
Elisa S. Araneta
Romualdo S. Araneta
Félix Sarmiento Araneta
Gertrudes S. Araneta
Jaime Carlos S. Araneta
Jorge Leon S. Araneta
José Sarmiento Araneta
Luisa Flavia S. Araneta
Ramón Sarmiento Araneta
(3) Natalia Salsalida, with whom he had thirteen children;
Agüeda Ma. Filiciana Salsalida Araneta
Romualdo Marcial Salsalida Araneta
Crestita Pascuala Salsalida Araneta
Teresa Bonifacia Salsalida Araneta
Guillermo Hillarion Salsalida Araneta
Ana Justina Salsalida Araneta
Maria Rica Salsalida Araneta
Patrocenia Dominga Salsalida Araneta
Teodoro Antonio Salsalida Araneta
Silvia Agustina Salsalida Araneta
Woodrow Cecilio Salsalida Araneta
Felipe Alberto Salsalida Araneta
Félix Alberto Salsalida Araneta; and,
(4) Juanita Camillarosa, with whom he had two children;
Trinidad Camillarosa Araneta
Rufina Camillarosa Araneta
