04 October, 1869

TODAY IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY:

Francisco Roman, revolutionary leader and military aide to General Antonio Luna, was born to Jose Roman, a Spaniard, and Pelagia Velasquez, a Tagalog, in Alcala, Cagayan. Roman, a tobacco manufacturer helped the revolutionary government by donating money from his own pocket. He was enlisted as a soldier during the Filipino-American war.

Roman is considered the hero of the Caloocan battle of February 1899 against the Americans. On June 5, 1899, Roman was assassinated together with the General Antonio Luna at the casa parroquial in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija by soldiers of the Kawit battalion. Roman’s body was buried beside Luna’s in the Cabanatuan Cemetery. Colonel Roman was married to Juliana Piqueras who bore him two children named Juan and Carmen.

(Ref: Philippine News Agency)