My granduncle, Heneral Anacleto SF Enriquez, was born on September 25, 1876, in San Jose, Bulakan, Bulacan, in the spacious "bahay na bato" of his parents, Don Vicente Enriquez y de Jesus and Doña Petrona Sepulveda Fernando y Gatmaytan.
Don Vicente and Doña Petrona had nine children: six boys and three girls. In order of age, they were: Alfonso, Anacleto, Severina, Victoria, Paula, Vicente Jr., Jose, Laureano, and Bonifacio, who was my grandfather.
Upon the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution on August 26, 1896, the first four sons - Alfonso, Anacleto, Vicente Jr., and Jose - joined the Katipunan. Laureano and Bonifacio were too young to fight. The Enriquez siblings became high-ranking officials of the Katipunan and were all actively involved in many a fierce battle.
Anacleto evinced superb organizational skills and ardent enthusiasm as he helped expand the Katipunan in Bulakan, Bulacan. The name of the first Katipunan branch in Bulakan was "Balangay Uliran." This was soon changed to "Brigada Pilar" because the membership quickly grew to over three thousand. Before long, it fell under the jurisdiction of “Balangay at Sanguniang Apuy ng Malolos, Bulakan”
Anacleto’s bravery and fighting skills quickly became famous in the rank and file of the KKK (Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan). His sharpshooting ability added to his fame, which is why he was nicknamed "Matanglawin" (Hawk Eye). Because of this reputation, on October 20, 1896, at the age of 20, he was appointed General and second-in-command of the Katipunan in Bulacan province by General Isidoro Torres.
Lieutenant Jose Enriquez, the third youngest of the siblings, described how the people admired Anacleto Enriquez's bravery and leadership ability. This task put Anacleto in grave danger, as the Katipunan was then a highly secretive organization. In those days membership in any subversive organization, but especially being a ranking member, was punishable by death.
Anacleto Enriquez's celebrity was further enhanced by his good looks, robust physique, noble bearing, magnetic persona, Ateneo education, and upper-class lineage.
And as if these attributes were not enough, Anacleto was adept at political propaganda. For example, he started a successful "whisper campaign" about the abuses and atrocities of the Spaniards, which quickly spread throughout Bulakan.
Along with Gregorio del Pilar, he also distributed stirring revolutionary leaflets in the Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion Church of Bulakan. For these daring heroic deeds, Anacleto Enriquez and Gregorio del Pilar earned the adulation of the people of Bulakan, Bulacan, and the disfavor of the authorities.
Gen. Anacleto Enriquez and Gen. Gregorio del Pilar were childhood friends and close companions. In fact, the spot where del Pilar was born in San Jose, Bulakan, Bulacan, was in a property owned by Don Vicente and Doñ Petrona.
Their births were only ten months apart: Anacleto was born on September 26, 1876, and Gregorio on November 14, 1875. Anacleto's nickname was "Etoy" and Gregorio's was "Goyo".
Their friendship continued at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, where they were classmates. Part of their group was Etoy's younger brother, Vicente Enriquez Jr., nicknamed "Enteng".
It was perhaps in the Ateneo that Vicente Enriquez Jr. earned the trust of Gen. Gregorio del Pilar. For his part, Vicente Enriquez Jr. would rise to the rank of Colonel in the Katipunan and be chosen by Gen. Gregorio del Pilar as his personal assistant or "aide-de-camp", or “ayudante”, which was a huge responsibility. Col. Vicente Enriquez Jr. was one of the few survivors of the battle at Pasong Tirad on December 2, 1899.
For his heroism at Pasong Tirad, historians say that Gen. Gregorio del Pilar drew inspiration from Gen. Anacleto Enriquez, who had earlier become a revolutionary martyr. Gen. Enriquez had sacrificed his life, along with over eight hundred Katipuneros, in the bloody battle within the church of San Rafael, Bulakan, on November 30, 1896 (See my blog post "The Enriquez Family of Bulacan, Bulacan").
According to Teodoro M. Kalaw, who wrote a beautiful biography of Gen Gregorio del Pilar, upon hearing of the death of Gen. Anacleto Enriquez, Gen. Goyo solemnly said:
"I wonder what strengthened Etoy when he fell in battle? So I can know how to offer my life for the country."
My grandfather Bonifacio SF Enriquez, the youngest in the family, had a spine-tingling story, told countless times in my childhood.
On November 30, 1896, Don Vicente and Doña Petrona were having lunch at home with their two sons who did not go to war, and their three daughters.
At approximately 12:30 PM, which was also the time of Anacleto Enriquez's death in San Rafael, Bulacan, they saw the dark shadow of what seemed to be a large bird tracing itself on the ornate dining room ceiling as if to say goodbye.
The ominous shadow was visible for several seconds, then it flew out of the dining room toward their living room. When they followed it, it eerily went out through the living room’s expansive window.
After this hauntingly poignant vision, the Enriquez family knelt and prayed for their beloved Etoy.
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