Pascual Villasis Ledesma

On May 17, 1843, General Pascual V. Ledesma, Visayan revolutionary leader and the first officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy, was born in Himamaylan, Negros Occidental.

Ledesma started as a captain in a merchant ship in 1863, then joined the Katipunan in 1894.

General Emilio Aguinaldo assigned him as the chief of the naval merchant and marine services with the rank of commanding general from 1899 to 1901.

Ledesma was one of the founders of the "Lapiang Nacionalista" and "Samahan ng mga Beterano ng Himagsikan".

He died on June 6, 1917 at the age of 74.

Reference: Philippines News Agency

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Filipino Martyr: PASCUAL V. LEDESMA

PASCUAL V. LEDESMA (1843-1917) Revolutionary A jack-of-all-trades, Pascual Ledesma was a ship captain, farmer, industrialist, and trader. He was also a revolutionary and a flag officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy. He is said to be the first bureau director of the Department of the Navy, of which he later became its Secretary. He was born to a prominent and rich couple, Simon Ledesma and Felipa Villasis, in Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, on May 17, 1843. He received his elementary education from a prestigious school under the supervision of a well-known Visayan educator, Angel Ma. Bayot. In his early years, Ledesma displayed a strong inclination toward the nautical profession. Thus, his parents sent him to Manila to study at the Escuela Nautica de Manila, where he obtained a degree in captainship. He worked as ship captain from 1863 (for a commercial marine company) to 1878. He eventually got bored with the job, however, and went to Mindoro to engage in farming. He became well known as a farmer on the island with his use of scientific methods. Aside from farming, he also engaged in commercial and trading activities from 1878 to 1894. He joined the Katipunan around this time and is said to have significantly contributed to its propagation around Manila and nearby areas through his work. When the First Philippine Republic was established, President Aguinaldo appointed him as director of Bureau of the Marine and Commerce, with the rank of commanding general from September 1898 to 1901. As such he was responsible for the operations of the navy. From 1901 to 1905, Ledesma traveled to Japan, China, and Indo-China to conduct trade and commerce with the people of these countries. In 1905, he returned to Manila and helped form the Nacionalista Party together with Sergio Osmeña Sr., Manuel L. Quezon, Macario Adriatico, Dr. Leon Ma. Guerrero, Pedro A. Paterno, and other well-known political figures. Fully confident of his leadership and abilities, the group installed him as the first party president and chairman. He served in this capacity for two years, from 1906 to 1908. Ledesma also helped establish the Liceo de Manila, which he served as a member of its board of trustees, and the Asociación de los Veteranos de la Revolución. After retiring from public service, he resumed his activities as a businessman and trader in Manila, and became very prosperous. He died on June 6, 1917. During his 150th birth anniversary in 1993, his remains were exhumed from Manila North Cemetery and transported to Himamaylan, his birthplace.

References: Giagonia, Dodds. The Philippine Navy (1898-1996). Philippine Navy, 1997 Historical Markers Regions V-XII. Manila: National Historical Institute, 1994. “Honors set for General Ledesma”, Manila Bulletin (May 5, 1993) p. 7. Reyes, Pedrito; Mercedes Grau-Santamaria, H. Otley Beyer and Jaime C. De Veyra. Pictorial History of the Philippines. Quezon City: Capital Publishing House, Inc., 1953. Villaroel, Hector, et. al. Eminent Filipinos. Manila: National Historical Commission, 1998. Photo of bust, in: The Philippine Navy (photo section)

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