Santiago Barcelona

Santiago Barcelona was born on May 23, 1863 in Pulilan, Bulacan. Although his parents, Eugenio Barcelona and Felipa delos Reyes were of moderate means, he had to work in the household of Marcelino De Santos, so he could study in Manila. De Santos was a kind and benevolent master. He taught the young Barcelona Spanish during the day and even tutored the children of Marcelino De Santos. At night, Barcelona was off to his classes at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran.

After finishing his Bachelor of Arts degree, Barcelona took up medicine at the University of Santo Tomas. However, the death of his mother and his father’s remarriage, which added five half-brothers and half-sisters to the family he helped maintain, aggravated his financial burden as a medical student.

In 1889, De Santos decided to have his eldest son, Isidoro, study in Spain, at the Universidad Central de Madrid and asked Barcelona to accompany him. Upon arriving in the peninsula, Barcelona himself enrolled at the Universidad de Barcelona, where he continued his medical studies. He earned his licentiate in medicine two years later. However, he could not return to the Philippines immediately as he had to wait for Isidoro to finish his own studies. Barcelona seized the opportunity to travel to other European countries in the meantime, working as a tutor to children of Filipino families in those places to earn his keep.

After Isidoro completed his studies in 1894, Barcelona returned to Manila with his ward. He built a house in Tondo, where he opened a clinic. When the revolution broke out in 1896, Marcelino De Santos was arrested and imprisoned by the Spaniards on suspicion of complicity with the revolutionary movement. Santiago had given testimony in Marcelino’s favor. After the release, the De Santos Family fled to Singapore, where they remained for six months.

At this time, Dr. Barcelona had cast his lot with the revolutionary republic under President Emilio Aguinaldo. Aguinaldo appointed him as a member of the Malolos Congress, representing Butuan. He became one of the signers of the Constitution of the First Philippine Republic.

Santiago Barcelona became Aguinaldo’ personal physician and the Republic’s treasurer when the First Republic moved towards northern Luzon. He was also Hilaria Aguinaldo’s obstetrician. Santiago Barcelona was captured with Emilio Aguinaldo and Simeon Villa in Palanan, Isabela on March 23, 1901. Aguinaldo and his staff, including Barcelona, were taken to Manila thereafter, in May 1901; they took their oath of allegiance to the United States.

After his release, Barcelona married Marcelino’s youngest daughter, Consuelo, in July 1901. They had 2 children, Jose and Jaime; both became doctors. Jose Barcelona also became the director of Philippine General Hospital.

He was also an active member of the Nacionalista Party. After Isidoro De Santos’ term in 1915, he ran as a candidate in Manila’s north district but was defeated. After his bitter experience in politics, he again returned to private life, this time permanently.

Santiago Barcelona died in March 1937 at the age of 74. He was buried at the Manila North Cemetery.

Gallery of Illustrious Filipinos (1917), by Manuel Artigas (Volume II, p. 132-188)

The Malolos Congress (p. 29)