Timoteo Páez

Timoteo Paez (August 22, 1861- September 18, 1939) is a Filipino revolutionary and patriot. He was born in Tondo, Manila. He is widely known as one of the co-founders of La Liga Filipina and Nilad Lodge alongside Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal.

Timoteo Paez or “Teong” to his friends was orphaned at an early age by his wealthy father, Francisco Paez, he had to take care of himself. After finishing his elementary school in Tondo Municipal School, he took clerical jobs or as messenger in offices during the day and studied at the Escuela Nautica de Manila during the night until he completed a course in accounting.

He was employed at the shipping company of Carrinage & Co. when he became involved with the reform movement, which he served by raising funds for the support of the reformists and the La Solidaridad abroad. On July 3, 1892, he joined the La Liga Filipina and became part of its Supreme Council. Although the organization was short lived, he continued his support to the ideals for reform. He printed and distributed Bonifacio’s “True Decalogue” and the teachings of Rizal at his own expense.

On August 19, 1896, Spanish authorities discovered the Katipunan and as a result, they arrested many suspected members including Timoteo Paez. He suffered nine months in prison until General Primo de Rivera pardoned him and placed him in exile in Hong Kong. There, he continued to update himself of developments in the Philippines and, later, became acquainted with the exiled revolutionary leaders.

In September 1898, he returned to the Philippines and joined the revolutionary government of General Emilio Aguinaldo that have retreated to Tarlac. He was designated commissary officer with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and represented the province of Surigao in the Revolutionary Congress.

Paez was assigned to a command field during the Philippine-American War. In April 1899, General Aguinaldo attached him to the General Headquarters Service Force as one of his security officers on their retreat to Northern Luzon. After Tirad Pass fell to the Americans, the revolutionary leaders decided to make their flight from the Americans easier by surrendering the women and other non-combatant members in their company. Colonels Paez and Sityar were tasked to accompany those who surrendered back to Manila, where he was held as prisoner-of-war. When the civil government was organized, Paez was one of the first councilors of Manila. In 1903, he erected a monument of Rizal in the place where the La Liga was established and was one of those who proposed the Rizal monument in Luneta. One who strongly believed in God, he had the Ten Commandments from the Bible inscribed on a stone block.

On September 18, 1939, Timoteo Paez passed away in Tondo.

Si Timoteo Paez (Agosto 22, 1861- Setyembre 18, 1939) ay isang Pilipinong rebolusyonaryo at makabayan. Siya ay ipinanganak sa Tondo, Maynila. Kilala siya bilang isa sa mga co-founder ng La Liga Filipina at Nilad Lodge kasama ang pambansang bayani ng Pilipinas, si Jose Rizal.

Si Timoteo Paez o “Teong” sa kanyang mga kaibigan ay naulila sa murang edad ng kanyang mayamang ama na si Francisco Paez, kailangan niyang alagaan ang kanyang sarili. Pagkatapos ng elementarya sa Tondo Municipal School, kumuha siya ng mga trabahong klerikal o bilang messenger sa mga opisina sa araw at nag-aral sa Escuela Nautica de Manila sa gabi hanggang sa makatapos siya ng kursong accounting.

Nagtatrabaho siya sa shipping company ng Carrinage & Co. nang masangkot siya sa kilusang reporma, na kanyang pinagsilbihan sa pamamagitan ng pangangalap ng pondo para sa suporta ng mga repormista at ng La Solidaridad sa ibang bansa. Noong Hulyo 3, 1892, sumali siya sa La Liga Filipina at naging bahagi ng Supreme Council nito. Kahit na ang organisasyon ay maikli ang buhay, ipinagpatuloy niya ang kanyang suporta sa mga mithiin para sa reporma. Inilimbag at ipinamahagi niya ang "Tunay na Dekalogo" ni Bonifacio at ang mga turo ni Rizal sa kanyang sariling gastos.

Noong Agosto 19, 1896, natuklasan ng mga awtoridad ng Espanya ang Katipunan at dahil dito, marami silang hinihinalang miyembro kabilang si Timoteo Paez. Siyam na buwan siyang nakakulong hanggang sa pinatawad siya ni General Primo de Rivera at ipinatapon sa Hong Kong. Doon, ipinagpatuloy niya ang pag-update ng kanyang sarili tungkol sa mga pag-unlad sa Pilipinas at, nang maglaon, nakilala niya ang mga ipinatapong pinuno ng rebolusyonaryo.

Noong Setyembre 1898, bumalik siya sa Pilipinas at sumapi sa rebolusyonaryong gobyerno ni Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo na umatras sa Tarlac. Siya ay itinalagang commissary officer na may ranggong Tenyente Koronel at kinatawan ang lalawigan ng Surigao sa Rebolusyonaryong Kongreso.

Si Paez ay itinalaga sa isang command field noong Philippine-American War. Noong Abril 1899, ikinabit siya ni Heneral Aguinaldo sa General Headquarters Service Force bilang isa sa kanyang mga security officer sa kanilang retreat sa Northern Luzon. Matapos bumagsak sa mga Amerikano ang Tirad Pass, nagpasya ang mga rebolusyonaryong lider na gawing mas madali ang kanilang pagtakas mula sa mga Amerikano sa pamamagitan ng pagsuko sa mga kababaihan at iba pang miyembrong hindi nakikipaglaban sa kanilang kumpanya. Inatasan sina Colonels Paez at Sityar na samahan ang mga sumuko pabalik sa Maynila, kung saan siya kinulong bilang bilanggo-ng-digmaan. Nang maorganisa ang pamahalaang sibil, si Paez ay isa sa mga unang konsehal ng Maynila. Noong 1903, nagtayo siya ng monumento ni Rizal sa lugar kung saan itinatag ang La Liga at isa sa mga nagmungkahi ng monumento ni Rizal sa Luneta. Isang malakas na naniniwala sa Diyos, ang Sampung Utos mula sa Bibliya ay nakasulat sa isang bloke ng bato.

Noong Setyembre 18, 1939, pumanaw si Timoteo Paez sa Tondo.