Fifteen Martyrs of Bicol


The Fifteen Martyrs of Bicol were Filipino patriots in Bicol, Philippines who were executed by firing squad on January 4, 1897, for cooperating with the Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution against Spain.

The Martyrs

11 of the 15 were executed at the Luneta in Manila.
The four Bicolano freedom fighters who were either exiled or died in prison were:
While the heroic deeds and martyrdom of secular priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora are known all over the land and familiar to history students, the memory of the 15 martyrs of Bicolandia is confined to Naga City, the heart of Bicol. For more than 70 years, the people of Naga City and nearby municipalities have been paying tribute to these martyrs every fourth day of January. During the incumbency of the late Camarines Sur Gov. Julian Ocampo, a monument was erected in Naga City in memory of the Quince Martires del
Bicolandia
.'' The monument, located in the heart of the city, was formally dedicated on November 30, 1923.
Official recognition of the 15 martyrs of Bicolandia came only on February 20, 1950 when the director of the Department of Education added to the list of significant dates in Philippine history January 4, 1897, the day when Filipino freedom fighters from the Bicol region were executed.

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