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February 1898, he fought the Spanish cazadores (riflemen) in Maimpis, Magdalena,
Laguna. During this combat, he was wounded in the thigh and was taken
to the Catholic church of Magdalena, where he was mercilessly dumped on
the brickpaved platform of the stairway with his bleeding wound unattended.
He was taken to the church of Santa Cruz where a Spanish surgeon kindly
ministered to his wound.
When the Spanish military authorties investigated him, Jacinto produced a pass from his pocket which identified him as "Florentino Reyes". This saved his life. The truth was that the pass really belonged to a Filipino spy named Florentino Reyes whom Jacinto captured in Pasig some weeks before the battle in Maimpis. He took the pass and kept it in his pocket so that in case he should fall to the hands of the enemy, he could identify himself as a spy in the service of Spain. The Spanish authorities in Laguna, believing Jacinto to be a spy in their services, released him. Immediately, Jacinto went into hiding in Manila. From his hideout, he wrote Apolinario Mabini in Malolos to express his plan to continue his law studies in the newly established Literary University of the Philippines. Mabini was happy to receive his letter and speedily consulted Aguinaldo about this plan. Aguinaldo welcomed Jacinto's coming to Malolos because of his remarkable intelligence. Mabini wrote him, sayng that Aguinaldo approved of his request and that the last day of enrolment in the University was December 1, 1898. Unfortunately, Jacinto was unable to proceed to Malolos, for he returned to Laguna upon the urgent appeal of the fighting patriots of the province who wanted him as their leader. Jacinto established his secret headquarters in the hills of Majayjay. There he contacted the malignant malaria which caused his death on April 16, 1899. He was only 24 years old. Truly, Jacinto was one of the great heroes of the Revolution. In the perceptive appraisal of Dr. Rafael Palma, Emilio Jacinto "was sent by God to give a directing head ot our Revolution to which Bonifacio gave the strength of his arms and the swiftness of his weapons." |
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