Arcadio Maxilom

Who was Arcadio Maxilom?

General Arcadio Maxilom y Molero was a Filipino teacher and hero of the Philippine Revolution.

He was born in Tuburan, Cebu to Roberto Maxilom, the town gobernadorcillo, and Gregoria Molero. His family were members of the local gentry, or principalía. He worked as a teacher in the local school before joining the Katipunan, whose activities in Cebu were led by a young Negrense, León Kilat.

After Kilat's betrayal and assassination, Maxilom continued the revolution in Cebu. Under his command, the Katipunan was able to regroup in the central highlands, which Spanish forces found impenetrable. On December 16, 1898, Maxilom wrote a letter to the Spanish authorities in Cebu, demanding that the latter surrender. Weary after incessant fighting, the Spaniards quickly responded, asking Maxilom for two to three days to leave the province. By Christmas Eve, the Spaniards have left, leaving behind only three Catholic clerics.

Little did the Cebuanos, indeed, all Filipinos, know that their newfound liberty would be short-lived, Spain having already been forced to sell the fate of their former subjects to the United States for twenty million dollars.