Licerio Topacio

Who was Licerio Topacio?

General Licerio Topacio was a leader in the Philippine Independence movement.

Born in Imus, Cavite, on August 27, 1839 to Miguel Topacio, a former gobernadorcillo, and Marta Cuenco, the young Licerio finished his studies in Imus. He was not able to pursue higher education in Manila. But he kept on developing his inborn talent by self-study, and when the Revolution broke out he showed exceptional leadership in battle.

Because of the on-going Lachambre offensive in Magdalo territory, only eight Magdalo leaders were able to attend the Tejeros Convention on March 22, 1897. They were Baldomero Aguinaldo, Daniel Tria Tirona, Felix Cuenca, Cayetano Topacio, Crispulo Aguinaldo, Antonio Montenegro, and an unidentified Magdalo leader. Except for Montenegro and this unidentified leader they were all members of the Magdalo Council or Government. Licerio Topacio was the eldest of the Magdalo leaders present. In deference to his age he must have been considered by the group for nomination as president of the Revolutionary Government to be established. But he declined because he was too old and that the presidency needed a younger, stronger man. The next choice was Emilio Aguinaldo, who was absent, defending the strategic Pasong Santol in Dasmariñas against repeated assaults by Lachambre’s troops. Aguinaldo was elected president of the Revolutionary Government in absentia.