Vivencio Cuyugan

Vivencio B. Cuyugan (January 13, 1895 - March 16, 1971) was a Filipino politician, boxer, and one of the founders of the socialist guerrilla group Hukbalahap. He was born in San Fernando, Pampanga to Saturnino P. Cuyugan and Antonina Y. Baron. He studied in the United States where he supported himself through professional boxing and became known as the "Big Brown Filipino." He was appointed Municipal Vice-President of San Fernando in 1927, and later elected to the same position in 1931. He was later elected the first Municipal Mayor under the Philippine Commonwealth, the first socialist mayor of the Philippines.[1] Together with Pedro Abad Santos, he was among the co-founders of the Socialist Party of the Philippines.

Vivencio Cuyugan, Sr.
Born
Alberto Romualdez, Jr.

(1895-01-13)January 13, 1895
San Fernando, Pampanga, Captaincy General of the Philippines
DiedMarch 16, 1971(1971-03-16) (aged 76)
Manila, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Known forMayor of San Fernando, Pampanga
Hukbalahap commander
Spouse(s)Felisa Amurao-Cuyugan
Children6

In 2017, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines honored Cuyugan as a hero with a historical marker in San Fernando, Pampanga for being a "champion of social justice".[2]

Vivencio B. Cuyugan Sr. monument in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines

Personal life

He married Felisa Amurao of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija[3] and had six children by her, namely: Aida, Fernando, Fe, Vivencio Jr., Panopio, and Dr. Ma. Luisa. There were children from other marriages: Estrella, Augustin, Saturnino, Syvestra, Antonia, Carlos, Manuel, and Juliet. He had five brothers and a sister.

Mayor of San Fernando

Cuyugan was the Mayor of San Fernando, Pampanga from 1937 to 1942 and in 1945.[4] He was also one of the leaders of the Aguman Ding Maldang Tagapagobra (AMT) or the General Workers Union.[5]

Hukbalahap

In 1941, Cuyugan and several others founded the Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon (Hukbalahap)[4] and acted as one of its commanders. His wife Felisa joined to support him. She took care of him while he was ill during the war.[6]

Later life

In 1953, he was captured and sent to Camp Crame with his family to be jailed and tortured under the charge of being a communist.[4] While in prison at Camp Crame, his wife Felisa gave birth to a son. He later died in 1971.

References
  1. Arcellaz, Princess Clea (14 March 2017). "Mayor wants 'equal' gov't for Fernandinos". Sunstar (in Tagalog). Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  2. Orejas, Tonette (17 March 2017). "Nat'l historical agency recognizes Pampanga's socialist mayor". Inquirer News. City of San Fernando: INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  3. Sa Tungki Ng Ilong Ng Kaaway: Talambhuhay Ni Tatang (in Tagalog). 1988. p. 103. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  4. Inquirer, Philippine Daily (17 March 2017). "Nat'l historical agency recognizes Pampanga's socialist mayor". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. Guevarra, Dante G. (1995). History of the Philippione Labor Movement. Rex Bookstore, Inc. p. 54. ISBN 978-971-23-1755-2. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  6. Lanzona, Vina A. (22 April 2009). Amazons of the Huk Rebellion: Gender, Sex, and Revolution in the Philippines. Univ of Wisconsin Press. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-299-23093-7. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
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