Simeón Ola Day in Albay Date in the current year: September 2, 2024

Simeón Ola y Arboleda was born in Guinobatan, Albay on September 2, 1865. Upon his graduation from high school, he enrolled in the Mater Salutis College Seminary in Daraga to study philosophy, but he never graduated.

In the early 1890s, Ola joined the Albay branch of the Katipunan, a secret society founded by a group of Filipino nationalists who strove to achieve independence from Spain through an armed revolution. He eventually became the leader of the branch.

When the Philippine Revolution broke out, Ola fought against the Spanish alongside his men, having acquired arms with the help of a parish priest. After the 1898 Battle of Camalig in Albay, which resulted in a Filipino victory, Ola was promoted to the rank of captain by General Vito Belarmino.

After the beginning of the Philippine-American War, Ola continued to fight for the independence of the Philippines and was promoted to the rank of major after a successful ambush mission that resulted in the capture of several American soldiers. He also led the subsequent attacks on Oas, Ligao, and Jovellar.

On March 23, 1901, the Americans captured Philippine president and military commander Emilio Aguinaldo. A week later, Aguinaldo recognized American authority over the Philippines and pledged allegiance to the U.S. government. However, a number of Aguinaldo’s generals refused to lay down their weapons and continued the fight in their respective areas. Simeón Ola was one of them.

On July 5, 1901, Ola surrendered on the condition that his men would be granted amnesty. He is believed to have been the last Filipino general to surrender to the Americans, although there is a controversy regarding his surrender since it is unclear whether he indeed held the rank of general and was a zone commander. However, this does not prevent the Filipinos from celebrating him as a hero.

After his surrender, Ola was charged with sedition, put on trial, found guilty, and sentenced to thirty years in prison. Three years later, he was granted a pardon and returned to his hometown of Guinobatan, where he became the municipal president, i.e. mayor. Ola went on to live a long life and passed away on February 14, 1952 at the age of 86.

The birth anniversary of Simeón Ola was designated as a special non-working holiday in his native province of Albay by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2018. It is marked by remembrance ceremonies in recognition of Ola’s life, service, and bravery.