The J.M. Basa Street in the City of Iloilo, Philippines

The J.M. Basa Street in the City of Iloilo, Philippines

(By: DinggolAranetaDivinagracia - September 28, 2018)

"J. M. Basa Street, situated at the heart of downtown Iloilo City, has been considered as the shopping center of Iloilo. In the past, it was popularly known as "Calle Real." --Let us change J. M. Basa Street to "Calle Real de Iloilo" . . . Now!!! --dinggol.d~~~

But who is Jose Maria Basa? -What significant role did he contribute to warrant naming Iloilo City's premium thoroughfare to honor his memory?

With malice towards none, but in fairness to all concerned most especially to the Ilonggos, here's a brief backgrounder: Jose Maria Basa was born in Manila and was a well known merchant during the Spanish colonial occupation. He was ALLEGEDLY (Capitalized for emphasis) involved in the revolutionary movement in Cavite during the time when the three Filipino Priest Martyrs, namely: Mariano Gomez, Jose Apolonio Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora (GOMBURZA) were executed by garrote in Bagumbayan on February 17, 1872 .

J. M. Basa was exiled in Hongkong where he helped many Filipinos to stay at his home and one of his guests was his close friend, Dr. Jose Rizal.

Meanwhile, in Hongkong Jose Ma. Basa joined Felipe Agoncillo and Mariano Ponce in the Revolutionary Council organized by Filipino patriot Edilberto Evangelista. Later, Evangelista and Agoncillo became part of the group in the Hongkong Committee of La Solidaridad headed by Galicano Apacible, which advocated Philippine Independence. The opposing Filipino group was led by Jose Maria Basa and Doroteo Cortes, who were for annexation by the United States.

Hamak mo ran banwa! abi binag-binaga! wara pa tani umpisa inaway (Filipino-American War), apin na sanda sa pangontra!

We have our very own 1898 Ilonggo Revolutionary leaders that were natives of Iloilo City who offered their lives in the fields of battle fighting against foreign aggression, namely: Gen. Roque Lopez (First President of the Estado Federal de Bisayas); Gen. Pablo S. Araneta (Commanding General of the Panay Revolutionary Forces); Gen. Angel Corteza of Molo; Patrocinio “Tia Patro” Gamboa of Jaro kag iban pa!

And even during modern times; former Iloilo Congressman Pascualing Espinosa, is recorded in the annals of history as the "Father of the Magna Carta of Philippine Labor", whose applicable laws are now being enjoyed by millions of Filipino workers. Or even the Ilonggo nationalist and a great labor leader Jose Ma. Nava. These patriots, nga mga “tumandok” gid mismo sang Ciudad sang Iloilo, does not even have a small alley named to honor their memories. Why? oh why? oh why? --why Jose Ma. Basa ukon J. M. Basa gid! wala gani ina siya siguro nakatapak sa Iloilo (He might not had even stepped on Iloilo’s soil) --Que Barbaridad!!!

According to Ilonggo Nation Movement (INM) Co-Founder Agurang Benjie Estuche: “.. Jose Ma. Basa was part of the 1st Philippine Commission which was later replaced by the 2nd PC also known as the Taft Commission as appointed by President Mckinley. The 2nd Philippine Commission which was tasked with the dismantling of the "friarocracy" and the "encomiendas" had Ilonggos in its board of directors that included Jose Ma. Luzurriaga of Negros, Don Gregorio Araneta of Molo, Iloilo City and presumably, Benito Legarda.

Since Iloilo had been occupied by the Americans after the siege of Port San Pedro and subsequent developments had been instituted, the naming of the streets in the City proper was possibly based on the whims and caprices of the occupying forces and, naturally, the pro-Americans were given priority over others. Gen. Hughes which is an extension of the J.M. Basa was named after the general who ordered the bombings to Gen. Miller that burned and ravaged about 10,000 residential houses within the vicinity of Port San Pedro despite the warnings made by Atty. Raymundo Melliza, legal adviser to the revolutionary forces in Panay, that most of the buildings along the pier was owned by foreigners.

Anyways, most of those that were appointed to the 1st and 2nd commissions were of Spanish ancestry except, possibly, Juan Sumulong which was of Chinese ethnicity and was closed to the ecclesiastical heirarchy of Manila.

It must be remembered also that the Filipino-American War happened only after the Treaty of Paris when the US had already full control of the country and the revolutionaries were those that were identified with the landed interests and beneficiaries of the dismantling of the encomiendas.

It must also be remembered that Panay and Negros Islands were spared from the land reform as per 2nd Philippine Commission's act of legislation (PC Act 1120) and had instead transferred to the incoming Philippine Legislature the implementation of land distribution...”

On the other hand, we are aware of a House Bill authored by former Iloilo City Congressman Raul Trinidad Gonzales, Jr. that was initiated in the Iloilo City Council by then Councilor Jed Patrick Locsin Escalante Mabilog; the renaming of the entire stretch of M.H. Del Pilar and Gen. Luna Streets (both from Luzon) to Sen. Rodolfo T. Ganzon Avenue. Toto Roding the “Timawa” idol has done so much to his beloved City of Iloilo. He deserves it! . . But did this renaming materialized? ~~~

The old Calle Real de Iloilo.

Photo of Jose Ma. Basa while in Hongkong.

J. M. Basa Street in Downtown Iloilo City.