Malolos, Bulacan – The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) in coordination with the Provincial Government of Bulacan and the City Government of Malolos spearheaded the commemorative rites for the 150th birth anniversary of Gen. Isidoro Torres on 10 April 2016, 8:00 a.m. at Barangay Matimbo, Malolos City, Bulacan.
Secretary Mario G. Montejo, led the wreath-laying activity. NHCP Executive Director Ludovico D. Badoy, Malolos City Mayor Christian D. Natividad and other local officials from Bulacan joined the fitting commemorative rites to honor Gen. Torres.
Mayor Natividad welcomed the guests and participants during the program. Secretary Montejo in his message gave tribute to the bravery and perseverance of Gen. Torres.
Isidoro Torres was born on 10 April 1866 to Florencio Torres and Maria Dayao. He first studied under Maestro Jose Reyes in the town of Malolos and later at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sto. Tomas.
In 1890, Torres served as Cabeza de Barangay at the age of 24 and held the position for two years. With the nom de guerre Matang Lawin, he joined the Katipunan with Deodato Arellano, Doroteo Karagdag, Juan de Leon and Manuel Crisostomo, organizing its Bulacan chapter, the Sanguniang Lalawigang Balangay Apoy, in March 1896.
He actively participated in numerous battles in Kalumpit, San Rafael, Paombong, and Malolos, 1896-1899. Torres was promoted to Colonel during the Republic of Biak-na-Bato, 1897. He became a delegate to the Malolos Congress, and served as Gobernador Militar de la Plaza with the responsibilities as Brigadier General in 1898 and Politico Military Governor in 1899. He employed guerilla warfare when Malolos was occupied by the American forces in 1899. Later, he served as Juez Paz at San Antonio, Nueva Ecija, in 1909-1912. He died on 5 December 1928.
The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums, research and publication, and preserve the nation’s historical heritage through conservation and the marking of historic sites and structures.