Artemio Ricarte - "El Vibora"

 


He possessed the most lethal-sounding nom de guerre of his generation - El Vibora, the Viper. He once pointed out that he was there, at the early beginnings - the initial pace of the armed struggle. One of the many children of the events of 1872.

He was initially associated with the Supremo and Cavite's Magdiwang council. In the attack he led against the Spanish garrison of San Francisco de Malabon (Gen Trias, Cavite), it is said that El Vibora, along with his men, posed as customers in a carenderia, waiting for the ideal time to launch the attack. The symbolism of the carenderia must have held significance for him, as he later named his restaurant-quasi tambayan "Karihan," in his place of exile - Yokohama, Japan.

A man of contradictions, was he an "oportunista" or "segurista"? And although he was Ilocano by birth, he is undoubtedly a fine specimen of "cavitismo." This owes to his true loyalty to his adoptive province.

He remained "satisfied" with being elected to a cabinet position in the Tejeros convention. However, when contacted by Bonifacio about the irregularities that had occurred in Tejeros, he quickly denounced it, only to change his statement once he was in the presence of Aguinaldo again. Was he truly a spewing viper?

After the capture of Aguinaldo by the Americans, he was one of those we can call orphans of the war. He entirely lost his purpose and standing - a sense of being remained only to fight the new colonial masters.

The hatred for America he carried with him to his grave. El Vibora chose self-exile to Japan and allied himself with what he termed fellow Orientals. Others then accused him of turning a blind eye, as the Oriental brotherhood he so much espoused was nonetheless as brutal as the American repression he so despised.

The irony of it all was that in the last part of his life, he chose not to change sides anymore. This time, no! Wala nang baligtaran. He stuck it out with the Japanese, and even in their retreat, he followed them. But in doing so, he truly found his redemption - dying in his native land.

There is a line in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" where Brutus, in his final moments, utters: "Caesar, now be still." I tend to envision Artemio Ricarte - El Vibora - in his last hour, uttering one name with his final breath."

 

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