What can be more the stuff of legends than a guerilla, sustained by the masses, running an underground shadow government, defying capture and continuously frustrating a pacifying force growing more impatient and frustrated with the passage of time, ruining the reputation of US officers and eventually bringing them to their breaking point to finally unleash devastation on a populace just to bring him to his knees?

We often regard legendary figures as mythic and larger than life personas, gross exaggerations created by locals in awe of a charismatic presence connected to the fable and history of the land and its people. The enhanced reputation and extolled extreme virtues are associated with the followers and devotees who place their faith on a symbol that galvanizes their movement, to lift morale and to keep the faint flickers of hope alive in their ongoing struggles.

Malvar, however, did not need myth and fantastical elements to build up his name and reputation. His exploits, those neither contrived nor imagined, stand on their own merit and are more than enough to enhance his reputation and elevate his standing to followers and foes alike.

Nevertheless, and understandably so, tales surrounding Malvar in the realm of folklore and kwentong barbero (barbershop talk) sworn to by the common people, abound. Such stories can be easily dismissed by the rational and level headed as mere hearsay and romanticized notions. But American author Glenn Anthony May interestingly provides a rather supportive explanation and perspective:

As time passed and such incidents multiplied, Malvar's reputation grew to heroic proportions. Soldiers who served under him claimed that Malvar owed his ability to elude pursuers to the fact that he had an anting-anting, an amulet that gave him magical powers. So long as he wore his anting-anting, they maintained, bullets could not hit him; even if the enemy managed to corner him, Malvar could become invisible and escape. What people believe to be true is, of course, just as important as the truth itself, and we would be unwise to laugh away such statements about Malvar's powers. Like many heroes of the revolutionary period, he appeared to have charismatic qualities, and they surely counted with his followers.

Fully committed to the cause and willing to endure the hardships of guerilla life, Malvar was one commander who seemed to command respect.

Notwithstanding May's comments, the Filipino point of view could be deemed as biased and self-serving, a desperate attempt by locals to prop up their own. But when the accounts and opinions about Malvar, however, come from the enemy, who have no motivation to dignify their antagonists and put them in a positive light, testimonies take on more weight and credibility, and even more so, elevate the status and standing of the person further.

What follows are a few sample reports, correspondence and articles illustrating how Malvar's adversaries (the Americans) viewed him. While one can sense derision and the subtle jabs to discredit him, his bearing and influence is recognized, and the respect accorded to him cannot be denied. The testimonies cut across a wide spectrum of Americans, ranging from the top brass to journalists to ordinary soldiers in the field. No less than Gen. Franklin Bell, his nemesis and the most heralded U.S. officer of the Philippine-American war who would eventually become the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, respected him. Men from various backgrounds and rank were unanimous in their high regard and measure of the man. Malvar, the fugitive, the insurrecto, the guerilla, the gentleman, was legendary and exalted by everyone.

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REPORT OF MALVAR'S SURRENDER

by General James Franklin Bell - General, Commanding

Malvar' s surrender. — The day Malvar surrendered (April 16) satisfaction consequent upon success achieved by earnest work took possession of many very tired officers and men. We one and all had the satisfaction of realizing that for the first time in the history of Philippine insurrection the most determined and persistent enemy of Spanish or American sovereignty had been unequivocally forced to submit to legally constituted authority after he had ignored many invitations to surrender on liberal terms, without humiliation and without inflicting hardship upon his people.

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MALVAR DESCRIPTION CIRCULAR

by General James Franklin Bell - General, Commanding

Goes about the country with an indian shirt and trousers cut off or rolled up to the knees, and if captured will affect being a very simple, inoffensive and ignorant native who knows nothing, and will give a wrong name…Miguel Malvar is said to have frequently visited Manila wearing a new US campaign hat. He passed through American troops with a rooster under his arm, and has ridden a carabao through Santo Tomas and Lipa, stopping at Lipa to talk to the Presidente without being detected.

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WHY WE CAN’T CATCH MALVAR

Excerpts from We are still fighting Filipinos by Stephen Bonsal

There are many stories told of Don Miguel’s visits to town, and they are not the legends which grow up around every successful guerilla chief: there is much documentary evidence to support them. He visits an army post dressed just like any other country tao, with his shirt outside his homespun trousers, riding a carabao with his favorite gamecock under his arm. He comes to town in amigo clothes to attend to his own affairs, to hear mass, or to barter with our soldiers for plug tobacco, or to remind the patriots within our lines to pay their assessments to the insurgent treasury. In this guise he has entered Calamba on market day; Lipa, too, when all were celebrating our Lady of the Rosary. He has passed in and out among thousands of people, each and every one of whom knew and worshipped him. The secret known to hundreds was kept, and among the thousands who could have betrayed him not one was tempted to do so by the reward we offer, though that is large—far beyond the Filipino dream of avarice, I do not wish to exaggerate, but I think it well to appreciate the calibre of our antagonists.

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THE PHILIPPINE SITUATION

by Captain John H. Parker, U.S.A

Malvar, the insurgent chief of Batangas, is a pure Tagalog. He is about forty-five years old, short, heavy set, energetic, shrewd, active, a good financier and organizer, but does not take a very active part personally in the fighting. He is an old-time revolutionist, having refused to participate in the treaty of Biak-na-Bato, and claims to be fighting for independence pure and simple. He is one of the ablest guerillas alive. He is feared by all the natives, greatly admired by his followers, and dispenses effective, though rude and summary, justice to those under his control. He uses the methods prescribed by the organization he serves, and does not hesitate to resort to heavy penalties to enforce his authority.

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MALVAR THE SELF STYLED DICTATOR OF FILIPINOS

From The Republic April 17, 1901

Miguel Malvar, insurgent and guerilla, who calls himself Lieutenant General, has been hard to catch, although he has been thrashed several times by United States troops. After the capture of Aguinaldo by General Funston, he proclaimed himself dictator, and as he was popular with the insurgents he easily got a very large following.

The difficulty in capturing Malvar has not been his bravery as a fighter nor his ability as a commander, but has been due entirely to the fact that he is a born actor, an adept at disguise and an unwearyingly traveler who never, except among tried friends, appeared as Malvar, the insurgent, and never stopped twice in one spot, nor then a whole day or all of one night.

He is a vigorous, indefatigable young man with all the pertinacity that marks the strongest Tagalo character, with the cunning of a fox and the wildness and watchfulness of the antelope.

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BRAVE OLD MALVAR, Filipino who is causing such trouble, Fighting to Bitter End

Under date of December 9, Sergeant C.O. Arland writes his aunt, Mrs, Matt. Anderson of Mt. Horeb.

Batangas province is the worst spot in the islands today, and they have just sent a new general there to see what he can do. There are several regiments operating there and all ports are blockaded. Old Malvar is the insurgent general that is holding out there and he is a good one. He has been fighting the Americans since the outbreak of the insurrection, February 5, 1899, here in Manila, and he is still at it, and several prominent American officers have lost their reputations and a great many soldiers and several officers have been killed in trying to defeat or capture him. When you read, Aunt, of Malvar surrendering, or being killed or captured, you may truthfully say, "The war is over in the Philippines." Till then, however, there will always be trouble.

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GEN. ADNA CHAFFEE LETTER TO PRES. THEODORE ROOSEVELT

February 15, 1902

You will be glad to know that the insurrection in the Provinces of Batangas and Laguna is practically ended: General Bell is picking up what pieces he can of Malvar's outfit, but I fear he will not be able to bag Malvar himself as I hoped he might do. If he does not, I shall be sorry for the reason that he may become an agitator and possibly do some mischief at a later date.

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ST. LOUIS REPUBLIC ARTICLE

“Although a good general, it is thought by many that he would make a still better statesman, and therefore during peace, he would be one of the most prominent men in the Philippines. He belongs to the best class of Filipinos…”

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The U.S. Army and Counterinsurgency in the Philippine War, 1899-1902

by Brian McAllister Linn

In Maj. Gen. Miguel Malvar and Brig. Gen. Juan Cailles, Jefes Superior Politico-Miliitar respectively of Batangas and Laguna provinces, the U.S. Army faced two capable, ruthless, and intelligent guerrilla commanders. Malvar, a native Batangueno, was a successful landowner and member of the principalia. In the Revolt of 1896 he raised a guerrilla band in his native town of Santo Tomas, which he later placed under Aguinaldo. A brigadier general at thirty, his intransigence led him to oppose the Pact of Biac na Bato and threaten Republican officials he suspected of wavering. A charismatic leader, dedicated patriot, and able organizer, he was probably the most capable adversary the Americans faced in the Philippine War.

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MALVAR, THE ACTOR

by Major R.L Bullard, Commander 3rd Alabama Infantry

With his incorrigible, defiant insurgency, his tenacity, his surpassing conning, skill and wit displayed in his many narrow escapes from our troops, the general has become the romantic hero of his people who will help, hide and save him at every chance. Of what use is force (beyond a certain small number) to catch such a man? We need force to overawe his insurrection and to break up and keep down his guerilla bands whenever and as fast as they show themselves, but cunning and luck, not force must be the means by which the wily general must finally be brought to the end of his career as an insurgent.