Vicente Barros

Vicente Rico Barros (July 27, 1887 – May 2, 1966) was a Filipino U.S. Army Major who played a major role in the formation of the first federalized army of the Philippines at the end of World War I (1917–18). Barros was formerly an officer of the Philippine Scouts (a defunct division of the U.S. Army). He was a decorated soldier and a veteran of the Philippine Constabulary (1907–1911)[3] during the Moro Rebellion before being absorbed by the U.S. Army's Philippine Division. Former Governor General of the Philippines Francis B. Harrison cited Barros for his role in a brief history of the Philippine National Guard, "The Division was commanded by Brigadier-General F.R. Day, U.S.A.; all officers above the grade of Major, by insistence of the army, were Americans, except Lieutenant-Colonel Vicente R. Barros, a West Point graduate."[2]

Army Major

Vicente Barros
Born(1887-07-27)July 27, 1887
Lopez, Tayabas, Captaincy General of the Philippines
DiedMay 22, 1966(1966-05-22) (aged 78)
Resting placeLibingan ng mga Bayani
NationalityFilipino
EducationPhilippine Normal School
Spouse(s)Victoria Barros
Children2
RelativesSalvador Barros (brother)
Military career
Allegiance Philippines
 United States
Branch of ServicePhilippine Constabulary
Philippine Scouts (US Army)
Philippine National Guard
Years of service1907 – 1922
Rank Major, U.S. Army [1]
Lieutenant Colonel, Philippine National Guard [2]
Unit23rd Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts, US Army
1st Division, Philippine National Guard
Battles/WarsMoro Rebellion
World War I
Awards Philippine Campaign Medal
Victory Medal
Silver Star Medal

Early life and education

Vicente Barros was born on July 27, 1887[1] in the town of Lopez, Quezon province (formerly Tayabas province). He is the son in a brood of ten of Don Pedro Barros and Honorata Rico of Arayat, Pampanga. Pedro Barros owned a large coconut plantation in Lopez and because of his political influence and official capacity, he was able to change the name of sitio Tinalpok to Concepcion in honor of his beautiful daughter.[4] Vicente's father Pedro was also the Deputy Municipal Treasurer of the province of Tayabas and a judge.[5] Vicente has a brother of prominence in Philippine literature, Salvador Barros, a writer and poet who died of dysentery and tuberculosis in 1940.[5]

Barros got his degree in education from Philippine Normal School in 1906.[6] He was a teacher for a year at Philippine Normal School before joining the military.

Military career

Barros started his military career with the Philippine Constabulary in 1907 as a commissioned officer (Second-Lieutenant).[3] He was later assigned to command a company in Mindanao and saw action in the Moro Rebellion. The war took a heavy toll with more than a thousand casualties on the side of the government's two forces, the Philippine Constabulary and the Philippine Scouts. His heroics in the battle earned him merits and medals, having injured from the fight. He survived the massacre of the Moros in 1911.

In 1912 First-Lieutenant Barros was accepted in the U.S. Army as a Second-Lieutenant of the Philippine Scouts.[1]

Published works

Barros has published a number of books, including amendments to the Civil Service Code and a number of Philippine Laws and Regulations, after retiring from military career.

  • Social and Political Thoughts and Other Writings (1961)[7]
  • War Maxims of Great Generals (1934)[8]

References
  1. U.S. ARMY WAR DEPARTMENT (1 January 1923). Official Army Register 1923. Government Printing Office Washington. p. 1230. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  2. Francis Burton Harrison (10 September 2010). THE CORNERSTONE OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE: A Narrative Of Seven Years. Kessinger Publishing, LLC. p. 166. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
    Francis Burton Harrison (1922). The Corner-stone of Philippine Independence. Century Company. p. 166.
  3. Government of the Philippine Islands-BUREAU OF CIVIL SERVICE. Official Roster of Officers and Employees in the Civil Service of the Philippine Islands. Bueau of Printing Manila 1912. p. 23. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  4. MARIA GEMMA A. SUGUITAN-SAN JOSE. Notes About Lopez, Quezon. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  5. CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Arts. PHILIPPINE LITERATURE: Artis and Organization. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  6. DEPT. OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION-BUREAU OF EDUCATION. PHILIPPINE NORMAL SCHOOL MANILA P.I. Manila Bueau of Public Printing 1905. p. 28. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  7. Vicente R. Barros. National Library of the Philippines. Manila Bustcon (Philippines) Publishing 1961. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  8. Vicente R. Barros. National Library of the Philippines. S.I. 1934. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
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