Ambrosio Flores

Ambrosio Flores y Flores (March 20, 1843 – June 24, 1912) was a Filipino general in the Philippine Revolution and the first governor of the province of Rizal.

Biography Ambrosio Flores was born on March 20, 1843, in Manila, the capital of the Philippine Islands. His parents were Ignacio Flores, a corporal in the Spanish army, and Josefa Flores. He studied Latin with Fr. Esteban del Rosario, as his private tutor, in Ternate, Cavite. He later studied philosophy at the University of Santo Tomas. After some time, he changed his studies and went to study medicine.

On May 12, 1860, following his father's career, he enlisted in the Spanish army in the 9th Infantry Regiment of Isabel II where his father is a lieutenant.

Shortly afterwards, he was again drafted into the revolutionary army and made a brigadier general. Flores fought in the battles of Polo and Calumpit in Bulacan. After the death of General Antonio Luna, Flores became Commander in Chief of the Philippine Army and Secretary of War in the Philippine government of Aguinaldo. However, the U.S. military proved too strong for the Philippine troops. The victory of U.S. military forced Flores to go to Tarlac with the remnants of the revolutionary army and his family. In April 1899, Flores, Col. Manuel Arguelles, and Col. Florentino Torres went to U.S. Gen. Arthur MacArthur to ask for cessation of hostilities. They were interviewed by Gen. Elwell Otis.

He saw that further resistance was futile and in 1900, along with several other generals and leaders, including Francisco Macabulos and Pantaleon Garcia, surrendered to the Gen. MacArthur in Nueva Ecija.

Governorship of Rizal In December 1900, along with Florentino Torres, T. H. Pardo de Tavera, Cayetano Arellano, Felipe Buencamino, and Benito Legarda among others, Flores co-founded the Federalista Party. were imprisoned during his term. This made Flores unpopular with the population as governor.

Later years and death After his governorship, he completed a law degree and passed his entrance exam for the Philippine Bar at the age of 62. On July 1, 1911, he was appointed Justice of the Peace in Pasig. In May 1908, he organized the Silanganan Lodge No. 305 in Pasig, and became its first master. He was re-elected multiple times but his ill-health prevented him from serving for a fifth term. On June 24, 1912, Flores died aged 69.