José Alejandrino

José Cándido Alejandrino y Magdangal

Early life

Alejandrino was born to a wealthy family from Arayat, Pampanga, on December 1, 1870 in Manila. He initially studied at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, and his contemporaries there included José Rizal, Juan Araneta, Cayetano Arellano, and Apolinario Mabini, among others. He acquired his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Santo Tomas, and pursued studies in Spain and at the University of Ghent, where he graduated with a degree in chemical engineering.

Propaganda Movement While in Spain, he was one of the members of the Propaganda Movement which demanded equality, especially equal opportunities in the colonial administration, for Spaniards and Filipinos. He was also a contributor to La Solidaridad, an organization composed of Filipino liberals living abroad since 1872, mostly attending different universities across Europe. The group aimed to increase Spanish awareness of the needs of its colony, the Philippines, and to foster a closer relationship between the archipelago and Spain. Alejandrino helped José Rizal in correcting errors in the El filibusterismo, which was published in Ghent, Belgium. He also helped distribute copies of the said manuscript.

Philippine–American War and postwar life Group showing Brigadier General Manuel Tinio (seated, center), Brigadier General Benito Natividad (seated, 2nd from right), Lieutenant Colonel Jose Alejandrino (seated, 2nd from left), and their aides-de-camp.

In 1898, Alejandrino served in the Malolos Congress, becoming a member of the two committees that drafted the Malolos Constitution. On 26 September, he was given the post of Director of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce. Later, Aguinaldo designated Alejandrino chief of the engineers of the Army, and he directed the building of trenches in several areas, including Bulacan and Caloocan. On April 12, 1901, Alejandrino married Adela Chuidian, daughter of the reformist Telesforo Chuidian. In August of the same year, Alejandrino accepted an offer to serve as the second city engineer of Manila.

Media portrayals Portrayed by Alvin Anson in the film, Heneral Luna (2015), and its sequel, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral (2018).