Draft:Jose Salvador Alejandrino Natividad

General Jose Salvador Alejandrino Natividad (September 20, 1873 – 1954) was a military leader during the Philippine Revolution against Spain. His parents were Gervasia Alejandrino and Mamerto Santos Natividad, Sr. a lawyer and the First Martyr of Nueva Ecija who was executed by the Spanish authorities on Sept. 26, 1896 in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija. Gen. Jose Salvador Natividad later joined the Partido Federalista which advocated for Philippine statehood within the United States.

Philippine Revolution
Together with five (5) of his brothers, Salvador joined the Katipunan to avenge their father's death. They traveled from Nueva Ecija to Binakayan, Cavite, where they were the house guests of Baldomero Aguinaldo. The Spaniards retaliated by burning their mansion in Jaen and their sugar mills.

With his brothers, he fought under General Emilio Aguinaldo in battles against the Spanish Army and was appointed Brigadier General.

In November 1897, Gen. Salvador Natividad was one of those, together with Paciano Rizal and Severino de las Alas, who opposed the Constitution drafted by Isabelo Artacho and Felix Ferrer. The said Constitution was very similar to that of the Cuban Revolutionists. Nevertheless, the Constitution was approved by the Biak Na Bato General Assembly under President Emilio Aguinaldo.

Pact Of Biak-Na-Bato
When Pedro Paterno was traveling to negotiate with Emilio Aguinaldo, he requested an officer of General Paciano Rizal’s army to accompany and give him safe passage to the Biak-Na-Bato Philippine Revolutionary Army Headquarters to present the Spanish Government claims. It was then Major General Salvador Natividad who Gen. Paciano Rizal assigned to escort Pedro Paterno to Biak-Na-Bato.

Emilio Aguinaldo later appointed Gen. Salvador Natividad, together with Pedro Paterno, to negotiate the historic truce for the Filipinos with the Spanish colonial government. However, the Spanish Governor General Primo de Rivera, rejected Salvador and preferred Paterno because of his willingness to compromise. Gen. Salvador Natividad was later prevented from signing the Pact of Biak-Na-Bato when it was concluded on December 14, 1897.

The provisions of the Pact of Biak-Na-Bato entailed, among others, the exile of Philippine Revolutionary Officers to Hong Kong, payments to the Philippine Revolutionaries, Spanish Army Officers as hostages to ensure safe arrival to Hong Kong, and surrender of rebel arms. Salvador's brothers Benito and Joaquin were part of the group of officers exiled to Hong Kong. However, Salvador, together with Baldomero Aguinaldo, Artemio Ricarte, Isabelo Artacho and other officers, were given the local assignments.

Two days before embarking on his exile, Emilio Aguinaldo issued a decree delegating the powers of government to members of the Cabinet who were to stay behind. Salvador was given the task to aid Baldomero Aguinaldo and Isabelo Artacho in the distribution of cash gratuities and passes to go home to the soldiers of the Biak-Na-Bato detachment.

For the release of insurgent arms, General Artemio Ricarte appointed commissioners, giving each their respective credentials. Generals Salvador Natividad and Paciano Rizal were assigned the Province of Laguna. Together with his companions, General Salvador Natividad was also tasked with receiving in Biak-Na-Bato the hostaged Spanish Generals Monet and Fernandez Tejeiro with their aids, Colonel Torrontegui and Captain La Torre and keeping them under their watch as part of the provisions in the Pact.

Upon receipt of a telegram from Aguinaldo on December 28 or 29, 1897 announcing their safe arrival in Hong Kong and receipt of the first payment in the amount of $MXN400,000 from the Spanish government, Gen. Salvador Natividad and other Philippine Revolutionary Army Officers agreed to immediately release the Spanish Army hostages. The insurgent arms were released the following day at 8 a.m. Shortly after, a petition signed by Artemio Ricarte, Isabelo Artacho and Salvador Natividad was sent to the Spanish Governor General Primo De Rivera to release the sum of $MXN100,000 for guns surrendered in accordance with the agreement.

Philippine–American War
Gen. Salvador Natividad joined the Partido Federalista or Federal Party. This political party was formed on December 23, 1900. It advocated for Philippine statehood within the United States.

Towards the end of the war, he served as an emissary. He is reported to have met with Generals Manuel Tinio, Jose Alejandrino and Vicente Salazar on April 3, 1901 informing them that President Emilio Aguinaldo had been captured. According to Salvador Natividad, the three (3) Generals agreed to surrender but Tinio changed his mind. Gen. Salvador Natividad is also reported to have delivered a letter from Gen. Manuel Tinio to Gen. James Franklin Bell on April 9, 1901 requesting safe conduct to Manila to meet with General MacArthur. This request was refused by Gen. Bell.

Marriage
His first wife was Delfina R. Herbosa (December 20, 1879 – March 10, 1900), daughter of Lucia Rizal who was the sister of Dr. Jose Rizal. He met Delfina in the Katipunan, and they married on February 9, 1898 when she was 19 years of age. They were together in various battles against the Spaniards. Delfina was known for being one of the three Filipina women who sewed the Philippine Flag commissioned by Emilio Aguinaldo while he was exiled in Hong Kong. Salvador and Delfina had a daughter named Paz. Unfortunately, their daughter died tragically less than two (2) years of age when an alcohol lamp accidentally fell on her.

His second wife was Herminia Alcantara Garchitorena. They had five children together: Aurora, Gloria, Soledad, Jose Salvador, Jr. and Josefina.

Post-War Life
Salvador Natividad settled in General Santos City in the 1930s with brothers Joaquin, Francisco and Pedro Manuel. He became a Haciendero and owned vast tracts of land.

Death
Gen. Jose Salvador Natividad died in 1954. He was buried in a cemetery in General Santos City, South Cotabato, Philippines.