{{Short description|Filipino patriot (1848–1897)}} {{Infobox person | name = Román Bása | image = | imagesize = | birth_name = Román Bása y Esteban | birth_date = February 29, 1848 | birth_place = San Roque de Cavite<br>Captaincy General of the Philippines | death_date = {{Death date and age|1897|02|06|1848|2|29}} | death_place = Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines | death_cause = Execution by firing squad | other_names = | alma_mater = }}
'''Román Bása''' (February 29, 1848 – February 6, 1897) was a Filipino patriot who was the second ''Supremo'' or leader of the Katipunan, the secret society which sparked the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule in 1896.
==Personal life, education and career== Basa was born to Mariano Basa and Dorotea Esteban in San Roque, Cavite where he also completed his primary schooling.
He was an alumnus of Escuela Nautica de Manila, now known as the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Torib|first=Yashika F.|date=2019-10-09|title=PMMA prepares for 200th founding anniversary in 2020|url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/10/09/business/maritime-business/pmma-prepares-for-200th-founding-anniversary-in-2020/628516|access-date=2022-01-13|website=The Manila Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Torib|first=Yashika F.|date=2019-08-21|title=Ateneo student wins NCCA's Young Historian Award|url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/08/21/business/maritime-business/ateneo-student-wins-nccas-young-historian-award/603319|access-date=2022-01-13|website=The Manila Times|language=en}}</ref>
He was employed in the Comandancia de Marina in Manila as ''oficial segundo'', which is a senior position for a clerk.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Notes on the Katipunan in Manila, 1892-96 - Katipunan: Documents and Studies|url=http://www.kasaysayan-kkk.info/studies/notes-on-the-katipunan-in-manila-1892-96|access-date=2022-01-13|website=www.kasaysayan-kkk.info}}</ref>
He married Josefa Inocencio, the cousin of Maximo Inocencio (one of the thirteen martyrs of Cavite). They had two children: Cristina Luz and Lucio. After his death, his son Lucio would adopt the surname Torres.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=mp_basa-roman-e.pdf|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9c6mrxI4zoYRm9aSm1NNTRZcm8/view?resourcekey=0-A3dkWn7lqBwbmXGHiFekCQ&usp=embed_facebook|access-date=2022-01-13|website=Google Docs}}</ref>
==La Liga Filipina== Basa was a member of the La Liga Filipina and used the name Baesa Bata.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Table 1: Katipunan activists in Manila, 1892-96 - Katipunan: Documents and Studies|url=https://www.kasaysayan-kkk.info/studies/notes-on-the-katipunan-in-manila-1892-96/table-i-katipunan-activists-in-manila-1892-96|access-date=2022-01-13|website=www.kasaysayan-kkk.info}}</ref>
Basa would support Marcelo H. Del Pilar in secretly propagating the newspaper ''La Solidaridad''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marcelo H. del Pilar, icon of Philippine journalism |date=17 October 2016 |url=https://nationalpressclubphilippines.com/2016/10/17/marcelo-h-del-pilar-icon-of-philippine-journalism/ |access-date=2022-01-13 |language=en-US}}</ref> Copies of the newspaper and the novels of Jose Rizal, which were banned by the Spanish colonial government, would be sent from Hong Kong by Jose Ma. Basa, smuggled on ships that made weekly trips, and received in Manila by Roman Basa.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Doyo |first=Ma Ceres P. |date=2012-06-12 |title=Jose Ma. Basa: Hero-smuggler of Propaganda Movement |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/210649/jose-ma-basa-hero-smuggler-of-propaganda-movement |access-date=2022-01-14 |website=inquirer.net |language=en}}</ref>
==Katipunan== Basa and Ladislao Diwa lived in the same boarding house.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SWIKAQAAIAAJ |title=Filipinos in History |date=1989 |publisher=National Historical Institute |isbn=978-971-13-6037-5 |pages=102 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Diwa was then a law student at the University of Santo Tomas and would become one of the founders of the Katipunan. Diwa recruited Basa into the organization and on November 9, 1892, Basa was initiated into the secret society under the name ''Liwanag'' (Light).
In 1893, Basa worked with Diwa to organize Katipunan in their home province of Cavite.<ref name=":0" /> In the same year, Basa was elected the second Supremo, or president, of the Katipunan.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=The Founding of the Katipunan {{!}} Presidential Museum and Library |url=http://malacanang.gov.ph/4304-the-founding-of-the-katipunan/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120003342/http://malacanang.gov.ph/4304-the-founding-of-the-katipunan/ |archive-date=2021-01-20 |access-date=2022-01-14 |language=en-US}}</ref> He introduced some changes in its operations, particularly the formation of a women's auxiliary section.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Halili|first=Maria Christine N.|title=Philippine History|publisher=Rex Book Store (RBS)|year=2004|isbn=978-971-23-3934-9|location=Manila|pages=138|language=English}}</ref> He was in attendance during the "Katipunero" wedding ceremony of Andres Bonifacio and Gregoria de Jesus (this was either in 1892<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=2012-09-04|title=Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan|url=https://nhcp.gov.ph/andres-bonifacio-and-the-katipunan/|access-date=2022-01-13|website=National Historical Commission of the Philippines|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-04-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427031156/https://nhcp.gov.ph/andres-bonifacio-and-the-katipunan/|url-status=dead}}</ref> or 1893,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gregoria de Jesus – Bahay Nakpil-Bautista|url=https://bahaynakpil.org/gregoriadejesus/|access-date=2022-01-13|language=en-US}}</ref> the year differs depending on sources), and on that same evening De Jesus was admitted to the Katipunan.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=March 2, 2021|title=Andres Bonifacio Biographical notes Part II: 1892-1895|url=https://www.kasaysayan-kkk.info/andres-bonifacio-biographical-notes/part-ii-1892-1895|website=Katipunan: Documents and Studies}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 7, 2021|first=Justin|last=Umali |title=The Life and Times of Gregoria de Jesus, Mother of the Philippine Revolution|url=https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/gregoria-de-jesus-a2212-20210507-lfrm2|access-date=2022-01-13|website=Esquiremag.ph}}</ref> While he was a member of the Supreme council, Basa published the paper/leaflet "Kalayaan" wherein he enumerated the "Rights of Man", the principles that inspired the French Revolution.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Soliven De Guzman |first1=Sara |title=Opinion: A Portrait of the Filipino as a hero: In search of himself |url=https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2013/06/10/952162/portrait-filipino-hero-search-himself |website=Philstar Global |access-date=29 January 2024 |date=10 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=St. Clair |first1=Francis |title=The Katipunan: Or, The Rise and Fall of the Filipino Commune |date=1902 |location=Manila |isbn=9789711707231 |page=263 |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37587/37587-h/37587-h.htm |access-date=29 January 2024}}</ref>
Basa refused reelection in 1894 because of the following differences with Katipunan co-founder Andrés Bonifacio: (1) Bonifacio's handling of the Katipunan's funds; (2) Basa wanted to remove the rituals and ceremonies that accompany initiation to the society or elevation in rank; and (3) Basa's refusal to induct his son Lucio into the Katipunan. Lucio was only a nine-year-old boy at the time who sometimes acted as courier to the Katipunan. Bonifacio insisted on making Lucio a member as the Spaniards will not suspect a boy to be a spy. Basa would also refuse to follow Bonifacio's instructions that Katipunan members provide photographs.<ref name=":1" /> According to an account by Tomas Remigio, he and Basa were among Bonifacio's critics who were sentenced to death by the Katipunan Secret Chamber. The Katipunan did not carry out these death sentences. Basa was also mentioned as one of those supposedly removed or expelled by the Supreme Assembly from the Katipunan in a meeting held on Nov. 1895.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Supreme Assembly, Meeting held on November 30 and December 1, 1895, in Caloocan - Katipunan: Documents and Studies|url=https://www.kasaysayan-kkk.info/1892-1895/supreme-assembly-meeting-held-on-november-30-and-december-1-1895|access-date=2022-01-13|website=www.kasaysayan-kkk.info}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Roman Basa's tenure as Supremo differed depending on the source. Some accounts say he was replaced by Bonifacio in 1894,<ref name=":4" /> while others record that he was Supremo until 1895.<ref name=":0" />
The Katipunan was uncovered in July 1896, and Basa was arrested for sedition and treason in September 1896. Basa was also one of those suspected of being a member of the Masonry.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fernandez |first1=Samuel P. |title=Masons' Involvement in La Liga Filipinas |journal=The Cable Tow |date=31 October 2020 |volume=97 |issue=2 |page=65 |url=https://grandlodge.ph/sites/default/files/cabletow/Cabletow2020-2.pdf |access-date=29 January 2024}}</ref> After being convicted by a Spanish military court, he was executed by musketry on February 6, 1897, along with Apolonio de la Cruz, Teodoro Plata, Vicente Molina, Hermenegildo de los Reyes, José Trinidad, Pedro Nicodemus, Feliciano del Rosario, Gervasio Samson and Doroteo Domínguez.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-09-07|title=Events of February 1897|url=https://nhcp.gov.ph/events-of-february-1897/|access-date=2022-01-13|website=National Historical Commission of the Philippines|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-01-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113135045/https://nhcp.gov.ph/events-of-february-1897/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== * National Historical Institute, ''Filipinos in History'' 5 vols. (Manila: National Historical Institute, 1995) * {{Cite web|title=Martyrs & Patriots|url=https://nhcp.gov.ph/resource/filipinos-in-history/martyrs/|access-date=2022-01-13|website=National Historical Commission of the Philippines|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502224551/https://nhcp.gov.ph/resource/filipinos-in-history/martyrs/|url-status=dead}} * {{cite book |last1=Richardson |first1=Jim |title=Light of Liberty: Documents and Studies on the Katipunan, 1892-1897 |date=2013 |publisher=Ateneo de Manila University Press |location=Manila |isbn=9789715508520 |url=https://www.kasaysayan-kkk.info/home}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Basa, Roman}} Category:1848 births Category:1897 deaths Category:People of the Philippine Revolution Category:People from Cavite City Category:People who were court-martialed Category:People executed for treason against Spain Category:People executed by Spain by firing squad Category:People from the Spanish East Indies