Antecedents
Relova was born in Pila, Laguna to parents Don Feliciano Díaz Relova and Doña Concepción Díaz. Feliciano, God-fearing and industrious, was a three-term Capitan Municipal of Pila in 1875–1876, 1885–1888 and 1895–1898. Feliciano and Concepción had nine children, namely eldest Ruperto, Paz, Socorro (who died a young maiden), Regino, Iñigo, Santiago (great grandfather of Lia Relova Price), Arcadio (great grandfather ofInitial involvement in the Katipunan
Regino Relova was already set up for life as a haciendero with the vast rice and coconut landholdings that formed the massive wealth of the Relova clan in Laguna at that time. But he longed for an exciting life as, according to local town historian Dr. Benjamin Ruiz, he inherited the adventurous spirit of Alejandro that could have led him to a life as a Katipunero. As the revolution broke out in August 1896, Laguna was one of the first eight provinces to rise against the Spaniards’ oppressive rule. Although Laguna had that distinction, the municipal governments and the principalia in the province were generally reluctant to fully support the revolution. Feliciano, who felt the Filipinos were not yet ready, tried to prevent son Regino Diaz Relova from actively taking part in it. Then Feliciano brought his son to their relative Kapitan Penalosa in Lucban and were advised, after week's stay, to seek an audience with Marquéz de Solier, the Gobernador Provincial in Santa Cruz, Laguna so as not to be placed under suspicion of being Katipuneros. The Relovas and other Pila officials went to Santa Cruz on November 23, 1896, but were immediately arrested and jailed for nine days. They were incarcerated as a certain Quisumbing from Los Baños tagged them as insurrectos who fed the revolutionaries and added that bullets were being made in the house of Juan Bartolomé. The younger Relova's arms were tied behind his back to a long piece of bamboo that he could neither sit nor stand inside the small cell. He would, in his later years, joke about the incident, playfully singing that “hindi siya makaupo at hindi siya makatayo” to his children and grandchildren. A Spanish official by the name of Lt. Dagoberto del Río, who was acquainted with the Relova family as he often attended Pila's parties and even courted a girl there, released them. Another account said that they were released 'at the behest of the mayors of Luisiana, Majayjay, and Lucban who claimed that the suspects were passing through their towns at the time in question in order to report to the alcalde mayor of Tayabas since Santa Cruz was then in disarray.' However, the mayor of Luisiana and his secretary, who had vouched for them, were themselves eventually arrested as traitors, imprisoned and executed by a firing squad.Spaniard writes about Relova
Relova seems to have gone back to private life after that incident. In the military journal “A Spaniard in Aguinaldo’s Army” by Telesforo Pérez Carrasco (as translated by Nick Joaquin), Carrasco wrote “...From the port of Pasacao in November 1897, I sailed for Manila with my family aboard the steamer Saturnus. We rested in Manila three days and then went aboard again, this time on one of the little steamers that daily sail to the province of Laguna. In this province I presented myself to my new captain, who, after granting me some days of rest, found it convenient to assign me to the post of Pila. This town is located a league more or less from the capital. It is a rich town and its folk are addicted to all kinds of diversion. My predecessors at the post had been rather strict with the townspeople, not permitting dances and other frolics to last later than ten ‘o’clock at night. One day the son of the municipal captain came to quarters to see me. His name was Regino Relova. He invited me to a dance they proposed to hold that night. I excused myself from attending it. Then he said they would be infinitely grateful if I permitted the dance to last until eleven o’ clock or midnight. I told them they could dance all night if they wished to since I had no orders to the contrary on the matter. He was very pleased with my answer and he related what had been happening under my predecessors. My policy made me popular with all the unmarried young men and women in town and there was no fiesta that I did not attend. In mid-January 1898, my relief arrived along with the communication confirming my release from the corps and my assignment to the said battalion. I took leave of all my friends and on departing from town what was my surprise to find many of these friends on horseback, ready to accompany me to the town of Santa Cruz. We all rode to that capital and after presenting myself to the district commander and the captain of the line I stepped out to rejoin my friends. To express the gratitude and affection they professed to owe me they had ordered a succulent meal at the establishment of a Spaniard. After the meal, which, I repeat was succulent and did not lack even champagne, a moving scene unfolded. On bidding farewell to my friends, I was embraced first of all by my friend Regino, who forthwith began to cry like a child, whereupon all the others likewise burst into tears. I therefore hid them in one of the interior rooms so that none might see them. The Spanish owner of the establishment inquired the reason for the lamentation and I replied that it was on account of my being separated from them. He said he was acquainted with the various of my friends and knew them to be distinguished persons and of fine sensibilities. As soon as they had calmed down, I allowed them to step out but I did not even give them my hand for fear they would start wailing again and would get me crying too-as had happened before! Never can I forget the town of Pila and my beloved friends there!" In May 1898, Carrasco eventually surrendered and also served under the Philippine Revolutionary Army and, while campaigning in the North, met GeneralThe Philippine–American War
GeneralRelova after the war
Following the Philippine–American War, Relova was needed anew to fight another war, this time the cholera outbreak in 1902–1904. He was put in charge of two barrios in his native Pila. "All dealings with people such as explaining health measures, reporting cases, and arranging burials were made through men like him."(Ileto in Arnold, 1988) Unlike General Cailles who became governor of Laguna, Relova spent his time managing his large rice and coconut holdings in Pila and nearby Victoria, Laguna (which was separated from Pila in 1946) as his brother Arcadio took the political reins for the clan. Andres de la Cruz, who was farmer of the year in 1968, said Relova was a highly disciplined person, well-respected by the tenants of his various farms and had palabra de honor (word of honor). Except for Delfín, most of his children were born after the Philippine–American War. They are Rosario "Charing" Bartolomé-Relova (1903) Loreto “Etong” Bartolomé Relova (1907); Socorro "Coring" Bartolomé-Relova (1911); Federico "Pito" Bartolomé Relova (1914); Regino Manuel "Meneng" Ernesto Bartolomé-Relova, Jr. (1916); and Gonzalo "Celeng" Bartolomé-Relova (1922). Regino, according to grandson Regino Relova Hernández, spoke fluent Spanish although not much is known about his schooling. He also added that Relova's favorite food were tinolang manok, puchero, sinigang na baboy and sinabawang kibal. Relova became blind in his later years due to a horseriding accident in Barangay San Francisco in Victoria, Laguna, where his farm was located. To exercise, he and a companion would walk from his house in Pila to Balite (in Victoria) and take the LTB bus back home. Although blind, he often climbed the attic of his house where he kept all sorts of things. He died of natural causes at the age of 86 on June 18, 1961, after his wife Teodula and daughter Socorro died on February 18, 1960, and October 11, 1960, respectively.Other prominent Relovas
* Lorenzo “Inching” Rivera Relova (Associate Justice of the Supreme Court) * Loreto Bartolome Relova, Miss Laguna and entry for the Miss Philippines search of the 1926References
* Philippine Insurgent Records, 712.7, B62, 625.3 * Mayors of Pila, Laguna, 1801–1900, n. d. * Annual report of Major General Arthur MacArthur, U.S. Army, commanding, Division of the Philippines, Military Governor in the Philippine Islands, 1901. * Ruiz, Dr. Benjamin. Ang angkang Relova at bayan ng Pila, Laguna. 1969 Relova Reunion souvenir program, 1969. * Taylor, John. Philippine Insurrection against the United States, Pasay, 1971. * Gotiangco, Gil. “Laguna 1571–1902: The Making of a Revolutionary Milieu” M.A. Thesis: University of the Philippines, 1980, pp. 188–189. * Gleeck, Lewis, Jr. Laguna in American Times: Coconuts and Revolucionarios, Manila, Historical Conservation Society, 1981, pp. 1–12. * Carrasco y Perez, Telesforo (translated by Nick Joaquin). A Spaniard in Aguinaldo's Army: the military journal of Telesforo Carrasco y Perez, Metro Manila, Solar Publishing Corp., 1986, pp-33-34. * Santiago, Luciano PR. The Roots of Pila, Laguna: A Secular and Spiritual History of The Town (900 AD to the present), Philippine Quarterly of Culture and Society, Vol.25, No. 3/4, Special Issue: Local Histories (September/December 1997), University of San Carlos Publications, pp. 125–155. * Boncocan-Alvero, Rhina and Diestro, Dwight David. Nineteenth century conditions and the revolution in the province of Laguna, Quezon City, University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies, 2002. * Interview with Regino Relova's grandson Regino Relova Hernandez through e-mail by Juanito Hernandez III, March 8, 2014. * Geni.com website, April 10, 2014, http://www.geni.com/people/Regino-Ino-Relova/1378023 * http://manilacarnivals.blogspot.com/2010/10/137-carnival-beauties-loreto-b-relova.html * Ileto, R. (1988) Cholera and the origins of American sanitary order in the Philippines. In David Arnold (Ed), Imperial medicine and indigenous societies (pp 125–148). Manchester and New York. St. Martin's Press. {{DEFAULTSORT:Relova, Regino Filipino people of Chinese descent 1874 births 1961 deaths 20th-century Filipino military personnel People of the Philippine–American War People from Laguna (province)