MARIANO TRIAS Y CLOSAS was the first three politico-military governors of Cavite during the Philippine Revolution against Spain. He was holding this position when General Emilio Aguinaldo, a few weeks after the proclamation of Philippine independence in Kawit, appointed him as secretary of finance in his cabinet with head quarters in Bacoor.
Trias held the distinction of being the first civil governor of Cavite (1901-1905) during the American regime. It was during his term that he was designated member of the Philippine delegation to the St. Louis (Missouri) Exposition of 1904.
Born on October 12, 1868 (another source says 1869) in San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias), Trias was the fourth member of family of six children of Balbino Trias, a landowner, and Gabriela Closas. Balbino was a cabeza de barangay a nd later a justice of the peace during the Spanish regime. Aside from Mariano, the other children were Maximino, Pedro, Martina, Eugenia, and Felina.
A leading member of the Katipunan, Trias became the fiscal of the Magdiwang Council in San Francisco de Malabon. When the Council was reorganized under the leadership of Andres Bonifacio, the Haring Bayan(king), and Mariano Alvarez, Pangalawang Haring Bayan (Vice-King), Trias was designated minister of grace and justice.
Bonifacio and Trias were nominated for the presidency of the revolutionary government in the Tejeros Convention, but both were defeated by General Emilio Aguinaldo, who was elected in absentia. Nominated again for vice-president of the new government, Trias licked Bonifacio who was later elected director of the interior. When Bonifacio, after a heated argument with Daniel Tria Tirona, nullified the results of the convention, in his capacity as chairman, Trias decided to part ways with the Katipunan Supremo. Accordingly, Aguinaldo and Trias were sworn into office as president and vice-president, respectively, of the revolutionary government in a simple ceremony in the convent of Sta. Cruz de Malabon (now Tanza).
Trias was the founder of the Nacionalista Party chapter in Cavite. He supported the candidacy of Rafael Palma as assemblyman, representing the lone district of Cavite in 1907. In the general election of 1912, Trias was responsible for the election of Antero S. Soriano and Florentino Joya as governor and representative, respectively, of Cavite.
Trias died at the Philippine General Hospital on January (another source says February) 22, 1914. He left a widow, Maria Ferrer Trias, sister of the late Cavite Governor Luis Ferrer, Sr., and six children; namely, former Governor Rafael F. Trias, Sr., and Atty. Miguel F. Trias, Sr. (both deceased), Dr. Soledad T. Vda. De Sanchez, Clara T. Salvanera (deceased), Constancia T. Viniegra (deceased), and Gabriel F. Trias, Sr. The Filipino nation expressed its gratitude to General Trias, when the town of San Francisco de Malabon was renamed after him by virtue of Act. No. 2889.
[Source: (1) John R. M. Taylor, Philippine Insurrection Against the United States. Hereafter to be called Taylor,Philippines Insurrection. 5 vols. (Pasay City, Eugenio Lopez Foundation, 1971.) Vol. 3, Exh. 62, pp. 163-166; (2) E. A. Manuel, A Dictionary of Philippines Biography , Vol. 2; (3 ) Prominent Caviteños in PhilippinesHistory. Copyright by Esteban A. de Ocampo, 1941; (4) Ang Liwanag ng Cavite , August-September 1973; (5)Eminent Filipinos . (Manila, National Historical Commission, 1965); and (6) Leon S. del Rosario, “General Mariano Trias: Vice-President of the First Philippines Republic,” Philippines Free Press , June 12, 1965.
ANTERO S. SORIANO (1912 – 1919)