The Bicol Region is not only rich in history but also with people that made history colorful and interesting. Among these is one man that stands out not just for his audacity, but for the sheer magnetism of his story — Valentin de los Santos, a Bicolano visionary and leader, embodied a unique blend of traits that made him a symbol of hope and resistance. Dubbed here as the “Bicolano F4,” Valentin’s life and legacy can be captured in four words: Fantastic, Fearless, Faithful, and Fierce.

Fantastic: A Vision Beyond the Ordinary

Valentin de los Santos was no ordinary man. Born in the scenic but impoverished pueblo of Gainza in Camarines Sur, he rose to prominence as the founder of the Lapiang Malaya (Freedom Movement) in the 1940s. What made him fantastic wasn’t just his ability to mobilize thousands of rural farmers and laborers, but his ability to weave a narrative that mixed Filipino spirituality with a revolutionary vision.

De los Santos claimed to communicate directly with Bathala, the supreme deity in Filipino mythology, as well as with national heroes like José Rizal. His followers believed he possessed supernatural powers—healing, invincibility, and a divine mandate to lead the Philippines into a golden age. While others might have dismissed his claims as mere theatrics, to the poor and oppressed, he represented the hope of something extraordinary.

Fearless: Challenging Giants

To understand Valentin’s fearlessness, you need only look at the risks he took in his fight for justice. In 1957, de los Santos made history as the first Bicolano to run for president, challenging the established political elite. Despite his limited resources and unconventional campaign, he stood tall against seasoned politicians. While his bid ended in defeat, it marked him as a leader who wasn’t afraid to aim high, even when the odds were stacked against him.

His defiance reached its peak in May 1967, during his direct confrontation with the regime of the would-be dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. With only bolos and faith, de los Santos led nearly 400 of his Lapiang Malaya followers to Malacañang to demand the ouster of Marcos. Despite knowing the risks, they believed their cause—and their amulets—would protect them. Tragically, the armed confrontation with the Philippine Constabulary left dozens dead, but it highlighted de los Santos’ bravery and determination to challenge tyranny head-on.

Faithful: Belief in Something Greater

Faith was the bedrock of Valentin de los Santos’ life and leadership. His spiritual beliefs were not just personal—they were political. He taught his followers to believe in divine justice and the power of faith to overcome even the most oppressive systems. Many of his supporters carried amulets, wore traditional garments, and followed rituals they believed would protect them in battle and bring about a better future.

But de los Santos’ faith wasn’t limited to the supernatural. He believed in the inherent goodness of the Filipino people, particularly the marginalized and downtrodden. He envisioned a society where justice and equality were not privileges but rights, and he spent his life fighting for that dream.

Fierce: The Warrior Spirit

Valentin de los Santos was as fierce as he was faithful. His fiery speeches and bold rhetoric inspired a movement that drew thousands of supporters. He didn’t shy away from conflict, whether it was taking on the Marcos administration or standing up to systemic inequality. His bolo-wielding followers weren’t just a symbolic force; they represented the collective anger and frustration of the rural poor who had long been ignored by the country’s leaders.

Even in his final days, de los Santos remained unyielding. After the bloody confrontation with the Philippine Constabulary, he was arrested and declared insane. Confined to a mental institution, he was tragically killed by another patient, but his fierce spirit lived on in the memory of those who shared his dream of freedom. (Conflicting accounts say, however, that the doctor attending to him declared pneumonia as a cause of death. But who would know the real story behind during the Marcos Sr. era?)

A Legacy Worth Remembering

Valentin de los Santos may not have succeeded in his quest to transform the Philippines, but his life story remains a testament to the resilience and courage of the Bicolano and even the Filipino spirit. Isn’t it that “basta Bicolano, Uragon”? As Alfred Celoza notes in Ferdinand Marcos and the Philippines: The Political Economy of Authoritarianism, the Lapiang Malaya movement reflected the desperation and determination of the rural poor. Bliss Cua Lim’s Translating Time further explores how de los Santos’ vision blended myth, faith, and politics, creating a narrative that still resonates today.

In some ways, his movement lives on. In 2008, a branch of the Lapiang Malaya celebrated his legacy with a “lechon festival,” a testament to how his memory endures in local traditions. Online resources like Watawat.net also continue to document his story, ensuring that his fierce and fearless spirit is not forgotten.

Why Valentin Matters Today

Valentin de los Santos wasn’t perfect. His methods were unconventional, his beliefs eccentric by modern standards, and his ultimate goals seemed almost utopian. But what made him remarkable was his refusal to give up not just on the Bicolano and Southern Luzon but also the Filipino people. He saw a nation burdened by inequality and injustice and decided to fight, no matter the cost.

As the “Bicolano F4,” Valentin de los Santos showed us that greatness comes in many forms. Whether it’s the fantastic vision of a better world, the fearless defiance of oppressive systems, the faithful belief in something greater, or the fierce determination to fight for what’s right, his story reminds us that change begins with a dream and the courage to pursue it.

—

Sources:

Celoza, A. (1997). Ferdinand Marcos and the Philippines: The Political Economy of Authoritarianism. Greenwood Publishing Group.

Cua Lim, B. (2009). Translating Time: Cinema, the Fantastic, and Temporal Critique. Duke University Press.

Taguinod, F. (2008). Lapiang Malaya branch holds ‘lechon festival’. GMA News Online. Retrieved from http://goo.gl/V8zzgb

Watawat.net. Lapiang Malaya. Retrieved from http://goo.gl/CayYO8

The Bizarre Life And Ugly Death of the Man Who Challenged Marcos. FilipiKnow.

• Current Events