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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-18/edilberto-evangelista.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Edilberto Evangelista"  />
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(General Edilberto Evangelista)
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In 1890 he went to Madrid, where he met and befriended many Filipino patriots, including <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1190/today-in-philippine-history-june-19-1861-dr-jose-p-rizal-was-born-in-calamba-laguna" class="news_link">Jose Rizal</a>, who advised him to study engineering in Belgium. He therefore enrolled at the University of Ghent, one of the world's top engineering schools, and finished civil engineering and architecture with highest honors. He then received profitable offers of employment from several institutions in Europe but he declined because of his desire to serve his country.
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He returned to the Philippines in September 1896, shortly after the start of the Philippine Revolution. He was arrested and imprisoned, since the Spanish authorities suspected many people of the revolution, he had in his possession Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, but he escaped prison and joined General <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1028/today-in-philippine-history-march-22-1869-emilio-aguinaldo-was-born-in-kawit-cavite" class="news_link">Emilio Aguinaldo</a>'s command on October 22, 1896. 
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At the Imus Assembly on December 31, 1896, Evangelista submitted his draft of a constitution as requested by both Magdalo and Magdiwang factions of the Katipunan. He was elected Lieutenant General in the said meeting in the ranks of <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1648/a-biographical-sketch-of-vibora" class="news_link">Artemio Ricarte</a>. 
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Aguinaldo later utilized General Evangelista's engineering skills. He planned and built forts and barricades in Bacoor, Binakayan, Cavite Viejo, Munting-ilog, Silang, Dasmariñas, Imus, Salitran, Lumang-bayan, and Noveleta, to serve as protection against Spanish forces. One Spanish official commented that the fortifications were the "fortifications of the future." 
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Evangelista was part of the Magdalo government, serving as assistant overall captain general to Aguinaldo. Though in the actual sense, he was neutral in the Magdalo-Magdiwang feud.
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February 24, 1862: Edilberto Evangelista, a Civil Engineer and a revolutionary general was born in Sta. Cruz, Manila