On June 17, 1877, General Manuel Tinio was born in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija. Appointed in 1897 as general at the age of 20, he was among the youngest generals of the Philippine Revolution. Only General Anacleto Enriquez was appointed at a younger age (a difference of four months).
Distinguishing himself in many battles, including San Isidro, Aliaga, San Rafael, Tayug, Dagupan, and Bangar, among significant victories, Tinio earned the respect of both Filipinos and Americans alike. General Antonio Luna, among the Filipino commanders, had high regard for Tinio, so much so that he specially requested the Tinio Brigade to join his planned counterattack against the Americans at Caloocan (February 1899), during the opening weeks of the Filipino-American War. Instead, Luna was assigned the Kawit Battalion to relieve the beleaguered Pampanga troops.
Despite hailing from Nueva Ecija, the liberation of Ilocos was partly attributed to Tinio's efforts. By 1898, Tinio had developed good civil-military relations with the Ilocano leaders and built a 3,500-strong armed force. Not everyone, however, enjoyed Tinio's leadership. For one, Bishop Gregorio Aglipay operated independently of Tinio's command in Ilocos. Nonetheless, the Tinio Brigade would remain as one of the largest operating military units in the Philippines even after President Emilio Aguinaldo ordered the shift to guerrilla warfare by November 1899. At this time, the Americans estimated five Filipino armed groups that have maintained a force of 2,000 or more, which included Tinio's Brigade. Shortly after the shift to guerrilla warfare, in December 1899, Tinio faced at the Battle of Tangadan Pass American troops under General Samuel Young, who were among those assigned to pursue Aguinaldo.
Unlike General Gregorio del Pilar, who died with most of his troops at Tirad Pass in delaying the Americans, Tinio managed to inflict 8 American deaths, while suffering on his side 35 Filipino deaths. In retreating thereafter, Tinio was nonetheless successful in postponing the American advance further north. With only 87 of Young's 500 troops fit for duty after the Battle of Tangadan Pass, the American general had to wait for his reinforcements.
Throughout 1900, Tinio's forces dwindled to a fraction of its original strength, numbering around 1,000. Meanwhile, the American forces increased. Added to Tinio's problems would be the number of Filipinos in the northern provinces adhering to the United States.
Tinio would surrender to the United States by May 1901 with General Benito Natividad and some 350 Filipino troops. Out of admiration for Tinio's action, General Arthur MacArthur ordered the release of 1,000 Filipino prisoners for the occasion. After the war, Tinio would be one of the founders of the Nacionalista Party, and would serve as Nueva Ecija governor from 1907 to 1909. By 1913, he would be appointed as Director of Lands, the first Filipino to hold the said position. During his political career, Tinio would also be active in the independence missions to the United States. He died on February 22, 1924.
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