Juan Ponce Sumuroy

Agustin Sumuroy was a Waray leader of the Sumoroy Rebellion, a rebellion of native Filipinos against colonial Spanish forces that occurred in eastern Visayas in 1649-1650.

Juan Ponce Sumuroy is referred to my many as the Waray hero of the Palapag rebellion during the Spanish time around 1649 to 1650.

There was actually no Juan Ponce Sumuroy in the Palapag rebellion nor Agustin Sumuroy. Sumuroy has no last name or middle name. His name was simply Sumuroy. Most early Filipinos prefer to use NO last and/or middle names until 1849 during the time of Governor General Claveria. Claveria a Spanish Governor General of the Philippines decreed that use of lastnames was to became mandatory.

There are 3 main personalities in the said uprising. Don Juan Ponce (he used lastname, his firstname is Spanish), the leader of the group, Don Pedro Caamug (he used lastname), the second leader and the third leader a person they only called Sumuroy (he used no lastname, his name is also not Spanish sounding).

During the height of the insurrection, Don Juan Ponce went hiding in Cebu for a long time. When a general pardon was issued, Ponce returned to Palapag only to commit another crimes. He was sent and tried and hung in Manila.

Don Pedro Caamug gave up to the authorities and became loyal to the Spanish authorities.

Sumuroy did not make peace with the Spaniards. He was killed by his own men. His head separated from his body, was presented to the to Don Genis de Rojas by one of his men.