Martín Delgado was born on November 11, 1858, in Santa Barbara, Iloilo, Philippines to a rich and aristocratic Spanish mestizo family.

On 24 December 1898, the Spanish forces under the command of General Diego de los Ríos evacuated Iloilo[1]: 511  and the Filipino flag was raised on Christmas Day.

As the military governor of the province and General-in-Chief of the army, he challenged the American forces led by General Hughes using guerrilla tactics.

Eventually, leading citizens of Iloilo wrote a circular urging General Delgado to surrender for the benefit of "the victims of useless resistance.

In 2019, an equestrian statue of Delgado, made by Spanish Sculptor Ginés Serrán-Pagán, was also erected in front of the Casa de Emperador at the Iloílo Business Park.