By Emil Justimbaste The Freeman, 1998
TO survive at Sudlon mountains, the
revolutionaries now led by Luis Flores and Arcadio Maxilom had to have food. At
first, the produce of the Tabal brothers, Jacinto Pacaña and Ciriaco Genia from
their farms were sufficient. But that would last only for two months. There had
to be other sources.
One source was the cedula. An imitation of the Spanish system, the katipunan cedula charged lesser. Possessing it meant that one was either a member or a sypampathizer. The task of collecting fees for the cedula was given to Anastacio Rama, having previously served as an employee of the public treasury.
Besides the cedula, sypathizers contributed cash, food, clothing and medicines. As the movement gained ground and turned against the Spaniards, the middle classes from the city also started contributing to the coffers of the katipunan. Philippine flag
Another element katipuneros felt they needed was the Philippine flag, the symbol of their nationhood. According to one source, Manila's KKK had spelled out the exact measurements and design of the flag in their regular letters to Cebu katipuneros.
Ambrocio Peña, known by the leaders as a secret
follower of the movement, was then ordered to produce it. He in turn contacted
three women - Mauricia Gahuman, Buena Ricardo and Justina Peña - to make the
flag. Weeks later, a courier from Punta Princesa delivered it to Sudlon where
it was raised near their headquarters.
Immediately after its arrival, some 300 katipuneros took their oath in front of it. All those who came to Sudlon would also take their oaths administered by Flores and other top officers. Those who could not come to Sudlon took the same oath before their officers, swearing their commitment to the struggle for independence.
Sudlon battles
One reason why the Spaniards could not penetrate Sudlon was its strategic location. Although no higher than 1,000 meters above sea level, it is located deep in the interior of the island, was forested and surrounded by steep gorges. Later attempts by the enemy troops to attack it failed because katipunan guerillas used the terrain to their advantage.
As soon as they arrived in the area, Flores immediately ordered work on its defense. Trenches were dug at strategic points, and piles of stones prepared to be rolled down in case of enemy attack. This was going to be tested soon.
On May 28, loyalists troops tried to climb the narrow passages guarded by the katipuneros led by Rafael Tabal at Bitlang hill. But the attackers could not reach the top of the before they were repulsed. Their guns were not of much use. Twelve loyalist soldiers were slain, while the katipuneros had nine casualties.
A few days later, the loyalists again planned to pass through another route at Ginkiutan hill. This time, the katipuneros were led by the Tuburan veteran Arcadio Maxilom. As in the first attack, the enemy troops were only frustrated. After this, Maxilom was promoted from captain to major.
In Talamban, Lorenzo Eje and Alejo Miñoza trapped the Spaniards in the forested areas, surrounded them and engaged them in a bloody hand-to-hand fighting with macheteros, outnumbering attackers. The Spanish cavalry retreated in disarray. One historian said about 70 loyalists lost their lives, while katipuneros had 10 wounded and six dead.
But in Liloan with the katipuneros under the command of Enrique Lorega, they were not as successful. They used the same tactics as in Talamban, using machetes and utilizing trees for hiding themselves. However, Spaniards learned their lesson. As a result, casualties were almost even on both sides. But the chief of the voluntarios of Liloan was slain, while one of their officers was captured.
Reversals
One source was the cedula. An imitation of the Spanish system, the katipunan cedula charged lesser. Possessing it meant that one was either a member or a sypampathizer. The task of collecting fees for the cedula was given to Anastacio Rama, having previously served as an employee of the public treasury.
Besides the cedula, sypathizers contributed cash, food, clothing and medicines. As the movement gained ground and turned against the Spaniards, the middle classes from the city also started contributing to the coffers of the katipunan. Philippine flag
Another element katipuneros felt they needed was the Philippine flag, the symbol of their nationhood. According to one source, Manila's KKK had spelled out the exact measurements and design of the flag in their regular letters to Cebu katipuneros.
Immediately after its arrival, some 300 katipuneros took their oath in front of it. All those who came to Sudlon would also take their oaths administered by Flores and other top officers. Those who could not come to Sudlon took the same oath before their officers, swearing their commitment to the struggle for independence.
Sudlon battles
One reason why the Spaniards could not penetrate Sudlon was its strategic location. Although no higher than 1,000 meters above sea level, it is located deep in the interior of the island, was forested and surrounded by steep gorges. Later attempts by the enemy troops to attack it failed because katipunan guerillas used the terrain to their advantage.
As soon as they arrived in the area, Flores immediately ordered work on its defense. Trenches were dug at strategic points, and piles of stones prepared to be rolled down in case of enemy attack. This was going to be tested soon.
On May 28, loyalists troops tried to climb the narrow passages guarded by the katipuneros led by Rafael Tabal at Bitlang hill. But the attackers could not reach the top of the before they were repulsed. Their guns were not of much use. Twelve loyalist soldiers were slain, while the katipuneros had nine casualties.
A few days later, the loyalists again planned to pass through another route at Ginkiutan hill. This time, the katipuneros were led by the Tuburan veteran Arcadio Maxilom. As in the first attack, the enemy troops were only frustrated. After this, Maxilom was promoted from captain to major.
In Talamban, Lorenzo Eje and Alejo Miñoza trapped the Spaniards in the forested areas, surrounded them and engaged them in a bloody hand-to-hand fighting with macheteros, outnumbering attackers. The Spanish cavalry retreated in disarray. One historian said about 70 loyalists lost their lives, while katipuneros had 10 wounded and six dead.
But in Liloan with the katipuneros under the command of Enrique Lorega, they were not as successful. They used the same tactics as in Talamban, using machetes and utilizing trees for hiding themselves. However, Spaniards learned their lesson. As a result, casualties were almost even on both sides. But the chief of the voluntarios of Liloan was slain, while one of their officers was captured.
Reversals
In El Pardo (presently Pardo), the katipuneros had long wanted to attack the cazadores stationed in the parish. One Sunday in September 1898, Rafael Tabal led a few katipuneros against the group, expecting them to be unprepared. A bloody encounter followed.
But Tabal was not aware of a another group of cazadores coming from Minglanilla who had heard of the shooting. With the latter coming in, the battle turned against Tabal and the katipuneros, resulting in several dead and wounded. Tabal himself was killed. In Bogo and San Fernando, the KKK also lost their battles in November 1898.
But the katipunero general who had a big impact on the tide of events was Arcadio Maxilom. Given a contingent of some 300 soldiers and having Brig. Gen. Hilario Aliño, Col. Fermin Aliño and Col. Emilio Verdeflor as his adjutants, he scoured the mountains of Cebu from Aug. 28 to Sept. 4, establishing bases and offering protection against lawless elements, promising swift justice in case they served as spies for the government. Residents who attempted to take advantage of the abnormal situation were warned.
With a solid guerilla front up in the hills, Maxilom was ready to take on the towns and the city of Cebu.
The tide turns
The Spaniards at this late in the year were now under pressure from several quarters. The entry of the United States at the height of the revolution in May 1898, coupled with Aguinaldo's return from Hongkong to resume the struggle, only made matters desperate for the Spaniards.
By August 13, 1898, the Spaniards surrendered Manila to the Americans even if its forces in the provinces outside the capital fell to the revolutionary forces one after another. Tayabas, the last one to surrender, fell to Miguel Malvar's troops on August 17.
Here in Cebu, preparations were under way for the eventual evacuation of the Spaniards. They had lost their will to fight, letting the voluntarios locales and cazadores do the fighting for them in the towns surrounding Cebu.
In Mandaue they tried to hold their ground, but the forces under Lorenzo Eje and Anastacio Engayo, who had established their base in Tigib, a mountainous area, was threatening to overwhelm them and, subsequently, the city.
By December 8, the two leaders decided to attack the poblacion. They were met by local volunteers led by Cesario Mendoza, the capitan municipal of Mandaue. The fight did not last long. The voluntarios were routed by the katipuneros. Seven of them were captured, brought to Sudlon and tried for treason under the military tribunal headed by Maxilom.
Earlier, in Talisay on the 10th of November, the katipuneros had occupied the town without firing a shot. The Spaniards and their muslim volunteers occupying the town decided not to fight against the overwhelming number of katipuneros under Maxilom.
Instead of meeting rifles pointed at them, the katipuneros were welcomed by a joyous population. It was only seven months earlier that a small band of katipuneros under the Aliño brothers had overwhelmed the guardia civil detachment in barrio San Isidro.
Preparing to leave
As early as October, the Spaniards in the city had "seen the writing on the wall." One of the first to leave were the Spanish priests under the Agustinian and Recollect orders. They left in October and November of that year.
Still not all the priests fled. Among those left behind was Bishop Martin Alcocer who tried to brook the relationship between the revolutionary forces and the Spanish troops. When Maxilom started to occupy El Pardo, some residents who had heard all sorts of stories about the katipuneros pleaded with Alcocer to intercede with the revoltuionaries. They knew the presidente of the provisional revolutionary government Luis Flores was once a protege of Alcocer.
Here Alcocer tapped the services of Manuel Velez, a scion of the respected Velez family of Cebu. His arrival in Sudlon was eyed with suspicion. So they had him hostage in Sudlon while Maxilom and Flores sent a delegation to Cebu to confirm the situation. They released Velez when they learned the truth about the situation in Cebu.
In the meantime, the Spaniards had began their strategic retreat from the towns. Detachments in the towns of Barili and Carcar were disbanded and recalled. Voluntarios from San Nicolas were withdrawn to the Recoleto barracks.
Then sometime in December, the guardia civil and local volunteers were disarmed, leaving only the muslims and the soldiers of the 73rd regiment with arms.
Katipunan occupation of Cebu
Also that December, Flores called for a conference in Sudlon regarding the plans to establish revolutionary governments in the different towns, following directives from Aguinaldo. The report was received with enthusiasm. They would begin at once.
As for the Spaniards at the fort, some katipuneros wanted to besiege them if not for cooler heads who prevailed. More blood-letting was not necessary, they were told.
First to be organized was the Mabolo-Talamban government in Mabolo. Stories earlier circulated by the loyalists had created an atmosphere of fear among residents, because when the katipuneros arrived, the town of Mabolo was empty. They discovered that the residents had gone out to sea in their bancas, including capitan municipal Ceferino Borces. They were persuaded to come to shore only after their leaders were convinced of the sincerity of the katipuneros.
That very day, an election of officers were held after they were told of the directive of Aguinaldo. Elected presidente municipal (town mayor) was Celedonio Mina, an ex-capitan. Short acceptance speehes followed, then the residents were instructed how to defend themselves in case of an attack by the Spaniards. A platoon of katipuneros was left to defend Mabolo.
On December 16, about 50 soldiers under Col. Ravago threatened to attack Mabolo. Eje and Engayo took up positions at the bridge, ready to fight. But the loyalist officers instead came across the bridge and talked peace with Eje and Engayo. Bothtold the Spaniards that the katipuneros will fight back if attacked and that they had enough men and firepower to defend themselves.
After the organization of Mabolo government came Mandaue. Election was also held there. Practically the same persons who held the former town council under the Spanish regime were elected, except that the names of their positions had changed.
The next followed Consolacion, Liloan and Opon. Cordoba likewise organized its own junta popular. From Dec. 18 to 23, Emilio Verdeflor starting organizing the town juntas of Toledo, Balamban, Asturias and Tuburan. All these took place while the Spaniards were still holed up in the city.
While Eje and Engayo were organizing municipal juntas in the north of the city, Maxilom and his army of revolutionaries from Sudlon were preparing to occupy El Pardo in the south. It was a large force with the contigents under Eugenio Gines, Alejo Miñoza and Nicolas Godines under the overall leadership of Maxilom. Their mission: to force the spaniards to surrender El Pardo. If they refused, they would take the town by force.
Fortunately, the Spaniards saw no reason to defend El Pardo. The negotiations to end the Philippine-American war had started, and the Treaty of Paris annexing the Philippines to the US had been signed in Dec 10, 1898, although no formal order was received yet. So Montero ordered a retreat to the Recoleto barracks in the city. As in Talisay earlier, the katipuneros entered El PArdo without firing a shot.
The revolutionaries then occupied the church and convent, raising the Philippine flag there in simple but memorable rites.
After that, Flores appointed Maxilom as "gobernador interno" of Cebu province for as long as the Spanish government was still in the city. Two days later, KKK military officers and the junta popular confirmed Maxilom's appointment and also named him as general-in-chief of the city. El Pardo was designated the temporary capital of the province.
That very day, Maxilom sent a formal communication to the Spanish government and and other foreign consuls that a revolutionary government was installed in Cebu with its center in Pardo. Maxilom also demanded that the Spaniards surrender.
The Spaniards hastily answered Maxilom's letter, asking that they be given two to three days because they would be leaving the province soon.
Spaniards leave
By the morning of December 24, most of the Spaniards were ready to leave. A company of government soldiers stationed themselves at the plaza as some pro-spanish Cebuanos also stood nearby. At sound of trumpet, the Spanish flag was lowered. Spanish officers nearby tore the flag into pieces in their anger and frustration. Some Spanish and Cebuano women cried because it was their last moment in Cebu.
By mid-morning, Spanish soldiers and civilians and Filipio loyalist soldiers started boarding the boats with their belongings. With them were the muslim volunteers. By noon, Montero also boarded boat and the ships were soon on their way to Zamboanga.
Christmas in 1898
The day before, the last batch of prisoners were released, including Pedro Cui, Julio Llorente, Pascual Antonio, Alejandro Valle, Florencio Camara and Isidro Guibelondo. Cebuanos flocked to fort and for the first time in their lives examined the dreaded prison cells.
By December 29, a thanksgiving mass was held at the Cebu cathedral officiated by Bishop Martin Alcocer, with the martial band of San Nicolas of which Justo Cabajar was a member. The cathedral overflowed with people. Joyous shouts of"Mabuhi ang katipunan!" and "Mabuhi ang Pilipinas!" broke intermittently with harmless shots from their rifles. At the end of the mass, the Te Deum was intoned in thanksgiving.
Priests, former government officials and employees, members of the Cebu's elite and heads of foreign business houses all came to greet Maxilom and Flores and the other leaders. They were now recognized as the new leaders.
Little did the lower-class katipuneros suspect that political power, which had eluded them for hundreds of years, would soon be seized from them by the local elite in legal maneuvers. All they wanted at that moment in their lives was to cherish the new-found freedom and independence from Spanish colonial yoke.
In a letter addressed to the new revolutionary government, Apolinario Mabini enjoined them to "pevent and repel all foreign invasion at whatever sacrifices." It was a portent of things to come. Cebu would enjoy at most two months of self-government before some of its leaders surrendered their sovereignty to the Americans in February 1899.
###
No comments:
Post a Comment