6. Leon Kilat and Cebu revolution – Massing of Forces

6.  Leon Kilat and Cebu revolution – Massing of Forces

By Emil Justimbaste The Freeman, 1998

THREE o'clock in the afternoon of April 3, 1898 was an exciting moment in Cebu's history. Whatever would be the outcome of that would decide the fate of Cebuanos in the next century. 

But there were other events outside Cebu that were beyond the control of the protagonists here. Spain had entered into another war with the United States, and this was sapping her energies and resources. Unknown to the katipuneros in Cebu, the ships of the American Admiral Dewey were now patrolling Manila bay, threatening Spain's once-invincible armada. 

Still that did not deter the Spaniards here from holding on to their colony. This they did with a fierceness of a cornered dog, ready to bite back when provoked. 

But it was a different story for the civilian Spaniards, the aliens, the pro-Spanish Cebuanos and the non-aligned ones. They began to leave their homes, carrying their belongings with them to Fort San Pedro, the only place safe enough for them. 

Others went to the government house near the fort, the bishop's palace, the seminario de San Carlos, the Colegio de la Immaculada Concepcion (at its old site near the cathedral) and the offices of foreign business firms. 

At the fort, Gen.Adolfo Montero tried to calm down the evacuees, telling them that the insurrectos would soon be crushed with the might of the Spanish arms. It would be foolish for the 'indios' to fight, he said confidently.

The turmoil among the Spaniards did not pass unnoticed. On their part, the katipuneros started to mobilize their own forces. According to one source, after the group decided on the 3:00 o'clock uprising, Leon Kilat rode a flecha (a horse-driven cart) owned by Simplicio "Titoy" Salcedo around San Nicolas, informing katipuneros of their final decision. 

He rode towards Labangon, shouting the first names of katipuneros in the street and announcing that they should proceed to a place near the San Nicolas cemetery along Guadalupe river. From Labangon, he proceeded to Carlock, pasing through Paseo de Labangon (now Tres de Abril) until Tisa, turning at Punta Princesa, then to Basak and back to the house of Paulina Padilla (Ulinday), sister of Fr. Toribio Padilla, where he ate his lunch. It was one of the houses where Leon Kilat lived. 

In response, the men who were called to the uprising immediately put on their clothes, without telling their wives, families, parents, not knowing where the movement was taking them. 

At Paulina's house, Leon Kilat urged the women gathered to go inside and pray the rosary, leading the prayer himself. He finished it until the Litany. After the prayer, the women could not control themselves and started to wail (nagdanguynguy), while one of them fainted. Kilat had to tell them to shut up, chiding them and saying their actuations would only cause their defeat. 

At that moment, a group of guardia civil passed by the house. Afraid that the troops would hear the women crying, he threatened to lunge at the enemy from the window if they did not stop wailing. They stopped when he made motions to open the windows. 

Apparently, the loyalist soldiers were on their way to Talisay to reinforce the guardia civiles who were ambushed the night before. The other katipuneros with Kilat were Andres Abellana, Leon Cabase, Floro Echevarre and others. The men wanted to attack the troops but Kilat prevailed upon them and told them to wait for a more opportune moment. The two groups, Barangays 1 and 2, still had to meet at the designated place near the Guadalupe river. 

Other katipuneros soon joined Kilat on the way to their assembly point: the Padillas (Gavino, Especioso,and Gregorio), Estanislao Sarion, Doroteo Bacayo, Gregorio Abellana, Leon Cabase, Agustin Ylaya, Pascual Ybuna, the Cabarrubias (Catalino and Miguel), the Calinawans (Brigido and Severo), Lucas Abellana, and others. 

At corner of Rosalia (now Carlock) and Mindanao (now B. Aranas) streets, the group was joined by Isabelo Zabate, Julian and Teodoro Villona, Eulogio and Eleuterio Abellana, Anacleto and Francisco Cavan, and some others. The group was swelling. 

In the meantime, Barangay 1 under Luis Flores passed by Catalona St. towards Guadalupe road (now V. Rama ave.) until both Barangays would finally meet under the mango trees near the San Nicolas cemetery in Calamba. 

At this point, the two group leaders agreed on their respective plans of action against the Spaniards. Final instructions were given. Barangay 1 under Flores was to assault San Pedro and to free all its prisoners, while Barangay 2 would attack the Spanish troops in city and San Nicolas. Eugenio Gines would gather Katipuneros from the northern parts of the city and join the bigger group. 

Another group lead by Machacon was also gathered at Paulino Solon's intusan (sugar mill) in Sambag (near the present Urgello). They had no guns, but had bolos, spears and knives. They were in high spirits, confident that the habak and anting-anting given by Leon Kilat would protect them from the Spanish guns. They crossed the Guadalupe river and started marching eastward towards San Nicolas poblacion, following the present V. Rama Ave. They would also join the bigger group massed at the cemetery. Their number had now swelled to an estimated 2,500. 

In the meantime, the parish priest of San Nicolas, Fray Pedro Medina, informed Gen. Montero that the residents of San Nicolas were moving towards Guadalupe. Then more detailed reports came from Santiago Ferraris and Luciano Bacayo, both from San Nicolas. They confirmed that a big gathering of San Nicolas residents were in the cemetery in Calamba. Apparently, the two were also recruited into the katipunan but for reasons of their own betrayed it. Montero was mad and threatened the two with death if a revolt erupted in area. 

Gen. Montero lost no time and ordered Capt. Joaquin Monfort and Capt. Ciriaco Gutierrez to lead a mixed company of soldiers - guardia civiles, carabineros, cuadrilleros, violuntarios and vigilantes of the ayuntamiento. To assist the captain were Sgt. Cueto, Sgt. Pedro Pedro Royo and Cpl. Fidel Moas. 

Among the Cebuano violunteers were Jose Atillano, Eduardo Lopez, Manuel Maldonado, Arsenio Climaco, Apolinar Kabilbil. Godofredo Lago, Simeon Padriga, Pedro Sanson, Juan Borres, Raymundo Enriquez (father of Manuel Enriquez de la Calzada). They were instructed by Montero to proceed to the area and find out what the people were gathering for.