The Katipunan in Cebu
Kardo
One hundred years ago on April 3rd at 2 p.m., Cebuano blood was shed for
independence. Under Leon Kilat’s leadership, the Katipuneros armed with
bolos, clashed against the Mauser-wielding loyalist soldiers commanded
by Captain Joaquin Monfort at the intersection of General Weyler Street
(now called Tres de Abril St.) and Guadalupe Road (now V. Rama Avenue).
The first column open fired, reloaded (Mausers had a five shot
capacity), while the second column fired. But before the first column
could effectively fire again, the Katipuneros rushed at them and a
vicious hand-to-hand combat followed. Since, the revolutionaries were
more proficient in this type of combat, the loyalist soldiers retreated,
as the nationalist forces (by now have captured some rifles) chased
after them.
Fighting spread to other towns. By December 24, the Spaniards and
pro-Spanish Cebuanos evacuated Cebu for Zamboanga. The following day was
the most memorable Christmas in Cebu history when the Philippine flag
was raised for the first time over Fort San Pedro.
ORIGINS OF THE CEBU KATIPUNAN
Although Emilio Aguinaldo left for Hongkong on Dec. 27, 1897 as agreed
in the Pact of Biak-na-bato, many nationalist leaders disagreed with the
truce and decided to carry on the fight.
Anastacio Oclarino founded the Cebu Katipunan in late 1897. Oclarino
was born in Santa Cruz, Laguna in 1866. He worked as a steamship engine
man when he joined the Katipunan in 1897. Later that year he was
ordered to form the Katipunan’s Cebu Chapter by Gil Domingo and
Hermogenes Plata.
By March 1898, the Spaniards in Cebu City and San Nicolas heard rumors
of secret meetings. The Spanish authorities started arresting
suspected subversives. On late March 1898, Manila KKK leaders sent Leon
Kilat to lead the Cebuano nationalists in a revolt.
LEON KILAT
Today, Cebuanos still tell legends of Leon Kilat’s extraordinary
exploits. Cebu City has a street named in his honor. He has a statue
in his birthplace of Bacong, Negros Oriental and his monument stands in
Carcar, Cebu.
Born Pantaleon Villegas, on July 27, 1873, he was orphaned at an early
age and only received primary-level education due to financial hardship.
He lived in Cebu from 1895 until the middle of 1896 when he relocated to
Manila and joined the Katipunan and took the nom de guerre “Leon Kilat.”
The nationalists gained control of Cebu City and San Nicolas that April
3 evening - a Palm Sunday. However, reinforcements came from other
parts of the country and the loyalist soldiers recaptured Cebu City on
Holy Thursday. The nationalists retreated to Carcar, a town under the
Katipunan’s control. Fearing retribution, Carcar residents - the
“principalia” in particular - began to doubt siding with the
revolutionaries. At about 3 a.m. on Good Friday, Leon Kilat and other
revolutionary leaders were murdered while asleep, as ordered by the town
council.
NATIONALISTS RECAPTURE CEBU
The Spaniards and the pro-Spanish Cebuanos thought the death of Leon
Kilat and the dispersion of the nationalist leaders meant the demise of
the Katipunan - they were sadly mistaken. Cebu KKK President Luis Flores
regrouped with his leaders in the town of Sudlon on the second week of
May, and continued the struggle. Armed conflicts flared all over Cebu -
in Balamban, Argao, Barili, Toledo, Asturias, Minglanilla, Mandaue,
Bogo, and many other towns.
Emilio Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines on May 19, 1898. On Aug.,
13, the Spaniards surrendered Manila to the Americans, while the Tagalog
provinces fell to the Filipino troops. By Sept. 1898, virtually all of
Luzon (except Baler) was freed from Spanish rule. Upon hearing news of
Spanish defeats in Luzon, Cebuanos who were “fence sitters” or hostile
to the nationalists now had their overwhelming support.
From Sudlon, Katipunan General Arcadio Maxilom took the towns of Talisay
on Nov. 10 and El Pardo on Dec. 10 . On Dec. 20, Maxilom demanded from
the Spaniards the surrender of Cebu City. On midmorning of Dec. 24,
Spanish and loyalist soldiers started to board the boats for Zamboanga.
On Dec. 30, 1898, the election was held for Provincial Junta in
accordance to Emilio Aguinaldo’s decrees on town and provincial
reorganization.
__________________
Source: Dionisio A. Sy, “A Short History of Cebu 1500s - 1890s and The
Anti-Spanish Revolution in Cebu,” Batahalad Inc., 1996.
Centurion 5
You go Kardo, most excellent excerpt ...Now where in MM can
I find Sy's 'werks (i.e. Beserkeley prices) : )
- Dominic
( having more fun than any Pinoy deserves )
Kardo (kard...@hotmail.com) wrote:
: One hundred years ago on April 3rd at 2 p.m., Cebuano blood was shed for