#philippinerevolution

[omniatlas]

Asia Pacific 122 years ago today: Philippine Revolution (13 Feb 1897) https://buff.ly/2RYCXoc Over the 19th century, increasing access to the outside world had led to the growth of revolutionary movements in the Philippines, challenging Spain’s 330-year rule over the islands. On 24 August 1896, the nationalist Katipunan organization declared an independent Tagalog state, sparking the Philippine Revolution. #asiapacific #history #welovemaps #map #1890s #1897 #philippinerevolution #philippinehistory #chinesehistory #february #february13 #japanesehistory #spanishempire #philippines #tagalog #spanishhistory #revolution #maps #19thcentury #victorianera #victorian #todayinhistory #historytoday #historyteacher #historygeek #historynerd #historybuff #worldhistory #asianhistory #southeastasia (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/Btz7U38gZh4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1mv97pa539gfv

[termsoflife]

National Heroes' Day Filipinos celebrate and honor the known and unknown heroes of the Philippine Revolution.

[brdnjulia]

THE MISTS OF TIME

-a short story by Julia Mae O. Berdon

It’s that time of the year again. Streets will be filled with people of different ages; laughter and joy of the people savouring the moment, lights will be lit up so bright to the point where you can see every corner of the streets and the usual festival activities are going to happen, which by the way last for several days. But the one thing that I always look forward to is the much-awaited highlight of the festival – the play; there I get to see Macario Sakay. Yes him, the one who has spent his youth as a barber and a tailor and now the very famous stage actor. Then a couple of moments later my companion arrived, “Kaibigan, nandito na siya!” he says. Funny to hear about that because I was just thinking about him, what a coincidence! With that, we scurried down the dusty streets not wanting to miss any single part of the play.

I see him from afar. He still has the same features. His rugged looks and his signature long hair has always been there, which by the way at some point have also made me want to grow out my hair too. But hence, I still admire him for he’s a great man and you can say I have been also a great follower of him too. I’ve always thought about being like him someday, and that thought has always crossed my mind. Transferring from one town to another, doing these plays and witnessing how people lit up their faces. I have always wanted to be like that, where I feel like I have a purpose and I can sense the people’s appreciation and applause.

Going back to the moment of where we are right now, there were marches, loud martial music, battle formations, lively choreography and stylized steps, colourful costumes, and clashes between Christians and Moros – to be concise, the moro-moro play is being performed right now. And there he is a part of the play, still getting the same amount of admiration by the townspeople.

Once the play ended, people flocked around him and wanted to initiate a conversation with him. A few moments later, me and my companion decided to go back home. On the way home, we heard people talking at a short distance and I can say that they were a lot of them gathering around a single person. Out of curiosity, we decided to go near them and tried to eavesdrop. But when we reached behind the bushes, I suddenly stepped on to something – though I feel like it was a branch, which made a sound thus making those people stop talking and looks to where we’re at. 

Before they saw us, we have already overheard some parts of their conversation, though all that I could make out of it was “pagkakaisa, paghihimagsik, at kalayaan”.  And when the person they were crowding at turned around, I was in plain shock. I didn’t know what to think about. It was Macario Sakay, the actor that I’ve always looked up to my entire life. All this time I thought everything seems fine, but behind those smiles in their faces I can sense deep down their plot against the government – the colonizers.

They questioned me and my companion of what we were doing and asked if we heard their conversation. But all the words that are muttered under my breath are, “Sasali ako.” That was very bold of me to decide about that on the spot, all of a sudden. My friend looked at me questioning my sudden decision, yet my mind has already been made up, I didn’t look back straight into his eyes, only to those in front of me having a fierce look plastered in my face.

One of them said, “Talaga ba? Parang ang bata-bata mo pa ah?” But that made me wanted to join more. After a few moments, I finally made them believe that I wanted to join, not out of curiosity but as for my love for it more than anything. Well, they couldn’t do anything though because as what I’ve heard they are in need of more recruits, so it wasn’t that hard to convince them.

So at the early years of me being 21, I am now a member of the Kataastaasang Kagalang-galang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK), being a recruit of Macario Sakay under the leadership of Andres Bonifacio. A few months have passed by, we’ve been transferring from one province to another in order to gather more recruits who are willing to be part of the planned revolt to oppose the Spanish rule. And with that we’ve made several chapters of the Katipunan aside from Manila.

 It’s now August 19, 1896, this past year has made me keep track of the time more. Hence there has been a turn of events because a Spanish friar has found out about the secret society – us, the Katipuneros. And I knew from that moment the revolution began. It started on the evening of August 29th, when hundreds of our comrades attacked the Civil Guard garrison in Pasig, just as hundreds of other comrades, including me, personally led by Bonifacio. We were amassing in San Juan del Monte, carrying our bolo knives, bamboo spears and a few firearms, and the Spaniards were outnumbered and fought a delaying battle until reinforcements arrived. Once reinforced, the Spaniards drove our forces back with heavy casualties. It was a defeat in the Battle of San Juan del Monte.

But despite the defeat of the first attack, we were also fighting alongside Bonifacio in the battles of Montalban, Marikina, and San Mateo which has all led to victory. It was a tough one, a bloody mess. We have had unsuccessful revolts and lost a lot of our comrades but aside from that we were somehow one step closer to success, well I thought it would be. But after several reverses, we retreated to Cavite only to find out that there was a new general, Emilio Aguinaldo, who turned the tide and defeated Andres Bonifacio in a power struggle.  Sakay and our fellow troops dropped off the radar during Aguinaldo’s revolutionary government though we continued Bonifacio’s legacy.  We continued to go from town to town in order to form Katipunan chapters.

Having to survive the Revolution against Spain, Sakay, at the beginning of the Philippine Resistance to the US, tried to reactivate the Katipunan. We’ve had a lot of sleepless nights trying to organize every single commandos and intelligence, sabotage units, and guerrilla tactics. It was like a loop, it’s like the same thing was going to happen again. When General Aguinaldo was captured in 1901, our resistance didn’t stop there and that is because our force remained at large reaching from thousands of troops. And all of a sudden an event has flustered us; Sakay was arrested and jailed by the US authorities and the rest of us took the path leading to the hills to get away from them in order to not be capture too.

It’s now July 1902, how the time flies by so fast. We just received the news that Sakay was being released under the general amnesty. We felt so relieved, his arrival made us breathe a fresh air. Once he arrived, he organized huge guerrilla forces which operated on several provinces - Rizal, Cavite Laguna, Batangas and the foothills of Mt. Banahaw. On May 6, Sakay proclaimed himself General and President of the Tagalog Republic. Our government had a flag, a system of taxation, a disciplined army consisting of regular battalions and regiments of infantry, artillery, engineer and medical corps with separate commands in full uniform. At this exact month, our troops has declared an open resistance to the US and conducted guerrilla raids that lasted for several years.

After years of fighting, we went back up to the hills, our meeting ground, and took a good amount of rest, gaining more strength while it lasts for a few moments. Later that day, Dr. Dominador Gomez, a known compatriot, approached our camp. Says he was authorized by Governor-General Henry Clay Ide and that he has something to talk about, a message from the Americans. He says, “The American governor-general has promised to create a national assembly of our countrymen elected by the people where our leaders can be trained for eventual self-government. As soon as we prove ourselves capable, we shall be granted independence.”

But is it really that way? Why all of a sudden? Have they just given up on fighting us? But that would be impossible and suspicious at the same time!  I started to keep all the questions to myself because I’m just too inconsiderate about this given situation that’s happening. Days later, I still didn’t raise any concerns to them and in a few hours we’ll be now heading to a reception that will be held in Cavite, an invite that we received from the Americans as they say.  After long treks to Tanay we, along with 9 other principal lieutenants, came to Manila on a safe-conduct pass from the Americans. Dressed in rayadillo uniforms, carrying pistols and daggers, our long hairs neatly combed, we came on foot with hundreds of overjoyed townspeople showering us with food and other gifts, guitar music and singing.

July 17 1906, we’re now attending the town fiesta in Cavite. But as I walked near the centre of the town, I can sense something else. I told my companion, yes the one that I mentioned in the first because like me he also joined the movement, that we’ll take a different path and we’ll just tell the rest that we are going to catch up. Once we’ve split up with the pact, we went to a more unnoticeable path. But upon arriving at the building where the feast is being held, I see the rest of our troops and Sakay was among them. They were being held on by the US officers with a pistol carrying on their hands, unable to fight because they were disarmed. The place was surrounded by Filipino Contabulary officers. What are they doing? Aren’t they supposed to help their fellowmen? There’s nothing me and my companion can do, we just stood there noticing their every action and how every single word came out of their mouth.

Back to where we are, Gen. Villafuerte, one of the principal lieutenants, shouted, “We have been betrayed and we are trapped. Doctor, what is the meaning of this?” I see from afar Dr. Gomez stepping forward saying, “There’s no use fighting.” Sakay’s eyes were bloodshot. He said, “Tell the Americans to face us in the open field, in honorable battle.” And to the Filipino Constabularios, he remarked, “Aren’t you ashamed of what you are doing?” After Sakay’s last statement, they were being arrested and dragged on to a boat.

And in an instance we fell into a trap, we were deceived, we were fooled. The Americans have succeeded in capturing some of us – the most patriotic individuals. Never was it known that Dr. Gomez was an American symphatizer, I knew all this time that something’s not right yet I didn’t do anything about it. How foolish of me!

After that incident, me and my companion hurriedly went to the base camp in order to relay what happened during the feast. Then, that was the last time that I’ve ever seen them again. But occasionally we’ve received news about them – different sorts of news. One of our troops says that 300 members of the Sakay forces were secretly hanged inside Bilibid and 100 more were injected with lethal serum, another news is that Sakay and the rest of the men were being accused of all sorts of crime - robbery, murder, rape, summary executions, arson and kidnapping; and one of the troops even said that they will be convicted and sentenced to death if they wouldn’t plead as guilty. Listening to those were a handful, it took me some time to process and couple more and couple more, I still can’t believe it. I can’t believe the fact that we’ve reached this point, it seems surreal.

September 13, 1907, a month has passed by; we couldn’t believe the news that has arrived in our camp. In order to catch up, we hurriedly went down the hills and went straight to the front of the Bilibid Prison, hiding near the trees in order to not be seen. A big crowd surrounds the area, feeling unusual and emotional. We stood there witnessing in front of us how Macario Sakay will be executed. But before it, we get to hear him uttering his last words, “Death comes to all of us sooner or later, so I will face the LORD Almighty calmly. But I want to tell you that we are not bandits and robbers, as the Americans have accused us, but members of the revolutionary force that defended our mother country, the Philippines! Farewell! Long live the Republic and may our independence be born in the future! Long live the Philippines!” And a few minutes after that, he was hanged. Instead of looking straight to his lifeless body, I just looked at gallows and nowhere else. I couldn’t stand looking at him after all the things that we’ve been through. It kind of didn’t make any sense, it’s like time has been fast forwarded at some point that I couldn’t intake everything all at once.

Sakay's patriotism and dedication to the Katipunan has made him, far from being a bandit - a glorious die-hard, incredibly brave and tenacious, and a heroic hold-out for Philippine Independence. Though he remains a brigand in the eyes of many, but for me he will forever be one of my heroes for he has led me unto the right path and not to those who were too blinded by the truth.

Standing in front of his tomb, a year has already passed since Macario Leon Sakay’s death. At this very time, memories I wish to not remember – the execution, have been brought back to life. Though above that, all I could ever think about the past months was his last few words that have been on repeat in my mind. “Farewell! Long live the Republic and may our independence be born in the future!” I kneeled in front of the tomb uttering the words I want to say. “Don’t worry, I will continue to step unto this path and finish what you and the rest have started. I’ll continue to live on and share all the things that you have done for our fellowmen and our country to my fullest extent and pass on this tale so that you and the rest of the members of the force whose lives have been taken will always be remembered.  I will cherish each and every one of this, up until the day when I die.”

  THE END

[marckiris-road]

The star that never dims

Photo credit: space.com

*A reflection on the poem of “Padre Faura Witnesses the Execution of Rizal” by Danton Remoto

    Ever since I was a child, I always admired Rizal for what he has done for the country. It was only until I arrive at high school where I was given more insight on what he actually did for the country. Rizal is currently the National hero of the Philippines, and it was a title well earned. His works is what started the Philippine Revolution such as the infamous Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Yet, there were some conflicting reports on his heroic deeds especially due to the fact that he had several girlfriends and some people call him a “babaero” due to the fact that he had many lovers. That is why some people did not support him due to his downsides, However, I still believe that he truly was a hero who loved his country and wished for the betterment of his country.

     The poem of Danton Remoto enhanced my view on Rizal. The poem meant that Rizal already knew his death was inevitable and imminent. Although he was worried what will happen after he is gone. He was still very young and yet, he is already facing death’s door. Even with all of that in mind, he still believed that there was still hope for the Philippines. His famous quote “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan” which means that the hope of the country lies in the hands of the young and unborn children that would soon be the ones to take care of the nation. And in the end, after his death, his works continued to inspire more and more people of his country. It ignited the hearts of millions of Filipinos to fight for the freedom of their country and to achieve the dreams and a better future for their country. Like a star, Jose Rizal shined so bright that he flickered the minds of his countrymen, and even after his gone, he still continues to shine and inspire people from the generations to follow.

[j4vi3r]

Importance of Reading

There was a clear connection of reading and the Philippine Revolution in the past. And that lies on the fact that the books Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo that are written my Dr. Jose Rizal are the things that became the trigger to the revolution. By reading the novels, citizens were able to ignite the sense of nationalism in their hearts. Many were inspired and wanted to fight for the land that they own and belong to. One of the leading characters of the revolution, Andress Bonifacio, has also been moved by the novel and decided to reclaim what was supposed to theirs, and that is freedom. So Andress Bonifacio together with other nationalists gathered and formed the Katipuneros or KKK as the leading group to fight off the colonizing nation which is Spain.

Just by looking at history, the importance of having a nation that could read is a very good thing. I mean, it would have been very awkward if Rizal wrote the novels for the Filipinos but then he found out that no revolution happened just because no one knew how to read. This could also be seen from the reaction of Raymundo Mata, a high school student from Ateneo. Just by reading the book, the way he looks at the world changed. This will bring you to the fact that by being able to read, you will gain information. By having information, also comes with awareness. With awareness, next will be action.

[thematarese]

Kung bakit #AngRebolusyongFilipino ay hindi nagtagumpay, ayon kay #ApolinarioMabini 🇵🇭 #LaRevolucionFilipina #PhilippineRevolution #PhilippineHistory #Philippines #PhilippineAmericanWar #PhilippineLiterature #PhilippineCabinet #CamaraNegra #EmilioAguinaldo #AntonioLuna #GeneralOtis #ElwellStephenOtis https://www.instagram.com/p/BoByVEKA8Os/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=cltkn46cfvin

[silverbackpacker]

The Power of Love (all 64,000 volts of it) Gabriela and Diego Silang, Santa, Ilocos Sur The river is the Abra River just before it comes to its estuary. . #gabrielasilang #diegosilang #Philippinerevolution #ilocossur #santailocossur (at Santa, Ilocos Sur)

[indiopolitiko]

This manifesto is for all of you: It is absolutely necessary for us to stop at the earliest possible time the nameless oppressions being perpetrated on the sons of the country who are now suffering the brutal punishment and tortures in jails, and because of this please let all the brethren know that on Saturday, the 29th of the current month, the revolution shall commence according to our agreement. For this purpose it is necessary for all towns to rise simultaneously and attack Manila at the same time. Anybody who obstructs this sacred ideal of the people will be considered a traitor and an enemy, except if he is ill or is not physically fit, in which case he shall be tried according to the regulations we have put in force. Mount of Liberty, 28th August 1896.  

- Andres Bonifacio, August 28, 1896

[kiaoid-blog]

#caloocanday #PhilippineRevolution #Kasaysayan Caloocan, mahal Balang araw, babalik ang iyong ringal Uusbong ang bubuhay ng iyong dangal Ang buktot ay hindi makasisinghal Sa araw na ikaw ay uling itatanghal

[omniatlas]

East Asia 121 years ago today: Philippine Revolution (13 Feb 1897) http://omniatlas.com/maps/eastasia/18970213/ Over the 19th century, increasing access to the outside world had led to the growth of revolutionary movements in the Philippines, challenging Spain's 330-year rule over the islands. On 24 August 1896, the nationalist Katipunan organization declared an independent Tagalog state, sparking the Philippine Revolution. #eastasia #history #welovemaps #1890s #1897 #china #chinesehistory #february #february13 #japan #japanesehistory #manchuria #maps #philippines #philippinerevolution #russia #spain #taiwan #spanishempire (at Manila, Philippines)

[marckiris-road]

Reading Revolutionists

Based on the History of the Philippines, reading is what sparked the hearts of the Filipinos to revolt against the Spaniards. Before the works of Rizal, the Filipinos were inactive, and did not learn the reality that was happening in their country. They were blind to the truth. Reading, and the literature In the past allowed the people to imagine a nation and it caused their hearts to spark and gave them the willingness to fight and defend for it.  Reading the novel written by Rizal, the “Noli Ne Tangere”, this was what started the Philippine revolution and allowed the Philippine nation to have its concept and dream born.

It is important to make a nation nourished with reading and nurtured readers because it will allow the people to develop their love for their country. It allows them to fight for it and take a stand in order to fight for what is right for their country. The people will become more united and gain more knowledge and love for their country. It will also allow them to gain understanding and appreciate the beauty of their country and allows them to make decisions in order to make their country prosper and build dreams for their country. That is why that it is important for a nation to be nourished with reading and nurtured readers.