Cebuano Heroes Revolution
Today’s The Day
One Year Mini Daily Inspiration
Organizing for the Philippine Revolution in Cebu began late 1897, when agents of the Katipunan, one of them the Negrense Pantaleon Villegas (a.k.a. Leon Kilat), finally reached the city.
By August 2, 1898, revolutionaries have formed a “provisionary revolutionary government of Cebu,” headed by Luis Flores as president. Members planned for the April 8 (Good Friday) uprising, but it was foiled when it prematurely commenced during the “Tres de Abril” battle.
It was in the final months of 1898, especially after the Spanish surrender to the Americans, that Cebuano revolutionaries managed to seize control of the province.
In the months that ensued, Luis Flores and Arcadio Maxilom became the leading names in civil government and military leadership in the province, respectively.
The war against the Americans broke out in February 4, 1899. Throughout the war, from July 1899 to January 1900, Sudlon, the base of the resistance movement, became the focal area of the fighting. Also, in the course of the war, in 1900-1901, the towns of Tabogon, Catmon and Sogod in northern Cebu suffered debilitating losses.
The imminent capitulation of the revolutionaries to American forces began with the surrender of Juan Climaco in Carmen on September 26, 1901. By October 12, the Americans ordered a ceasefire.
Although American rule was cemented in Cebu towards the end of 1901, skirmishes between the revolutionaries and U.S. troops lasted until 1906, with the last surrender of the Tabal brothers (Quintin, Rafael and Serafin).
The two wars in Cebu at the turn of the 20th century brought out the heroic character of the Cebuanos, who are worthy of every Cebuano’s remembrance. Here are seven of them:
Juan Climaco,
known as the “Brains of the Resistance,” was one of the central figures of the Philippine Revolution and the Filipino-American War in Cebu. He was born into a rich family in Toledo, Cebu. Climaco was appointed as gobernadorcillo of Toledo before the revolution broke out. With his own money and resources, he was able to support the revolution. Through Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Juan was promoted to general. During the FilipinoAmerican war, he and Arcadio Maxilom led the fight against the Americans. After suffering heavy losses, Climaco was one of the first to surrender in 1901. In 1902, he became governor of Cebu when he ran against Julio Llorente, then appointed governor of Cebu.
Pantaleon del Rosario
was one of the leaders of the American War in Cebu. He was not from Cebu, however, since he hailed from Imus, Cavite. He was of Scottish-English ancestry and was connected to Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo on his mother’s side. Sometime in 1899, he came to Cebu by order of Gen. Aguinaldo. He was a colonel of the 2nd division of the Cebu Revolutionary Center. In October 1901, he joined other leaders in the mass surrender to the Americans which brought the end of the war. He would later on serve as deputy to Governor Juan Climaco in 1902, become Cebu City councilor in 1904, and moved on to higher positions in government.
was one of the
Saturnino Echavez
major leaders of the Philippine Revolution and the Filipino-American war that followed. He was a native of Ginatilan, who studied at the Colegio de San Carlos and was thereafter a public school teacher assigned in San Fernando, Barili, and Aloguinsan. He also served briefly as “juez de paz” (justice of the peace) of Barili. At the time of the revolution, Echavez was a resident of Aloguinsan. Years after his surrender, Echavez returned to Aloguinsan where he became the municipal president.
was one of the original initiators of the Katipunan in Cebu. He was a propertied mestizo who resided in San Nicolas. Throughout much of the Filipino-American war, he operated mostly on his own and outside the chain of command. After Pantaleon “Leon Kilat” Villegas’ untimely death, Llamas created his own independent army. His involvement with the war, however, was mired with controversy. He was reported to have engaged in acts of piracy, and was accused by General Arcadio Maxilom for abuse of authority and gross insubordination. For a time he was hunted by both the American Government and the Maxilom government. He died in 1901, the same year he was reported to have surrendered.
Francisco Llamas
Enrique Lorega
was a native of then Tinago district of Cebu City. A Spanish mestizo, he served as “cantor” (chorister) in the Cebu cathedral. In 1899, he as a general supervised one of the four military zones of Cebu, along with Arcadio Maxilom, Nicolas Godines and Pantaleon del Rosario. He surrendered in October 22, 1901 in Guadalupe. Though having played a huge role in the revolution, Lorega was one of the few leaders who receded into the shadows after the surrender. Unlike his peers General Nicolas Godines and General Saturnino Echavez who subsequently became municipal presidents of Opon and Aloguinsan, respectively, Lorega only had minor roles in local politics in the years after his surrender. In 1941, at the age of 86, he died in his shack on Lopez Jaena Street (now Eduardo Aboitiz Street), blind and virtually forgotten. He had become so poor that the state assumed the expenses for his funeral.
was a prominent intellectual figure in Cebu City and one of the early leaders of the Cebu front of the Philippine Revolution. Manalili was a patriot, and staunch supporter of the Philippine Revolution. He was reputed to be the arms dealer of the Cebuano Katipuneros. Also, Manalili was supposed to become one of the leaders of the revolutionary government in Cebu, as laid out in the revolutionary documents brought to Cebu by Anastacio Oclarino with the help of Gabino Gabucayan. However, it never came to fruition, as Leon Kilat had assumed the leadership of the Katipunan in Cebu. Manalili’s participation in the revolution was cut short, as he was executed by the Spaniards. Some say he was taken to Tuburan and executed in front of the churchyard. There were reports that the Spaniards made him dig his own grave.
was a wealthy mestizo from Tuburan. After Leon Kilat’s assassination, Maxilom continued the revolution. Under his command, the Katipunan was able to regroup in the highlands, where the Spanish forces were unable to attack. Tired from endless
Solomon Manalili
Arcadio Maxilom